Bridging the Skills Gap: New Machinist Training Program

Machine shops in the Madison, Wisconsin area – rejoice! Okuma America and Partners in THINC member Madison Area Technical College (MATC) recently joined forces to establish a machinist training program at the college’s new Ingenuity Center. The partnership will deliver intensive hands-on training in the service, repair, operation, programming, application and maintenance of Okuma CNC machines as part of MATC’s machinist certificate and degree programs.

The Ingenuity Center houses a state-of-the-art machinist training center, a rapid prototyping lab with complex 3D printing, and an advanced robotics lab. The facility has 5 Okuma machine tools (2 GENOS CNC lathes, 2 GENOS vertical machining centers and an MB-4000H horizontal machining center) and a CNC simulator lab with 11 OSP-P300 simulators. Students will gain real world experience in machining, design, automation, industrial maintenance, and quality control techniques.

"It is 62,000 square feet of lab and classroom space dedicated to advancing Wisconsin manufacturing," says Interim Dean of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, Denise Reimer. Graduates of the program will be well prepared to help manufacturers compete in today’s complex and global marketplace.

Single mother of four, Rose Appleton, has already found a new job at Evco Plastics as a result of taking manufacturing classes. "I'm excited about what I can learn and what I can do," says Appleton. "The robotics program, CNC, and the fact that I will be able to work with metal and program a machine. To do so is just phenomenal."

The training will be led by NIMS certified, Level 1 instructors using Okuma CNC machines and simulators. In addition to providing equipment, Okuma will assist in developing content and programs that are aligned with Okuma’s workforce goals. “We’re pleased to join forces with MATC in CNC machinist training,” says Lisa Rummel, chief financial officer at Okuma America. “This partnership will provide a workforce pool to the local industry base that has the skills required to perform CNC related jobs.”

To learn more, view local TV station WKOW's news story and video coverage of the Ingenuity Center's ribbon cutting ceremony.