Bridging the Manufacturing Skills Gap: A Wake-Up Call

Mentoring young workers involves training, testing and consistent follow-up support. Source (all images): Bob Smith

The moldmaking industry stands at a crossroads. As seasoned professionals inch closer to retirement, the next generation isn’t fully prepared—or even eager—to step into their shoes. That’s the stark reality Bob Smith outlines in a recent conversation about mentorship, training and the urgent need to transfer knowledge.

From his perspective, too many young hires are entering the field without the foundational skills—basic math, print reading, safety awareness—that define a competent moldmaker. And too many shops are content to settle for machine operators instead of cultivating true craftsmen. Why? Because it’s faster. It’s cheaper. But it’s also short-sighted.

Meanwhile, many veterans are hesitant to share their expertise. After enduring decades of offshoring and underappreciation, they fear being replaced by cheaper labor once they’ve given away all they know. It’s a mindset rooted in survival, but one that must evolve for the sake of the industry.

Smith’s solution is personal. He mentors young workers on the shop floor, creating tests, offering one-on-one training, and following up to ensure concepts stick. The payoff? Watching his “dream team” of motivated learners grow into confident craftsmen.

The industry needs more shops that are praised for their hands-on leadership and structured training paths. That means we need more organizations to invest in mentorship, embrace intergenerational knowledge transfer and value experience as much as innovation.

Bob Smith is a 44-year veteran of tool and die who practices what he preaches when it comes to taking a personal interest in the success of those he mentors.

The clock is ticking. With less than five years before many experts retire, and a 10-year curve to develop a skilled moldmaker, the math doesn’t add up. Unless we act now, the light at the end of the tunnel might just be a train.