LAUSR

Abstract The next generation of manufacturing depends on innovation. While recent discourse focuses on the benefits of the digital revolution, there is also significant concern about the skills gap that it creates when compounded by an aging workforce. Technology implementation is intertwined with people and impacts the types of work people do and the skills necessary to be successful. Contrary to popular fears, the jobs challenge is not that automation will replace the labor force, but that if workforce develop programs do not rapidly evolve, automation might be necessary in order to fill the gaps left by the lack of qualified workers. By conducting an extended case study of three existing programs in Georgia, geared towards improving perceptions and increasing interest in manufacturing careers, as well as equipping students with 21st century and technical skills for manufacturing, our work highlights the need for strong partnerships between academia, industry, and government. Such partnerships are necessary to support the development of local workforce development programs through knowledge sharing, start up and scaling, and shared funding. These innovative programs provide ideas for how to sustain and scale these and similar initiatives to deliver the necessary workforce development for manufacturers to close the skills gap.