Give Work a Chance: Spotlight on CNC Machining
Hear the call, Davidson Local readers? With so many new jobs coming and more on the way, everyone who possibly needs to learn to make some cool stuff and support the growth underway in Davidson County and beyond perhaps can learn a skill that can send him or her all over the world.
Want to learn skills for jobs that may not be publicized but are critical to advanced manufacturing? To help Davidson Local readers gain an edge, we will showcase four fields of high demand, including CNC machining, welding and advanced manufacturing, maintenance jobs in upcoming posts. Ever heard of a CNC?
Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) Machining was created during WWII in order to produce standardized parts for aircraft, tanks and other items for the war effort and minimize future failures. With the progression of digital technologies, CNC machining can currently produce very intricate designed parts, even hip joints, and all kinds of parts for vehicles and aircraft to be produced in North Carolina. CNC skills are critical for advanced manufacturing.
Already experiencing a severe shortage, and with the addition of the megasite jobs, this puts more pressure on the creation of more CNC machinists in the area.
Davidson-Davie Community College needs more community interest and support to grow the talent pools required to fill more of the current and future jobs. If you have not visited DDCC campus, know it has a robust machining program loaded with all kinds of CNC automated machining equipment technologies for its students to learn how to produce custom-designed parts out of blocks of metal.
These jobs are not merely for males, as women have more than proven they can excel in these roles as many have great attention to detail and can multitask with the best of them! Regardless of background or gender, those who are committed to quality precision work can secure rewarding jobs and be a part of the Manufacturing Renaissance underway in North Carolina locally.
Davidson-Davie Community College offers Machining Technology, Intro to CNC and AutoCad courses each semester through its Short-Term Training program. These classes provide an opportunity to explore a career in machining while learning the basics. Courses are offered in the evenings and scholarships are available.
To make sure we better understand the importance of CNC machining locally, John Martincic, founder of Forest CNC, explained what is happening all over the country. Following are how some communities leverage this form of digital manufacturing to help more secure higher-wage jobs.
The challenges of the past few years have proven the need to manufacture more products in the USA to reduce the dependence on the fragile global supply chain infrastructure. Employers are challenged more than ever to find skilled workers.
Schools all over the USA are implementing high-tech manufacturing programs that utilize CNC machinery to not only teach the processes, but after receiving funding for their initial equipment purchases, are able to continue to fund their programs by making products that are sold while their students gain real world experience. These programs can be found in the most rural areas to the inner city.
To effectively train the future workforce, schools need cutting-edge equipment and to have instructors who are properly trained to use the equipment. One company specializing in school engineering and manufacturing programs is Forest Scientific Corp. It has been training schools worldwide to prepare students for these high-tech careers for over 30 years.
Its clients have many of the best programs in the country. Learn more about them at ForestCNC.com. Companies of all sizes from mom-and-pop shops to major corporations that utilize ForestCNC’s equipment can recruit students into their workforce achieving success quickly.
Community members are encouraged to take these classes. Students must apply for scholarships as well. For juniors in high school, note they can take classes for free paid for by the North Carolina Legislature. The options are there, they just need to be pursued. I pray that area Davidson County church leaders, education leaders, athletic coaches, everyone who wants others to rise out of poverty to hear this cry for help and start preaching to youngsters to take on these well-paying, high-impact jobs.
CNC has two basic jobs; CNC operators, who tend the machines, keep them fed with supplies, provide maintenance and manage production of parts that could be simple or extremely intricate. CNC programmers actually write the computer code to make the machine produce the parts. CNC programmers are so rare in the market that they often make $60-$100k per annum and some entrepreneurs set up CNC programming side businesses in the evenings and on weekends.
To meet the demand, communities need to figure out ways to offer more scholarships to adults and offer encouragement to youths to attend DDCC and related CNC job readiness to starter programs. We need to grow and find more instructors to start more exposure classes, set up public displays, expose the masses so that more will understand and pursue these critical skill sets to advance our economic performance levels.
Let’s give work a chance by helping more of the underserved learn how to operate and program a CNC. Let’s MAKE IT HAPPEN, Davidson Locals!
