North Louisiana is witnessing strides in workforce development and manufacturing innovation, as evidenced by partnerships between educational institutions and local companies. The North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP) has been pleased to witness notable growth in student enrollment and company sponsorships in the Northwest Louisiana Chapter of the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (NWLA FAME). With its third class that started this summer, NWLA FAME saw a 28% rise in student applications over 2023, and as of September a 30% increase in participating companies over the year, underscoring the growing demand for skilled industrial maintenance technicians in the region.
After years of visits with industrial employers in the region, NLEP has identified the pressing need for these skilled technicians as local manufacturers continue to add increasingly sophisticated machinery to their operations. The NWLA FAME program, a model developed by Toyota and now operated by The Manufacturing Institute, offers students a two-year work-study opportunity, blending classroom learning at Bossier Parish Community College with hands-on experience at sponsoring companies. Graduates not only leave with an associate degree in industrial engineering, but often secure full-time job offers from their sponsor company upon completion.
Shortly following the start of the newest NWLA FAME class, North Louisiana Manufacturing Month was celebrated in October, when twenty-four local manufacturers and six industrial training programs offered sixty-eight tours to students from ten school districts, bringing the total impact back to pre-COVID levels. The celebration included over 1,500 student tours. The event aims to promote awareness of excellent career opportunities in manufacturing to grow the pipeline of future talent for these important drivers of economic development.
“The dire need for skilled talent is not exclusive to manufacturers in North Louisiana,” said NLEP COO Angie White. “But if our region can provide solutions to employers’ challenges, it will become a competitive advantage we can use to grow our industry base and provide more high-quality jobs for our residents.”
A notable participant in both NWLA FAME and North Louisiana Manufacturing Month is BENTELER Steel/Tube, which is in the final stages of an expansion at its manufacturing facility in the Port of Caddo Bossier. BENTELER is engaging with education partners not only through its active participation in these initiatives, but also through internships for computer science graduate students from Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSUS). These students have played key roles in developing applications to enhance efficiency and safety at BENTELER’s new threading facility. Their projects, which include a human-machine interface and safety applications, underscore the relevance of the education these students are receiving at LSUS.
“We have a very modern facility, which requires our commitment to continuously improve our processes and advance in innovation. Our partnerships with educational institutions, as well as investments in new technologies, are key to developing and preparing the local workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving manufacturing industry. Our collaboration with LSUS computer science students has been instrumental in developing applications, digitalization and process optimization that will improve our efficiency,” said Dustin Niemoeller, BENTELER Steel/Tube Plant Manager.
This partnership not only provides valuable hands-on experience for students but also fosters innovation within BENTELER, as the company seeks to leverage cutting-edge technology such as artificial intelligence to improve operations. The collaboration represents a growing trend in North Louisiana where education and industry work together to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape.
As NLEP continues to invest in the growth of NWLA FAME and North Louisiana Manufacturing Month to develop a relevant talent pool for local manufacturers, the region is becoming a leader in advanced manufacturing education, preparing a skilled workforce ready to tackle the challenges of modern industry.