WESTEC 2008
Nearly 600 exhibitors will represent a wide array of advanced machine tools, cutting tools and accessories, emerging technologies, and other manufacturing and business resources at the WESTEC 2008 Advanced Productivity Exposition and Conference, the largest annual North American machine tools and advanced manufacturing event.
BACK-TO-BASICS
A key focus of the event will be workforce development and filling the manufacturing pipeline to answer the dilemma of an aging manufacturing workforce and lack of interest among youth to enter into a career in manufacturing.
Collaborating with the NTMA Training Centers of Southern California in response to the changing workforce needs of California's manufacturing base, WESTEC is embarking on "Back-to-Basics" as a program to establish the event as a premier resource for developing, sourcing, maintaining, and upgrading the talent base and labor pool needed to sustain US manufacturing and remain globally competitive.
- Los Angeles Convention Center
- Monday, March 31 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Tuesday, April 1 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Wednesday, April 2 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
- Thursday, April 3 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
"Back-to-Basics" aims to attract and engage a diversified audience composed of women, new immigrants, displaced workers, non-college bound youth, and existing workforce searching for re-training opportunities. It focuses more on the education and training needs of this existing and emerging workforce through demonstrations and workshops in basic machining processes, with the integration of software applications and the use of more complex machines to manufacture parts.
Various California schools, community colleges, training centers and institutions will participate alongside the workshops by offering courses and careers in manufacturing and engineering where attendees have the opportunity to explore a wide range of career pathways to manufacturing. A career center for manufacturing companies and employers to conduct on-site interviews and job placements is also included.
A "Gallery of Innovation & Technology" will be a main attraction and integral part to this program, showcasing race cars, a model eco-friendly car owned by Jay Leno, West Coast Choppers and innovative and complex manufactured parts and products produced by job shops, manufacturing companies and exhibitors. These displays will be categorized by industry to further demonstrate the wide array of industries that manufacturing impacts.
Presented by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, One SME Drive, Dearborn, MI 48121, 313-425-3000, Fax: 313-425-3400, www.sme.org/westec.
