Advanced manufacturing is evolving at a breakneck pace, and employers are feeling the pressure to find talent that can keep up. As reshoring accelerates and production grows more complex, states across the country are racing to build training pipelines that equip workers with the right technical skills. North Carolina stands out due to years of early, sustained investment that has positioned its workforce to meet industry demands now and in the future.
The NCEdge program, delivered through the North Carolina Community College System (NCCCS), is a core part of that effort. In the past year, the program trained over 30,000 employees through 319 customized training projects with nearly 850 companies, according to its latest annual report. It uses hands-on instruction, virtual reality (VR) simulations, and applied learning to train workers for high-tech roles and help companies scale faster.
A Model for High-Tech Component Production
One example of NCEdge in action is its partnership with Pratt & Whitney (P&W) at the 1.2 million-sq.-ft. Asheville, NC, facility.
To address the demand for turbine airfoil production, NCEdge designed a two-part program: The first phase, a 16-hour pre-hire assessment, introduced participants to foundational manufacturing concepts, automation, robotics, and VR tools. Delivered across multiple counties and supported by the state's community colleges, the regional approach made sessions accessible to participants near their homes.
In addition, standardized materials ensured consistency, while the assessment allowed P&W to identify qualified candidates and extend conditional job offers contingent on completion of the second phase: an intensive, 80-hour training program.
Making Manufacturing Workforce Development Accessible
Accessibility is a key component of effective workforce programs. Flexible schedules, hybrid or virtual options, and a mix of training partners help lower barriers to participation and completion.
For the second phase of P&W's training program, the 80-hour course blended proprietary P&W content with hands-on exercises that mirrored real workplace tasks. VR modules enhanced in-person instruction, allowing targeted skill evaluation, faster upskilling, and a focus on advanced competencies.
Participants also received training in leadership, safety, quality control, continuous improvement, and automation, incorporating expertise from colleges, third-party vendors, and OEM partners.
New hires also visited P&W's Pennsylvania facilities, allowing them to learn directly from experienced employees before returning to Asheville to share knowledge with peers. By mid-2024, more than 750 employees had completed the program.
Overall, the customizable and collaborative nature of this intensive course shows how modern workforce programs can simultaneously meet industry needs, expand access and prepare the talent of tomorrow to guide the future of manufacturing; this includes production of similar, specialized components.
Industry Expansion
Programs like NCEdge can be adapted for many different industries-and, in fact, they have already been widely deployed. Beyond aerospace, North Carolina has also become a national focal point for reshoring and automotive investment.
As one example: Toyota's new, in-state, $14 billion battery manufacturing campus underscores the critical role workforce readiness plays in attracting major global players: Toyota selected the state in part because of its workforce strengths, and it was a critical NCEdge participant as it prepared to activate its new space (located in Liberty, NC).
The customized training includes no-cost, tailored courses for these household-name operations, along with other critical companies like Bharat Forge (producing lightweight aluminum components) and other parts manufacturers vital to the automotive supply chain.
Ultimately, this state-level program helps scale high-tech operations and rapidly accelerate the onboarding of skilled talent.
A Defining Competitive Advantage
It is a simple truth: customized education solutions can bridge the gap between industry demands and workforce availability. By blending traditional instruction with cutting-edge technology, practical experience, and employer input, states like North Carolina are proactively preparing the next generation of manufacturing talent, and are doing so with programs encompassing wide areas and drawing on every regional institution.
Ultimately, as companies across the U.S. look to expand or reshore operations, a state's ability to train and deploy skilled workers remains a defining competitive advantage-one that public-private partnerships can help elevate.
In North Carolina, it is-and has been-a top priority, and it is a replicable, nationwide model.
Authored by John Loyack, VP of Economic Development, North Carolina Community College System
For more information contact:
North Carolina Community College
200 West Jones St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
www.nccommunitycolleges.edu