Students at Frankenmuth High School Gain Skills for Manufacturing Careers through SME PRIME® November 18, 2024 by SME Communications Southfield, Mich., Nov. 18, 2024 – Since the beginning of the 2024-2025 academic year, the SME Education Foundation has empowered students at Frankenmuth High School with cutting-edge training in advanced manufacturing through its SME PRIME® program. The Foundation operates as the philanthropic arm of SME, the nonprofit association committed to advancing the widespread adoption of manufacturing technologies and developing North America’s talent and capabilities. Students using Fanuc CRX-5iA Cobot, provided through SME PRIME Informed by private industry, SME PRIME (Partnership Response In Manufacturing Education) builds custom manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools across the country, providing equipment, curriculum, teacher training, student scholarships, and funding for extracurricular activities and program sustainability. The SME PRIME team develops a customized curriculum plan that directly addresses the needs of local manufacturers and aligns with 40 industry-recognized credentials and certifications. SME PRIME is located in 111 schools across 23 states, serving 10,000 students, and 91% of SME PRIME seniors pursue manufacturing post-graduation. “SME PRIME is transforming the educational landscape for students interested in advanced manufacturing, equipping them with the skills necessary for high-demand careers. By preparing students in high school for job roles in their community or for further education, we are strengthening the workforce pipeline essential for the future of manufacturing,” said Rob Luce, vice president of the SME Education Foundation. “Through SME PRIME, we are committed to empowering the next generation of manufacturing talent to thrive in rewarding careers.” SME PRIME provides robust learning experiences responding to local workforce demands. Currently there are about 622,000 U.S. manufacturing positions unfilled. That shortage will grow to 1.9 million unfilled jobs by 2033. SME PRIME addresses this critical shortage by equipping schools with state-of-the-art equipment, tailored curricula, and direct collaboration with local manufacturers to ensure their workforce needs are met. “We are thrilled to have the SME PRIME program at Frankenmuth High School. This program is a game-changer for our students, providing them with the hands-on training and skills they need to connect directly with job providers in our region,” said Grant Hegenauer, superintendent of Frankenmuth School District. “By aligning our curriculum with local industry demands, SME PRIME is opening doors to exciting career opportunities for our students and ensuring that they are well-prepared to contribute to the growing manufacturing sector in our community.” The SME PRIME curriculum at Frankenmuth High School provides a program of manufacturing and engineering education with hands-on training in high-demand skill sets including mechatronics and robotics, metrology and quality, CAD/CAM, and additive manufacturing. The participating students have unique opportunities to learn on industry-relevant, state-of-the-art equipment and prepare for promising careers. The average salary for the state’s manufacturing workers is over $85,000 annually, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. “It’s critically important to give students multiple pathways to successful careers after graduation while simultaneously providing local manufacturers with access to qualified talent,” said Bill Rayl, Executive Director of Workforce Solutions for the Michigan Manufacturers Association (MMA). “SME PRIME allows high schools like Frankenmuth to do just that, and we look forward to seeing the ongoing positive impact this program will have for both the students and area manufacturers." The Foundation worked with the MMA to encourage area manufacturer engagement with the school and solicit regional manufacturer input to guide the unique, research-informed curriculum plan developed for the school. The MMA, which represents traditional and advanced manufacturing enterprises across the state, has been a partner in developing Michigan SME PRIME schools and is critically important in supporting efforts by an industry facing a limited talent pipeline and misperceptions about work environments and opportunities for young people. "The SME PRIME program represents a powerful partnership between education and industry, providing our students with invaluable skills that align directly with the needs of the modern manufacturing workforce,” said Kevin Summey, director of career and technical education at Saginaw ISD. “By supporting this initiative, we are not only enhancing our students' educational experiences but also ensuring they are well-prepared for meaningful careers in a vital and growing industry. We're proud to be a part of this transformative effort to develop the next generation of skilled manufacturing professionals." Funding for Frankenmuth High School’s SME PRIME program was made possible by the State of Michigan’s Marshall Plan for Talent grant funding provided by Saginaw ISD. This is the 8th school in the Saginaw ISD to benefit from SME PRIME, following the successful launch of several programs across the district in recent years. About SME PRIME SME PRIME® partners private industry with academia to build custom manufacturing and engineering programs in high schools across the country, providing equipment, curriculum, teacher training, student scholarships, and funding for extra-curricular activities and program sustainability. SME PRIME is tailored to meet the needs of local manufacturers and is aligned with over 40 industry recognized certifications. SME PRIME is located in 111 schools across 23 states, serving 10,000 students, and 91% of PRIME seniors pursue manufacturing post-graduation. About the SME Education Foundation As the philanthropic arm of SME, the SME Education Foundation inspires, prepares, and supports the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent. Established in 1979, the Foundation works to expose youth to modern manufacturing technologies, train students on relevant manufacturing processes, and award millions of dollars in scholarships annually. All Foundation programming seeks to empower youth to consider and pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering and increase engagement with historically underrepresented populations to help diversify the manufacturing industry. We continue to inspire, prepare and support the next generation of manufacturing and engineering talent – now as many as 12,000 students every year. Visit smeef.org and follow the SME Education Foundation on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. About SME Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME represents the entire North American manufacturing industry, including manufacturers, academia, professionals, students, and the communities in which they operate. We believe manufacturing holds the key to economic growth and prosperity, and champion the industry's potential as a diverse, thriving, and valued ecosystem. SME accelerates new technology adoption and builds North America’s talent and capabilities to advance manufacturing and drive competitiveness, resiliency, and national security. SME designs new ways to understand and solve problems, and our solutions advance the next wave of growth in manufacturing. Learn more at SME.org.
