For several years we have been reading about the ominous skills gap. In some trades, we are teetering on the edge of the gap; in others, we have already picked up several bumps and bruises on the trip down to the bottom of the canyon. A quick search on Indeed or with any of the supply chain management companies who offer contract source inspection positions might suggest we are well on our way to needing a few Band-Aids when it comes to training a new wave of inspectors. Here I’ll offer my perspective as someone directly working to address it.
I’m the dimensional inspection (metrology) instructor at Danville Community College in Danville, VA. To date, four cohorts have completed the two-semester, 29-credit curriculum. The curriculum includes classes in: technical math, print reading, GD&T, quality control, introduction to lean and Six Sigma, bench inspection (two classes), and CMM operation and programming (three classes).