{"id":1704,"date":"2025-01-29T12:47:30","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T17:47:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mse\/?p=1704"},"modified":"2025-07-28T17:01:10","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T21:01:10","slug":"molding-a-new-workforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tickle.utk.edu\/mse\/molding-a-new-workforce\/","title":{"rendered":"Molding a New Workforce"},"content":{"rendered":"

Engineering and Art Combine to Address Workforce Shortage<\/h2>\n

A unique collaboration between the Tickle College of Engineering and the University of Tennessee School of Art is helping address the workforce shortage in the U.S casting and forging industry.<\/p>\n

UT is one of two current hubs for the Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning<\/a> (METAL) program, which was created to train a new generation of metallurgical professionals through workshops, bootcamps, and online courses.<\/p>\n

METAL is led by the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) and supported by the\u202fDepartment of Defense\u2019s IBAS program<\/a>. The IBAS program focuses on strengthening the competitiveness of the U.S. industrial base in response to national security threats and promoting workforce development initiatives.<\/p>\n

The U.S. casting and forging industry faces a pressing workforce shortage, threatening the stability of the nation\u2019s defense supply chain. According to the DOD, the U.S. will need an additional 122,000 skilled professionals, including skilled trades, engineers, and other critical roles by 2028.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, those traits and skills are really lacking in many respects because many things have been manufactured offshore,\u201d said Governor\u2019s Chair in Advanced Composites Manufacturing Professor Uday Vaidya, who is IACMI\u2019s Chief Technology Officer. \u201cThere are more advanced fields that students are gravitating towards with more attractive-sounding skill sets, whereas this industry requires very hardcore basic engineering commitments in terms of casting and forging.\u201d<\/p>\n

TCE hosted its inaugural METAL bootcamp in December, with 13 graduate students taking part. During the weeklong bootcamp, the students learned about casting simulation software, were introduced to testing characterization, and cast items out of aluminum and bronze. Every participant received a certificate upon completion.<\/p>\n

\n

\"Designed<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\"Melted<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

TCE plans to host three METAL bootcamps annually, including one in the spring of 2025. The bootcamps are open to everyone, but the target audience is high school students and early college students interested in pursuing work in the casting and forging industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s kind of an age gap in the workforce right now,\u201d said Dustin Gilmer, an assistant professor in the Department of Materials Sciences who led the bootcamp. \u201cThere are a lot of older people in the field and then no one went into that field for quite a while. Now, we’re seeing a need for people trained in that area, and our program is to help boost that workforce and make them more job-ready at a younger age.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Art of Engineering<\/h2>\n

UT\u2019s METAL program would not have been possible without help from the UT School of Art. The bootcamp was able to gain access to UT\u2019s foundry to teach students how to melt metal and pour it into molds to create metal parts.<\/p>\n

UT\u2019s 600-foot foundry, located on the first floor of the UT Art + Architecture Building, includes a computer controlled burn out kiln, two melt furnaces, a sand pit, and a monorail system with electric pull chain.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think we can add a new dimension to the METAL program, which is really focused on developing industry in the US by showing how the technologies and processes can be used creatively to create new forms, new designs, and express ideas,\u201d said Professor Christopher McNulty, the director of the UT School of Art. \u201cWe also think the METAL program will raise the visibility of our program and what we do here. I think it’ll come to a surprise to a lot of people that we actually have a foundry at UT, even though we’ve had it here for 40 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Art Professor Jason Brown spearheaded the art department\u2019s involvement in the bootcamp, with the assistance from graduate students in sculpture.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing the energy and enthusiasm of engineering students working alongside art students in the sculpture shop and foundry was very rewarding and\u202finspiring,\u201d Brown said. \u201c<\/span>To be able to move fluidly between the engineering labs and art studios during the weeklong METAL bootcamp was\u202f<\/span>a tremendous learning\u202fexperience for all of us. It generated a lot of discussion and exchange of ideas for students, faculty and staff.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Molding a Brighter Future<\/h2>\n

As they huddled around a table in the foundry, the UT graduate students listened carefully to an instructor from the METAL program explain part of the molding process. They took turns using a blowtorch, tightening clamps, and pouring metal for the first time.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned how intense this process is,\u201d said Dylan Bryant, a master\u2019s student in mechanical engineering. \u201cWe are having our own struggles casting small-scale parts. I can only image how much goes into casting something like a boat or a submarine propeller. It\u2019s a valuable industry to be in, and I think educating the workforce more and getting more people involved is a wonderful thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gilmer was impressed by how the graduate students embraced every challenge during the bootcamp and weren\u2019t afraid to step outside of their comfort zones.<\/p>\n

\"Heating<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hands-on portion of the work really made the workshop come alive for the students,\u201d Gilmer said. \u201cIt will be an unforgettable experience for them that I hope will inspire them for the rest of their lives.\u201d<\/p>\n

UT playing a vital role in training the next generation of casting forging workers aligns perfectly with the university\u2019s land grant mission. Given the success of the inaugural METAL bootcamp, Vaidya is hopeful for what the future holds.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe environment for these jobs can be harsh, it can be hard, it can be difficult to work. But the rewards are very high,\u201d he said. \u201cCrossing the barrier in training and getting this next workforce engaged is one of the challenges that we are very excited to address.\u201d<\/p>\n

Contact<\/h2>\n

Rhiannon Potkey (865-974-0683, rpotkey@utk.edu<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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