Taking an idea from the prototype to production. That’s what students in the Capital Region BOCES Manufacturing and Machining Technology program learn as they prepare to enter the red-hot market for machinists.
During a recent class, nearly a dozen high school juniors were practicing their metal cutting and operating skills under the watchful eyes of teacher Kody Skeals.
“I like the idea of working with machines,” said Jack Buckley. “I can see myself doing this as a career.”
Buckley and his classmates—along with more than a dozen high school seniors— are learning skills that will pay dividends in an industry hungry for workers. Students in the two-year program learn design and prototype skills, as well as how to troubleshoot design problems and undertake the diagnostics necessary to manufacture a part. While developing those skills, students learn how to operate fundamental machines used in industry.
“I like being able to make projects and learn new things,” said Santos Irizarry, who attends the program from the Schenectady City School District. “I am interested in doing engineering work, and I chose this program because it seemed like it could help me learn what I need to do that.”
Fellow junior Xavier Hotaling knows the value of the skills he is learning.
“It’s a good skill set to have on the job market. It will give me options when I graduate,” he said.
According to a recent Fortune magazine article, the textile industry is experiencing a 20% worker shortage and the metal fabrication industry expects a 400,000-worker shortage by 2024. Locally, businesses like Package One, STS Steel and Greno Industries are always looking to fill vacancies with a skilled workforce.
Glenn Tabolt, CEO of STS Steel, said recently “It’s important to introduce students to opportunities that exist that they might not be aware of. We do a lot of cool projects, bridges, we build locks, and it can be very satisfying to work here and say, ‘I built that’.”
“At Package One, we love to see people that have been through the BOCES program because they have the experience needed,” added Joel Lape, Shop Foreman at Package One.
In addition to the job potential, nearly all of the new BOCES students said that working with their hands while learning is a key draw to the program.
“I like working with my hands and doing stuff that will help me in the future,” Hotaling said.
“I love it. I get to make stuff like this (dice) for people and I learn how to make things I may need at home,” Buckley added.
Skeals said teaching practical skills is what the BOCES experience is all about.
“At CTE, the practical hands-on skills we teach give our students the opportunity to take with them upon graduation valuable skills and open the door to several career and post-secondary paths,” he said.
For more information on the manufacturing program, visit https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/manufacturing-machining-technology.