Episode Details

Overview

Scott Mackenzie hosts the Industrial Talk podcast, celebrating industry professionals and their innovations. At Penn State University, the ACE (America's Cutting Edge) program, led by Mark Rubeo, addresses the shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing. The program, designed pre-COVID by Tony Schmitz and his team, uses a hub and spoke model to provide training across the US. Rubeo, an assistant professor with a CNC machinist background, emphasizes the importance of manufacturing knowledge for mechanical designers. The ACE program aims to excite and educate future technicians and engineers, fostering a sense of accomplishment and high-tech skills in manufacturing.

Outline

Introduction to Industrial Talk Podcast

• Scott welcomes listeners to the number one industrial-related podcast, celebrating industry professionals worldwide.
• The podcast is broadcasting on-site at Penn State University, specifically at the Baron campus in Erie, Pennsylvania.
• Scott humorously mentions the OSHA hazard of cables and the presence of snacks and coffee in Mark's class.

Mark's Background and Role at Penn State

• Mark introduces himself as an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State Behrend.
• He began his career as a CNC machinist, was laid off during the 2008 recession, and returned to school to earn a mechanical engineering degree.
• Mark completed his graduate studies in precision manufacturing and measurement science in Charlotte, North Carolina.
• He worked as a senior mechanical engineer in New Hampshire before returning to academia at Penn State Behrend in 2021.

The ACE Program and Its Origins

• Mark explains the ACE program, which stands for America's Cutting Edge, designed to address the shortage of skilled workers in manufacturing.
• The program was conceptualized pre-COVID by his former PhD advisor, Tony Schmitz, and his graduate students.
• A workshop at the NSF involved academia and industry professionals to identify the training needs in machining.
• The ACE program was piloted in Knoxville, Tennessee, and has since expanded using a hub and spoke model.

Challenges and Goals of the ACE Program

• The ACE program aims to interest and educate people in the manufacturing field, from technicians to engineers.
• Scott emphasizes the importance of companies investing in training to address the shortage of skilled workers.
• Mark suggests using the ACE program as a pre-apprenticeship to filter out those not interested in the field before investing in in-house apprenticeships.
• The program is designed to be a week-long training to gauge interest and aptitude in the manufacturing field.

Importance of Apprenticeships and Skilled Trades

• Scott and Mark discuss the decline of apprenticeship programs and the need to revive them to ensure future success in manufacturing.
• Mark highlights the benefits of apprenticeships, including the transfer of knowledge and skills from experienced workers to the younger generation.
• The federal government is recognizing the critical shortage of workers and investing in changing the narrative around manufacturing.
• Manufacturing is presented as a high-tech field that offers fulfilling and well-paying careers.

Future of the ACE Program and Industry Collaboration

• Mark outlines the goal of the ACE program to excite people about manufacturing and get them into the industry.
• The program tracks outcomes and feedback t