Manufacturing is growing. A lot of the existing workforce is retiring. We need people to take on the new and opening positions in advanced manufacturing. But the number of skilled workers needed to take those positions just does not exist. What can be done to fill this skills gap? This article offers some suggestions focused on “The Three Ps” – perception, pipelines, and partnerships. We must change the perception of manufacturing as being dark and gritty to what it is, in reality, a streamlined, slick and high-tech operation. We need a pipeline of qualified workers and a means to match skills to open positions. Colleges, government, and businesses need to form partnerships to determine education needs and meet those accordingly.

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