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Students Learn About Manufacturing, Tech Workforce

From left Dunkirk P-Tech students Xavior Warrior, Kay Lazar, Tyler Mathews, and Austin Bennet, watch Randy Biebel of FARO Technologies, Inc., demonstrate 3-D scanning. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Hands-on training helps students enter the manufacturing workforce quicker.

And that’s the goal of Jamestown Community College’s Manufacturing Technology Institute. MTI, 512 Falconer St., held a manufacturing and technology expo Thursday where Dunkirk and Springville P-Tech students had a chance to network and learn about a variety of technology products such as CAD/CAM software, 3-D scanning, robotics, automation, and machining and tooling.

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“This is a great event. We are really excited to be part of it,” said Todd Tranum, executive director of Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier and president of Dream It Do It of Western New York.

JCC Workforce Development Director Grant Umberger agreed.

“We are the training arm of the college and we provide training solutions that have individuals go directly into employment,” Umberger said.

Students also learned about technology through live demostartaions, interactive breakout sessions, and meeting with a variety of vendors.

Liam Rivera, a senior at P-Tech in Dunkirk, is very familiar with the JCC-MTI facility and is looking to develop skills in mechanical technology.

“I took a mechanical technology course in my junior year,” Rivera said. “I spend my Fridays here because I take half-days at P-tech and half-days at JCC. My dream job would probably be to become an architect. I love hands-on building. I love building and P-Tech has really helped me out with that.”

Rivera added not only does P-Tech show him hands-on work, P-Tech also gives access to him about machine work and digital technologies.

“They (P-Tech) have been an incredible help,” Rivera noted.

Steve Myers of Applied Industrial Technologies located in Erie, Pa., said he was attending to lend support for industrial distribution.

“We work with local manufacturers. We are bringing products and services that we help local manufacturer with and we are sharing the information today with everybody,” Myers said.

Jeffrey Teluk, director of engineering science and mechanical technology, said area businesses got a chance to network, and showing students a classroom setting versus a job setting.

“We also invited students to get a better idea of what (jobs) are out there as far capabilities. The students also get a contextual information as to what we show in a classroom versus what’s out there in the real world,” Teluk said.

Teluk said another similar networking event is held in the spring where students have to have situational attire for a chance to maybe interview with prospective employers looking to hire workers.

“They (the students) actually get a chance to get hired,” Teluk noted.

Randy Biebel of FARO Technologies, Inc., located in Exton, Pa., showed students what 3-D scanning involved.

Biebel said he takes an object and scans it in several different orientations to create one STL (stereolithography) model. STL is the type of file needed to print a 3-D copy of the object.

“It only took a few moments, and we scanned by laser,” Biebel said.

Tranum said that more young talent is needed in the manufacturing workforce.

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