The Northwest Intermountain Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA) Helps Idaho and Washington grow skilled workforce base through high school programs
| August 25, 2008 |  View for printing |
High school students in north central Idaho and southeastern Washington will have new hands-on learning opportunities this year. Recently, 10 teachers from eight school districts participated in a training program for middle and high school teachers where they learned how to operate computer aided design (CAD) software prominent in manufacturing businesses.
The Northwest Intermountain Manufacturers’ Association (NIMA) http://www.northima.org/ identified workforce development as a primary objective of the organization in response to the memberships’ concerns over the quality and quantity of the workforce available to sustain and grow our region’s manufacturing businesses. NIMA realized the solution would require, at its core, a sustainable effort to introduce and attract our youth to this industry as a career choice.
NIMA began this effort by offering tours of area manufacturing companies to school administrators and teachers. This generated a desire by the schools and manufacturers to partner in an effort to expose students to careers in the manufacturing industry. As a result, training teachers so they could, in turn, train students to use the software, was determined to be an excellent starting point. “The plan is for students to design parts or other projects that can then be created in a manufacturing facility, providing them with practical hands-on learning opportunities and further exposure to the manufacturing industry,” stated Lenny Hill, President of NIMA.
“Development of a CAD program in the schools creates a meeting point or common language between industry and the schools that is practical and sustainable and also promotes collaboration throughout the school year,” he stated. SolidWorks, a 3-D modeling software, was chosen as the CAD application because of its popularity among area manufacturers and the willingness of Quest Integration, the area’s SolidWorks dealer, to support this effort with software, training, and technical support. David Minerath, President of Quest Integration, believes that “through working with local educational groups the Quest for Success grant program can continue its mission of developing a technical, adept home-grown workforce for area manufacturers.”
Agencies contributing time, energy, and/or financial support to the project include:
· NIMA – Northwest Intermountain Manufacturers Association – Dave Bonfield, Executive Director
· Lewis-Clark State College’s Tech Prep – Tate Smith
· Palouse Economic Development Council – Kathy Parker
· Valley Vision – Debbie Baker
· Quest Integration – David Minerath, SolidWorks Reseller
Participating Idaho high schools included Prairie, Lewiston, Orofino, Kamiah, Nezperce, and Troy, while Washington teachers trained represented Asotin High School and Clarkston’s Lincoln Middle School.
“We consider this a pilot project and have plans to include several more schools next year,” Hill said. “The class went very well despite its fast pace, and got high marks from those attending. We are hoping exposure to these learning opportunities will spark an interest in a manufacturing career for those students, and entice teachers to participate in “Return to Industry” summer programs where they can learn more about all the employment opportunities manufacturing businesses provide our workforce.”
Glen Landrus of Asotin High School agreed: “I thought the training was outstanding and look forward to integrating it into the classroom this year.” Tad Else of Lewiston High School, like most other teachers taking the training, had never used SolidWorks before, but now says, “I can’t wait to use it in my classes.”
Northwest Intermountain Manufacturers Association
Executive Director: Dave Bonfield
cell: 208-790-4948 off: 208-746-0015
1626 6th Ave. North
Lewiston, ID 83501
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