# 210: Technical Education, Apprenticeships, and Addressing the Needs of Industry Today and in the Future with Ashley Furniture and Western Technical College

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2024-11-05
- Length: 59m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-05-210-technical-education-apprenticeships-and-addressing-the-needs-of-industry-tod
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Dr. Josh Gamer, Dean of the Integrated Technology Division at Western Technical College, and Kris Gengler, Education Foundation Manager at Ashley Furniture, discuss a decade-long partnership aimed at addressing the manufacturing skills gap. They detail the development of the Wanek Center of Innovation, a facility designed to bridge education and industry through advanced technology exposure and apprenticeship pathways. The conversation highlights how regional collaboration, international benchmarking trips to Germany, and flexible training models are preparing students and workers for the future of manufacturing.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-05-210-technical-education-apprenticeships-and-addressing-the-needs-of-industry-tod#t=0) Introduction and Western Wisconsin Manufacturing Context
- [12:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-05-210-technical-education-apprenticeships-and-addressing-the-needs-of-industry-tod#t=753) The Wanek Foundation and Industry-Education Collaboration History
- [18:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-05-210-technical-education-apprenticeships-and-addressing-the-needs-of-industry-tod#t=1125) Benchmarking in Germany and the Wanek Center of Innovation
- [28:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-05-210-technical-education-apprenticeships-and-addressing-the-needs-of-industry-tod#t=1707) Wanek Center Capabilities: Robotics, Digital Twins, and Contract Training
- [35:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-05-210-technical-education-apprenticeships-and-addressing-the-needs-of-industry-tod#t=2129) K-12 Outreach and the 'Outliers' Mindset
- [42:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-05-210-technical-education-apprenticeships-and-addressing-the-needs-of-industry-tod#t=2533) Apprenticeship Evolution and the Ashley Careers Program
- [50:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-05-210-technical-education-apprenticeships-and-addressing-the-needs-of-industry-tod#t=3043) Future of Technical Education and AI

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Western Technical College (company)
- Ashley Furniture (company)
- Wanek Center of Innovation (product)
- Ronald and Joyce Wanock Foundation (company)
- Yaskawa Robotics (company)
- Amatrol (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- SOCRA (other)
- Fortinet (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Filling the Skills Gap One Student at a Time w/ Matt Guse](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-05-25-filling-the-skills-gap-one-student-at-a-time-w-matt-guse) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Forwardskilling: Technical Training for the Existing Workforce w/ Bill Berrien](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-21-forwardskilling-technical-training-for-the-existing-workforce-w-bill-berrien) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [The Learning Factory: Closing the Skill Gap Starts with Education w/ Mike Nager](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-16-the-learning-factory-closing-the-skill-gap-starts-with-education-w-mike-nager) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [The Critical Shift: Bridging the Generational Gap in PCB Design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-03-26-the-critical-shift-bridging-the-generational-gap-in-pcb-design) (OnTrack)
- [Supporting Advanced Manufacturing at a State Level w/ Bryce Carpenter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-05-05-supporting-advanced-manufacturing-at-a-state-level-w-bryce-carpenter) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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