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Marcy’s Musings: Fueling the Workforce Pipeline

Workforce, workforce, workforce. It's a topic of conversation in manufacturing that occurs nearly as often as discussing quality and reliability. Finding good employees has always been a challenge, but the manufacturing industry has failed more spectacularly than most to draw new workers into the fold. In a domestic culture that has diminished the importance and relative social standing of manufacturing jobs, we now stare down a gaping hole where a ready, skilled next-generation workforce should be. It’s estimated there are 67,000 unfilled technical jobs in the U.S. semiconductor sector alone. In short, we are doing a lot of catch-up.

In this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we look at fueling the workforce pipeline with perhaps some unique and unconventional approaches. We start with an interview with Lisa Burns, CTE coordinator of the Fremont Unified School District, who’s excited about her deep involvement with local industry in Silicon Valley and the district’s Project Lead the Way program. Cory Blaylock, director of workforce partnerships at IPC, shares the progress and success of their partnership with Stephen F. Austin State University and how they hope this partnership will inspire other institutions to do the same. Perhaps most fun for me was my discussion with Michael Nager, an advocate and author who has written a children’s book focused on 6–8-year-olds that introduces not just manufacturing, but Smart manufacturing. His book provides an excellent example of the kind of out-of-the box thinking required to bridge the workforce chasm.

Jumping onto the shop floor, Gerry Partida of Summit Interconnect discusses his wildly successful internship program, now in its second year. We have an article about the issue of workforce visas in today’s business climate, and young professionals Emily Hitchens and Ryan Moore of DIS share their thoughts and insights on being part of this dynamic industry. Finally, Happy Holden, an engineering icon and mentor to young engineers, reflects on the early influences that led to pursuing a career in engineering and manufacturing, providing insights that may inform how we can best support the development of young minds today.

In our columns this month, IPC CEO Dr. John W. Mitchell talks about the importance of education and training in finding and retaining a qualified workforce, and outlines some of the free educational resources that IPC offers to all industry members. Don Ball of Chemcut reinforces the critical importance of a skilled manufacturing workforce on the shop floor as he outlines the hallmarks of a successful PCB shop and how that influences both the performance and satisfaction of employees. In his column, Shane Whiteside of PCBAA discusses American manufacturing in light of a new U.S. administration, bullish that our progress will continue if the PCB manufacturing sector can continue its laser-focus on our ultimate goals. Finally, Happy Holden includes another installment of his Tech Talk series, this time addressing ultra HDI materials.

In special features, Dan Feinberg continues to highlight IPC Hall of Fame Award winners as he puts the spotlight on Doug Pauls, who received his award in 2016. Also in this issue, MKS’ Atotech’s Daniel Schmidt talks about the important growth of the Asia Pacific region and what the company is doing to maximize their impact and best serve their customers.

Workforce issues are a worldwide problem, and I believe it will take a worldwide effort to solve them. We will use logic, creativity, and determination, and we will figure it out. That’s what we do. I conclude with these comments from James Truchard, former CEO of National Instruments:

“It would be impossible to have witnessed what I’ve witnessed in our industry for the past 40 years and not be excited about where all these technologies and trends are leading us. My advice to any new engineer is simple: Develop a vision for the future and pursue it with intensity. And, at the end of the day, don’t be afraid to have fun.”

This column originally appeared in the January 2025 issue of PCB007 Magazine.