In a concerted effort to address the critical workforce shortages in the U.S. casting and forging industry, IACMI–The Composites Institute, in a multi-million dollar partnership with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) Program, announced that it has partnered with Pennsylvania State University (PSU), the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), and Jobs for the Future (JFF) to support a groundbreaking national workforce initiative: the Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship and Learning program, or METAL. Below, IACMI’s Joannie Harmon discusses the strategic importance of this initiative.
MPT: How did this program come about?
Joannie Harmon: The Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship and Learning program (METAL) has been established in response to the DoD’s identification of a need for an additional 122,000 skilled personnel in essential roles by 2028. This program aims to strengthen national defense through workforce development and technological advancement.
METAL focuses on growing the U.S. industrial base’s competitiveness against national security threats. The initiative seeks to develop a resilient domestic workforce to sustain and enhance the nation’s casting and forging capabilities through 2050. This effort will address vulnerabilities within the U.S. defense supply chain, which currently relies heavily on foreign sources for critical cast and forged products.
MPT: How did IACMI get involved?
Joannie Harmon: IACMI, with its proven track record in technical training through programs like America’s Cutting Edge (ACE), will expand educational initiatives focusing on essential base metal processes, including casting, forging, and plate production nationwide. The goal is to cultivate a skilled workforce ready to embark on and sustain careers in these industries. This includes engaging a diverse audience, from K-12 students to adults seeking further training or new career pathways.
MPT: What are some of the goals of this initiative?
Joannie Harmon: Fostering the development of an industrial base workforce and ensuring the availability of the right skill sets – from skilled trades on the shop floor to doctoral-level engineering in research – is vital to national security. Our goal for METAL is to ensure that the nation’s advanced manufacturing workforce is a source of strategic and competitive advantage for the United States. Supporting the casting and forging sector is a critical role IACMI plays in creating a robust talent pipeline with twenty-first-century capabilities and skills.
MPT: What role do the universities and other groups play in this partnership?
Joannie Harmon: PSU and UTK are co-developing online and in-person curricula tailored to various audiences, including outreach events for elementary students, workshops for middle and high school students, five-day boot camps for those aged 18 and over, and advanced metallurgical engineering courses and certificate programs.
JFF will play a crucial role in developing apprenticeship programs and upskilling workers across the country, helping companies recruit, train, and retain a more loyal and productive workforce. This effort is essential for ensuring national security and economic vitality.
IACMI—The Composites Institute is a 150-plus member community of industry, colleges and universities, national laboratories, and government agencies working together to benefit the nation’s energy, manufacturing, and economic security. IACMI is managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), a not-for-profit organization established by the University of Tennessee Research Foundation. A Manufacturing USA institute, IACMI is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Materials Manufacturing Technologies Office, as well as key state and industry partners. For more information, visit www.iacmi.org.