Students at Southfield High School for the Arts and Technology are playing a part in reducing the skills shortage in Michigan and beyond. With an estimated two million U.S. manufacturing jobs predicted to go unfilled by 2030 (according to a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute), these students and others like them throughout the country are learning about advanced manufacturing technology and acquiring skills that will prepare them for future jobs.
It’s all thanks to the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) PRIME® program, which is spearheaded by the SME Education Foundation. The foundation is the philanthropic arm of SME, the Southfield-based organization focused on advancing manufacturing tech and talent in North America.
SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) students are exposed to hands-on manufacturing and engineering skills that will equip them to meet the hiring needs of local manufacturers. The SME Education Foundation develops SME PRIME curriculum in partnership with the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA) to ensure manufacturer participation in assessing local workforce needs.
To date, the SME PRIME program is available in 50 schools throughout Michigan, providing equipment, curriculum, teacher training, student scholarships and funding for manufacturing-related extracurricular activities and program sustainability. The program is aligned with state educational standards.
“SME PRIME paves the way for students to develop specialized skills in advanced manufacturing and puts them on a career path to make a livable wage right here in Michigan,” says SME Education Foundation vice president Rob Luce.
