Stepping on up to manufacturing careers
Organizers celebrate strides they’ve made attracting women and under-employed individuals to manufacturing careers by introducing them to new skills, equipment, and job opportunities.
Among the job seekers at a recent job fair hosted by Carnegie Mellon University’s Manufacturing Futures Institute (MFI), was a group of participants from the Step on Up – Maker to Manufacturer program.
Every other week for six months, 25 participants were introduced to various manufacturing skills and equipment at sessions hosted by MFI, Prototype PGH, and New Century Careers. The unique experience seeing and using these tools and machinery sparked a genuine interest in the manufacturing career opportunities the program was designed to encourage them toward.
One exhibitor at the job fair was so impressed with their knowledge and enthusiasm that he hopes to find ways for his company to support the program and look to it as a source for future talent.
Their interest was just one of many wins the program organizers are celebrating.
Prototype PGH Founder Erin Gatz says that her non-profit organization provides low-cost access to high-tech equipment in a welcoming maker space environment that provides free workshops and equipment training, as well as a network of support intended to build confidence and technical skills.
During the first weeks of the program participants learned vector design, screen-printing, laser cutting, and 3D printing at Prototype’s Sharpsburg location.
I am so excited that we’ve graduated 25 participants, some of whom are beginning to interview with local manufacturing companies.
Erin Gatz, Founder, Prototype PGH
“I am so excited about the success we’ve seen with the first co-hort. We’ve graduated 25 participants, some of whom are beginning to interview with local manufacturing companies,” said Gatz, who added that one participant has already enrolled in the New Century Careers pre-apprenticeship program.
Teaira Collins enrolled in the MANUFACTURING 2000 (M2K) Pre-Apprenticeship program, which offers entry-level machinist training to qualified applicants at no charge.
While at New Century Careers, she and the other participants used surface grinders, lathes, and vertical milling machines, and were introduced to advanced manufacturing equipment including industrial robots and CNC Machines.
This program is a wonderful way to address workforce shortages by giving individuals the chance to learn about skills and competencies needed in advanced manufacturing careers.
Neil Ashbaugh, President, New Century Careers
“This program is a wonderful way to address workforce shortages by giving individuals the chance to learn about skills and competencies needed in advanced manufacturing careers,” said Neil Ashbaugh, the president of New Century Careers, a non-profit manufacturer and technical skills development organization serving Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Sandra DeVincent Wolf, executive director of the Manufacturing Futures Institute, explained that although MFI is a world class center for advanced manufacturing research that includes workforce development initiatives aimed at a national audience, they welcome the opportunity to contribute to local programs that can give area residents a better understanding of modern manufacturing, including the skills that are needed and the opportunities that exist locally.
After an opening ceremony at Mill 19 in March 2025, where the group saw what modern manufacturing looks like in Carnegie Mellon’s manufacturing research facility, participants came back to Mill 19 for workshops on hand tools, electric circuitry, and the role of artificial intelligence in manufacturing.
The Step on Up program received funding from the Build Back Better Plan through CMU’s Block Center for Technology and Society, which enabled the organizers to provide participants with childcare, meals at each training session, and a small stipend for transportation.
“Erin did an especially good job at focusing on the barriers by addressing anything that would hinder participation, which is ultimately what gave them the opportunities to get so excited about pursuing these jobs,” said Wolf.
But perhaps the biggest win of all is that the Heinz Endowments and the PNC Charitable Trusts have stepped in to fund the program so that two new cohorts will begin in the fall of 2025 and spring of 2026.