LIFT, the Detroit-based, Department of Defense-supported national manufacturing innovation institute and part of the Manufacturing USA network, today opened its “Operation Next” advanced manufacturing certification program to industry for the first time to support small and medium-sized manufacturers recovering from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new civilian program, funded through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and awarded to LIFT by the U.S. Commerce Department’s National Institute of Standards and Technology, will support the training of 250 workers, at no cost to the individuals or their employer, in Detroit and Pittsburgh. The workers will participate in industry-standard training in CNC machine operations, industrial technology maintenance, welding and robotics.
Operation Next features a hybrid curriculum – online theory combined with performance-based activities and assessment – and its accelerated pace is ideal for reskilling or upskilling incumbent workers. Completers will earn industry recognized credentials from the National Institute of Metal Working Skills and American Welding Society.