Everybody knows what IT is, but how about MT? Manufacturing technology including computer numerical control (CNC) devices, robotics, 3D printing and other additive technologies, and machine vision is an important collection of tools that, until recently, did not get much attention in the media. But it's changing rapidly, and could play an important role in the rebirth of manufacturing in this country.
computer numerical control：计算机数控
I spent a day last week at Manpower's headquarters in Milwaukee focusing on the 'Future of the Manufacturing Workforce.' Manufacturers, educators, and policy types were all trying to figure out where the workforce is going and how to get enough people trained in the right technologies to facilitate manufacturing growth. I published a series of reports on the topic that Manpower is making available.
facilitate：促进，帮助，使容易 Manpower：人力资源，劳动力
It is great that Americans now realize that we need a strong manufacturing industry to support the middle class and propel our economy forward. But if that's going to work, we need to develop the human capital infrastructure to make it happen. Despite high unemployment levels in the US, a Deloitte/Manufacturing Institute study found over 600,000 unfilled openings in skilled manufacturing jobs.
propel：推进，驱动，激励 infrastructure：基础设施，公共建设
In particular, my research strongly suggests that we need more people who are trained in MT. MT is becoming more IT-oriented all the time, with computers at the core of almost every device. Working in manufacturing technology means programming software, optimizing hardware and networks, and troubleshooting problems just as in IT. People trained in MT often they're called 'techs' usually don't need four-year college degrees. They can be trained in community and junior college programs, but many of these schools don't have courses in MT at all. Those MT-oriented programs that do exist like the Francis Tuttle Technology Center in Oklahoma are excellent, but small and fragmented compared to the need.
oriented：定向的，调整，使朝向 troubleshooting：解决纷争，检修
Many students and their parents apparently think that nothing other than a four year college diploma will nurture career success. But training in MT costs less and pays back better than many college degrees. And manufacturing is often not the loud, dirty working environment that it used to be.
diploma：证书，文凭 nurture：养育，鼓励，培养
Many of the people I interviewed, and many of those present at the meeting last week, argued that we need a cultural intervention as much as anything else. Television reality shows on cooking, for example, have greatly stimulated the demand of students for culinary education. The CSI dramas have goosed the demand for forensic investigator training. Why not a TV series or reality show on modern manufacturing?
culinary：厨房的，烹饪的 forensic：法院的，辩论的
That's not all we need, of course. There needs to be much more coordination and collaboration among educators, businesses, and local, state, and federal government organizations in order to solve the problem. Certification approaches need to be developed. Companies need to become less passive about identifying the types of workers they need and finding new sources for them.
Some of the approaches used in the IT industry can help. MT, for example, could use a jolt of the Microsoft certification approach that has created a generation of system engineers, or the Cisco certifications of network professionals and architects. Large MT providers unfortunately there are none as large as Microsoft and Cisco need to step up to help meet the demand.
a jolt of：少量 renaissance：复兴，再生，复活
Many people are excited about the prospect of returning manufacturing to the US, and it's certainly true that the global winds are finally blowing in our direction. But this renaissance won't happen without a high-skilled workforce trained on the latest MT devices.