Reaching Out to the Next Generation of CNC Machine Operators

Despite improvements in the overall economy, unemployment in the U.S. remains higher than desirable. Even so there are CNC machine shops that can’t find qualified candidates for available jobs. One reason is that experienced machine operators who are capable of working with today’s advanced manufacturing equipment are hard to find. Another is that many young people have a misconception of what working in a modern manufacturing facility is like. Worse yet, those who have an interest may not have the opportunity to gain experience with today’s sophisticated CNC machine tools and, therefore, are less desirable new hires.

That’s why Gosiger forms alliances with colleges and technical schools that offer CNC machining courses. On the West Coast, for example, Gosiger has outreach programs with Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Oregon; De Anza Community College in Cupertino, California; and Western Nevada Community College in Carson City, Nevada.

Each of these colleges offer CNC machining courses designed to help train tomorrow’s machinists, programmers and production managers. However, these colleges don’t have the resources to provide students access to the latest-and-greatest CNC machine technologies. That’s where Gosiger comes in. By loaning the schools current machine tools at no cost, the students gain hands-on training and experience using advanced CNC machines. This makes them more attractive and valuable manufacturing employees upon graduation.

Currently, Clackamas Community College students are learning their craft on an Okuma Genos L300-MY horizontal lathe and a Hardinge GX 1000 vertical machining center equipped with an Okuma OSP control. In Cupertino students work on an Okuma Multus B200 lathe that enables them to experience true 5-axis machining, and on a Swiss-style turning machine from Nomura. Western Nevada Community College students have an Okuma lathe and a Hardinge VMC in their facility.

In addition to supplying these advanced machine tools, Gosiger periodically stages special events at the colleges, bringing in application experts and supplier partners to share their expertise with the students, faculty and local CNC machine shops. For example, toolmaker Sandvik Coromant recently presented a technical talk on proper tool usage. When appropriate, Gosiger also brings customers to these facilities for test runs, so students can observe real-world machining techniques.

To learn more about Gosiger’s investments in the future of manufacturing contact Gosiger, Inc.