News

June 27, 2019

Students Manufacture Careers in this BOCES Program

Taking an idea from the prototype to production. That’s what students in the Capital Region BOCES Manufacturing and Machining Technology program learn as they prepare to enter the red-hot market for machinists.

During a recent class, student Austin Smith of Niskayuna was working to address flaws in a 3D design of a coin launcher while classmates Seth Walker of

Schoharie and Carlee Badger of Mohonasen were working to upload their designs from software to Capital Region BOCES’ 3D MakerBot printer.

“I like that at BOCES you are able to do skills that are like the workplace and that you can gain job experience in school,” said Smith.

Students in the manufacturing and machining program learn design and prototype skills, as well as how to troubleshoot design problems, as well as undertake the diagnostics necessary to manufacture a part, said teacher Charlene Vice.

That’s what Smith was doing as his design didn’t exactly translate into the size and shape needed for the physical production.

“It can be frustrating, but I enjoy the hands-on and problem solving,” said Smith.

Vice, who is a retired machinist with an associate’s degree in material science non-destructive testing and a journeyman certificate as a General Electric toolmaker, said “tweaking” designs is all part of the process every machinist and manufacturer goes through.

Smith said he enjoys the process so much he is prepared to make it a career.

“I plan to go into the machining field when I graduate because it’s hands-on and enjoyable,” he said.

With 70 percent of current machinists over the age of 45 and an immediate demand for tens of thousands of new machinists in the coming years, Smith and his classmates will be in hot demand as they enter the labor force.

A Schenectady manufacturer and business partner with Capital Region BOCES said the struggle for qualified workers is real.

“It’s very hard to fill these jobs.” Would like at least nine full-time workers. I’ve got the business, I’ve got the machines, but its’ very hard to find he qualified machinists. It’s actually impossible,” said Patrick Belletti, co-owner of Ren Tools and Manufacturing