LIFT, the Detroit-based, Department of Defense-supported national manufacturing innovation institute, today announced a new education and workforce development partnership with the Aluminum Extruders Council (AEC).
The collaboration will establish a nationwide pipeline for jobs in the aluminum extrusion industry for graduates of LIFT’s Operation Next® training initiative for active-duty military members transitioning to civilian careers, members of the National Guard and Reserve, along with their spouses and immediate family members. As part of the partnership, AEC members have committed to granting Operation Next graduates interviews for open positions at their organizations around the country.
Operation Next, currently available in 13 states and territories, provides an accelerated-hybrid program that combines online education with hands-on training to earn nationally portable, industry-recognized credentials for in-demand careers in advanced manufacturing – including Industrial Technologies Maintenance (ITM), Robotics, Computer Numeric Control (CNC) and Welding.
The partnership with AEC will bring new and expanded employment opportunities for Operation Next program graduates across the nation through AEC’s U.S. members, including more than 50 Extruder Member companies and their 85 plants located across 36 states, focused on such industries as:
| · Automotive & Transportation | · Industrial Components |
| · Building & Construction | · Healthcare Equipment |
| · Consumer Products | · Military & Aerospace |
| · Energy, Electrical & Electronics | · Infrastructure and more |