How Tri-C Is Preparing Ohio Workers for the Smart Manufacturing Era

Despite Northeast Ohio’s strong manufacturing roots, the sector is still facing challenges brought on by quickly emerging technologies. Last month, Ohio celebrated Manufacturing Month, a statewide celebration of our state’s manufacturing prowess and the vital economic need to prepare the next generation of skilled workers.

“Ohio has a strong history of manufacturing strength, educational excellence and technological innovation,” says Shana Marbury, J.D., executive vice president of Workforce, Community and Economic Development at Tri-C. “Manufacturing Month allows us to showcase the innovative opportunities in high-tech manufacturing and to connect our students with the local and state leaders who are driving this transformation.”

“A lot of us remember manufacturing the way our parents and grandparents used to work in it — a dingy, dark, dirty environment that wasn’t very desirable,” adds Ray Nejadfard, dean of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering at Tri-C and a 33-year industry veteran. “Manufacturing has completely changed.”

Manufacturing is in the midst of what is called variously Industry 4.0, or the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Smart technology, the Internet of Things, cloud computing, data analytics and AI have radically redefined the sector.

These technologies have created safer work environments, improved productivity and allowed manufacturers to be more nimble with improved quality control. But they also have changed the skill set required of the industry’s workers.

This fall, Tri-C introduced its first bachelor’s degree: a Bachelor of Applied Science in Integrated Digital Manufacturing Engineering Technology (IDMET), often referred to as “smart manufacturing.”

Tri-C also received a $658,000 grant from the Ohio Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation to launch a utility technician program and serve as the designated training location for the 16-county Northeast Ohio region. This past spring, Tri-C also rolled out an online EV technician program with flexible learning options to address the growing need for skilled technicians.

Tri-C’s moves are crucial to the future of our state’s economic growth. JobsOhio — the state’s economic development entity — has identified the need for about 37,000 advanced technicians to fill the 21st-century manufacturing jobs coming online in the next few years.

“Manufacturing is a cornerstone of our economy and a foundation for many other industries,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine in announcing Manufacturing Month. “It is vital that we show the next generation of Ohio’s workforce that there is a viable future in the manufacturing industry, and since our state is a leader in production, their future can be right here in Ohio, the heart of manufacturing.”

The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association estimates that manufacturing is the largest sector of Ohio’s economy, accounting for 17% of the state’s GDP and 700,000 workers. Cuyahoga County has the state’s highest concentration of manufacturing employment and is home to more than 1,600 companies employing nearly 70,000 workers.

Manufacturing has been one of the principal economic drivers in Ohio’s economy since the late 1800s. Today, the state is ranked third nationally in manufacturing, producing more than $114 billion in manufactured goods annually.

Ohio is the first in American aircraft engine production, containing 16% of the total U.S. employment, as well as a leader in the production of primary and fabricated metals, machinery, electronic products, transportation equipment, food and beverages, as well as rubber and plastics.

Recent high-tech investments across Ohio in semiconductors, electric vehicles (EV) and batteries, aerospace and defense and solar panel production have positioned the state as a central player in forward-thinking technology and 21st-century manufacturing, according to JobsOhio.