# The NFL Draft, The NBA Draft and... The Manufacturing Skills Draft? w/ Dr. Jason Scales

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2021-08-10
- Length: 31m
- Episode: 61
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-e3b3d249-e45b-4f6b-a3dc-aca780f4cfea

## Summary

Dr. Jason Scales, Business Manager of Education at Lincoln Electric, discusses the critical manufacturing skills gap and proposes a 'Skills Draft' to elevate the status of skilled trades. He explains how Lincoln Electric’s historic welding school has evolved to include technology like the Vertex simulator to boost student confidence and employability. Scales argues that manufacturers must actively partner with educational institutions and consider flexible work environments to recruit from alternative populations, including women and incarcerated individuals, to solve the talent shortage.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales#t=0) Introduction: The Skills Gap and the Skills Draft Concept
- [3:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales#t=201) Lincoln Electric's Welding School History and Evolution
- [5:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales#t=327) Technology in Education: Vertex Simulator and Confidence
- [8:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales#t=482) The Impact of COVID-19 on the Workforce and Skills Mismatch
- [10:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales#t=616) Alternative Workforces and National Security Risks
- [14:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales#t=877) Automation vs. Human Labor in Welding
- [17:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales#t=1036) The Proposal: A National Skills Draft for Trades
- [23:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales#t=1409) Manufacturer Responsibility: Advocating and Acting Locally
- [27:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-10-the-nfl-draft-the-nba-draft-and-the-manufacturing-skills-draft-w-dr-jason-scales#t=1642) Flexible Schedules and Modernizing the Work Environment

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Lincoln Electric (company)
- Vertex simulator (product)
- Cardinal Manufacturing (company)
- Path Robotics (company)
- National Coalition of Certification Centers (company)
- Skills USA (company)
- FFA (company)
- American Welding Society (company)
- Microsoft Excel (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [219: How Skillwork Is Like Travel Nursing for Manufacturing Talent Featuring Brett Elliott and Tim Raglin of Skillwork](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-01-14-219-how-skillwork-is-like-travel-nursing-for-manufacturing-talent-featuring-bret) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [150: When Will We Actually Close the Skills Gap? Featuring Ann Wyatt](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-08-22-150-when-will-we-actually-close-the-skills-gap-featuring-ann-wyatt) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [193: Discussing the Skills Gap over a Beer: Live from Founders Brewing in Grand Rapids, MI (Powered by SwipeGuide)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-07-09-193-discussing-the-skills-gap-over-a-beer-live-from-founders-brewing-in-grand-ra) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [302: Philly's Answer to the Talent Shortage (LIVE in King of Prussia, PA)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-09-15-302-phillys-answer-to-the-talent-shortage-live-in-king-of-prussia-pa) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS - IPC President and CEO John Mitchell on Talent Shortages at APEX 2023 - EMSNOW & SCOOP On Location](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-02-02-bonus-ipc-president-and-ceo-john-mitchell-on-talent-shortages-at-apex-2023-emsno) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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