As a service to the educators who view our website, PMAEF would like to make you aware of a national coalition that advocates for federal policies that expand education and training options for America’s workers. The Workforce Alliance is a diverse collection of individuals from the field of workforce development – including community-based organizations, community colleges, and union affiliates, local business leaders, and local public officials.

In 2003, the new Congress and the Bush Administration will be reauthorizing several key pieces of legislation that will shape future federal support for skills training. This legislation includes the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), the Higher Education Act (HEA) and others. To learn more about The Workforce Alliance and its recommendations to improve federal welfare, workforce development, and higher education policies, visit www.workforcealliance.com.

A metalworking Hotline call-center has been set up by NEO-MAC (Northeast Ohio Metalworking Association Consortium), a consortium of five organizations whose mission is to "Coordinate & unify efforts of local metalworking associations to promote educational programs & career awareness." 

Calling this hotline connects you to someone who knows about the educational programs in Northern Ohio and the metalworking industry--someone who can help an individual match their needs with opportunities offered by local educational institutions. 

Use this Hotline to:

• Refer high school students & adults who may be interested in a career in machining or manufacturing
• Refer job applicants who need additional skills to qualify for a position in your company
• Refer employees who want information on where to go to upgrade skills
• Help your industry increase the number of skilled metalworkers in Northeastern Ohio

The organizations are: National Tooling & Machining Association (Cleveland Chapter), Precision Machined Products Association (Lake Erie District), Precision Metalforming Association (Cleveland District), Westside Industrial Retention & Expansion Network, and the Greater Cleveland Growth Association.

Find out how your company can benefit from the Metalworking Education Hotline

Contact Jacki Adams at 216-631-7330 x114

Introducing the Metalforming Industry

Products made by the metalforming industry are found all around us - in our homes, schools and other public buildings, factories, offices, cars - they are everywhere we look. Much of the industry is invisible because metalformed parts are most often components of larger, more obvious end products. A typical 4-bedroom house, for instance, might include as many as 150,000 metalformed parts, including parts in your kitchen appliances, furnace, fixtures, etc.

Career opportunities in the industry have also been invisible. Students have access to a great deal of information on colleges and on careers that colleges prepare a student for upon graduation. Unfortunately, there is very little career information for those who wish to begin a career right out of high school or wish to begin work immediately, learning a skill while continuing their education. Many of these students are left to explore career choices without a great deal of information about their options.

The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) is the metalforming industry trade association with 1600 member companies. The PMA Educational Foundation's Student Ambassador Program highlights the value of a career in metalforming. It includes a video made specifically for the purpose of reaching youth with the message that good careers do exist in manufacturing, specifically in the metalforming industry.

We hope you will show the video, distribute Choices, and use elements of this Guide which are appropriate for your students or group. If you have any questions or need more materials, contact the PMA Educational Foundation. Thank you for your interest in promoting industry careers.