[WHIRRING]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: We need more individuals
to be pursuing manufacturing.
And we need the next generation skill
sets to ensure that we are internationally competitive.
INSTRUCTOR: Put a little thumb screw on there,
and you can move it wherever you want it to go.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: With ATE funding,
we're setting an example for advanced manufacturing programs
throughout the state.
I'm the state director for a college of technology
that represents all 12 of our public community colleges.
Several of them have these next generation manufacturing
centers.
And Asnuntuck Community College is our lead in that initiative.
So what's going on here?
JAMES LOMBELLA: Machining students all working together.
It brings this whole center to life.
This building is a new 27,000 square foot building.
It was built in 2017.
We are the largest training facility
for advanced manufacturing in the state of Connecticut.
STUDENT: The first one I made was a T slot.
It goes right inside of the machine.
JAMES LOMBELLA: Students learn
the theory in the classroom.
Production floor is where they actually
get to get their hands on things and watch
their designs come to life.
MARY BIDWELL: Here at Asnuntuck, we have three programs we run--
the machine technology program, mechatronics robotics, and now
welding and fabrication.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: Asnuntuck is
the lead for advanced manufacturing
throughout the state and has been instrumental
in our pursuit and successful award of National Science
Foundation funding.
NSF advanced technological education grants
are allowing us to respond to industry needs
and work closely with industry to address workforce
needs in manufacturing.
PAUL LAVOIE: We are a economy in search of a workforce.
What you working on?
PATRICIA CANCHL: Just putting all the gauges
into the new system.
PAUL LAVOIE: When I was the general manager at Carey
Manufacturing, we felt that it was important for us
to engage with community colleges
to be able to advise and guide them on exactly what we were
looking for for the workforce.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: Asnuntuck didn't initially
have technical programs.
It made sense for me to really work with Asnuntuck
and seeing how we could move the needle
and really ensure that we were providing individuals that
could hit the ground running.
PATRICIA CANCHL: If I hadn't had the opportunity
to go to Asnuntuck, I don't think
that I would be at this job.
A lot of people that start out usually have zero knowledge.
But Asnuntuck helped me in preparing to run the machines
and eventually work my way through the engineering
department into quality.
PAUL LAVOIE: We really look at the community colleges
as being an integral part of making sure that manufacturers
are going to have the trained and skilled workforce that we
need.
PATRICIA CANCHL: I didn't know that this was possible.
I really like working here.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: So that's where you actually
have the 3D printing going on.
DHRUMIL SHAH: When I joined community college,
I did a project designing a 3D printed prosthetic arm.
And that's really what got me involved in CAD modeling, 3D
printing, and engineering.
ANTHONY TOURNAUD: I took a chance
and went to community college.
And immediately I fell in love with it.
I found that all the classes were applicable to the job
that I was going to be hunting in less than a year.
It changed my life.
It gave me everything that I have today.
DHRUMIL SHAH: I'm a mechanical engineer at General Dynamics
Electric Boat.
ANTHONY TOURNAUD: I am the product specialist
for Tsugami/Rem sales out of Windsor, Connecticut.
JAMES LOMBELLA: Measure five points.
That's good.
TAYLOR PROCTOR: Manufacturing's never going to go away.
It's so important in our world today.
1,000.
STUDENT: About the same.
TAYLOR PROCTOR: And I always wanted
to do something that I could feel proud of.
JAMES LOMBELLA: We're seeing the perception
of manufacturing change.
These are careers, not just jobs.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: And a personal passion of mine also
is diversity and equity.
TAYLOR PROCTOR: You're seeing every nationality
here and males and females.
JAMES LOMBELLA: And as quick as we can train students,
they're getting jobs out there.
Using the ATE funding, we've been
able to really leverage and build
what you see here but take it across the state
and throughout the nation.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: Hi.
Good to see everybody.
How you doing?
JAMES LOMBELLA: Good to see you.
Great.
JAMES LOMBELLA: Karen, tell us a little bit
about using the ATE funding to help educate educators.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: So this is principals.
This is superintendents.
Often they don't have a real handle
on what advanced manufacturing is about.
So-- when I wrote my first ATE project grant,
it was not actually awarded.
Any of us that have been in the grant world
know how just discouraging that is.
And you think, that's it.
I'm throwing in the towel.
But you just give it a few weeks.
And you go, what the heck?
We're going to resubmit.
It wouldn't have happened without that funding.
The second time around, it was successful.
We've had several rounds of funding.
And about a year ago, we were awarded the National Center
for Next Generation Manufacturing.
MARY BIDWELL: Funding allows professional development
for instructors.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: Our faculty
have been able to work hand in hand with industry.
MARY BIDWELL: That allows us to make sure
that the curriculum we need to design
is meeting industry demand.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: It's providing internships
for students and industry driven projects.
We also have been fortunate to receive funding
for international travel, which is
often unheard of at a community college level.
JAMES LOMBELLA: So it really has been a wonderful growth
opportunity and partnership with the National Science
Foundation.
KAREN WOSCZYNA-BIRCH: For me, it's
been extremely rewarding to be able to see the difference
that we've been able to make not only changes lives, but changes
generations to come.
I never thought I would been able to accomplish what I have.
So I think when you step back, and you
see that type of impact, you know it was all worth it.
It was all worthwhile.