I challenge readers to promote maintenance and manufacturing all over the world. Because, “What you glorify is what you get?”. With a weak maintenance workforce, business, countries and the world’s productivity will crumble. “It is no longer why to boost manufacturing, it is why not? It is not longer why use 3D printing, it is why not?”. With mineral commodity rates dropping, with global economic uncertainty and anxiety climbing, an investment in skilled technicians will generate stronger results.

Tourism and service industry may help to support the economy but cannot help it thrive. The multiplier effect is just not there and that was a hard lesson that the US recently learned. That is why the US is in the process of manufacturing renewal and STEM education revolution. Under the premise what you glorify is what you get. Science Festivals are being organized; new sports where technical skills, like welding, machinists, and others compete are emerging across the US. Special fast track classes are being created to build the un and underemployed necessary skill sets to fill the skill gaps in manufacturing.

3D Printers are being adopted by newly formed community workshops, where for as little as 50 dollars per month people can design new projects, use tools and use equipment and get help from supporters. These workshops are being set up all over the world and helping to deepen the talent pools.

I challenge everyone to get into the classrooms and become technical evangelists so that more of the world’s youth pursue the education and develop the necessary skills to help replace the exciting baby boomers before they depart the workforce. The biggest fix to address the skills gap is to calibrate the aspirations of our youth to current and future needs of employers. He finished his session by imploring the audience to help FIX IT FORWARD!

See more, how to fight the maintenance crisis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TilEgA47Lo0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VCFCU6A9pM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2hRLoNClys