May 2019 Volume 1

FIERF

Engaging with Educators and Why it Matters The Forging Industry Educational and Research Foundation (FIERF) works to connect Educational Institutions and the forging industry through future workforce development, promoting the advantages of forged products, facilitating technology transfer and promoting applicable research. who may be working toward an Associate Degree or skill certifications. These graduates will be your future skilled labor, maintenance and automation teammembers.

At the University Undergraduate level, take part in a FIERF Technology and Workforce Development Summit to meet faculty and students interested in the forging supply chain. These relationships and presentations to student groupswill grow interest in your company. Provide a plant tour, offer Co-op or internship opportunities and sponsor a Senior Capstone Project to be seen as an employer of choice and provide solutions in your plant. Upon graduation with a Bachelor’s Degree, these students will be your future engineers and designers. Graduate Students perusing a Masters course of study will also benefit fromplant tours, company presentations and Co-op or internship jobs. At this stage in their educational careers, these students have the expertise

Industry engagement with education providers at the local and regional levels results in the greatest impact in the development of critical skilled labor. Forgers are in competition for the best and brightest of our communities and becoming the employer of choice is critical for attracting these future employees. Industry engagement with education providers showcases employment opportunities and career paths, gives feedback on required skills and is anopportunity to share topics of interest and seek solutions to industry needs. Opportunities exist at each educational level to engage students and teachers:

to work in conjunction with professors and industry representatives on industry funded research and thereby gain hands-on training to develop new technologies. These students will be your future engineers, research and development talent and technical leaders. Some of these students may go on to pursue Ph.D. degrees. These men and women play an importantrole as subject matter experts, they take their knowledge of the forging process and become the future educators and technical leaders for the industry. The payoff for this engagement is a pipeline for future workforce development. Visit www.fierf.org for moreworkforce development ideas.

Engaging at the Middle, High and Vocational School levels through Manufacturing Day events, community career events and ASM Materials Camps for teachers spreads the word in your local community of opportunities in your company. Participating in these events will bring awareness and make your organization an employer of choice with your future workforce of operators andmaintenance employees. Build on this model at local Community Colleges with plant tours and outreach to students with internships or summer jobs to make your company known to students

Please contact the Forging Foundation Office (foundation@forging.org; 216-862-6967) for additional information or FIERF Magnet School contact information to start filling your pipeline. This article is based on presentations made by Ms. Suzanne Tkach at the Forging Industry Technical Conference andFIAFall MeetingofMembers. Ms. Tkach, Owner, Tkach Consulting is amember of the FIERF Board of Trustees and a passionate supporter of technology and education in the forging industry.

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