Hands-on training, real-world careers: Powering workforce readiness with industry

The manufacturing industry is facing a persistent and growing skills gap. The need for employees with the right experience, technical knowledge, and education is becoming increasingly critical as manufacturers continue to struggle to attract qualified talent. It’s also clear that this challenge can’t be solved by industry or educational institutions alone. Manufacturers and educators need to work together.

At Craven Community College in New Bern, North Carolina, Alexander Block sees that reality every day. As a computer integrated machining instructor, he’s helping students prepare for machining jobs waiting right outside the college’s doors. And he’s playing a critical role in bringing local industry into the fold to make it happen.

“Our main goal is to teach students to the point where they can go get a job in industry,” Block says. “They don't come to community college just to take classes. They come here for a career.”

Block teaches the entire second year of Craven’s machining program with Autodesk Fusion. The curriculum is built around a progression from CNC fundamentals to increasingly advanced manufacturing workflows.

“I teach all the CNC, starting with intro to CNC, moving on to handwriting G&M code,” he says. “Even before students begin programming in Fusion, the parts they make are modeled in Fusion. From there, students move into CAM turning and milling, advanced turning and milling, applied CNC machining, multi-axis production procedures, and CMM.”

Beyond machining, students are also exposed to emerging technologies. In a CAD capstone and emerging technologies course, they can work with 3D scanning, generative design, and even AI prompts that generate step-by-step instructions for making a part, which students then test for accuracy.

“It’s a cool class where you get to try all kinds of new things,” Block says.

In Craven’s shop, students can learn using a wide variety of tools, from nine CNC machines (including four Haas mills and three Haas lathes) to an OMAX waterjet, press brake, and multiple manual mills and lathes. To get them hands on with the machines, Block heavily relies on the tutorials and curriculum provided by Autodesk. He’s also introduced it to other instructors for further Fusion adoption in Craven’s classes.

“There was one instructor who was hesitant, but I actually showed him a tutorial and the Autodesk Learning certificates,” Block says. “It's a step-by-step guide, and he started using it. Now we have Fusion in almost every class in machining. There are two classes that use it in CAD, and then all the welding instructors are using it to make prints. So Fusion is fully incorporated.”

Block first starts students’ introduction to Fusion with the CAD, CAM, and CNC for 2.5 axis milling curriculum developed jointly by Haas and Autodesk. That material is now being expanded into a full class called “Intro to CAD/CAM,” where students will work through the full project. From there, he incorporates certification-aligned Fusion coursework, including CAM for 2.5 axis milling, CAM for turning, and CAM for multi-axis milling.

“The Autodesk and Haas curriculum has been a great starting point for us because it gives students a complete, practical path into Fusion with the same machines they’ll use in their careers,” Block says. “The projects are already built out, the tooling list is ready to go, and everything is structured step by step. As an instructor, that’s huge because my biggest challenge isn’t machining the part. It’s coming up with the project, the print, and the full lesson around it.”

Block’s work doesn’t stop in the classroom. He actively builds relationships with local employers to keep the program aligned with industry needs and create job opportunities for students. He networks with companies in the region, takes students on shop tours, and introduces new education pathways, including a tool and die apprenticeship agreement with Bosch.

This local education-business ecosystem includes Rostek Applications. Owner Phil Rostek’s shop works across the telecom, energy, and aerospace industries, producing everything from copper bus bar assemblies to battery disconnect systems and rack systems. Last year alone, his seven-person team produced more than 100,000 parts for the telecom industry while continuing to expand into new customer relationships and industries.

For Rostek, the connection with Craven is both practical and strategic. He has hired one machinist who graduated from the machining program at Craven and has sent a couple of his own employees to the college for further Fusion training. Rostek specifically cites how beneficial it is that Craven is helping students build skills in modeling and CAM, especially around constraints and practical programming workflows.

One of the most valuable parts of Rostek’s relationship with Craven is the ongoing communication. He credits Block with creating an open line between the college and local businesses, including regular conversations for a new local industry board about what employers are seeing in the job market and what skills students need next.

“Alex has really set up that, and he’s done a fantastic job as far as turnaround and structure has gone,” Rostek says.

Even as the owner of a busy shop and small business, he believes time, investment, and working with educational institutions is crucial to helping fill the skills gap.

“I think Fusion and the affordability standpoint for businesses in this area gives students a better entry to jobs,” Rostek says. “It’s been very good from a progression standpoint and getting people to continue to update and push their shop. Working with Craven, we’ve experienced firsthand how we can benefit and also provide the feedback for students to be even more prepared when they graduate.”