# The Learning Factory: Closing the Skill Gap Starts with Education w/ Mike Nager

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2021-11-16
- Length: 21m
- Episode: 75
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-16-the-learning-factory-closing-the-skill-gap-starts-with-education-w-mike-nager
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-c18e5ad2-b2b1-41f8-bdf9-9d86f77edcd2

## Summary

Mike Nager, Founding Member of the Solution Center at Festo Didactic, discusses closing the manufacturing skill gap through education and rebranding. He outlines three career paths into manufacturing—four-year degrees, two-year technical colleges, and direct plant floor entry—and highlights the role of 'Learning Factory' in providing safe, hands-on training with technologies from Siemens, Rockwell, and Universal Robots. Nager emphasizes that manufacturers must actively promote themselves via social media and open houses to compete for talent against healthcare and legal sectors, noting that cybersecurity and AI are now critical components of modern manufacturing curricula.

## Chapters

- [0:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-16-the-learning-factory-closing-the-skill-gap-starts-with-education-w-mike-nager#t=50) Introduction and Mike Nager's Book
- [4:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-16-the-learning-factory-closing-the-skill-gap-starts-with-education-w-mike-nager#t=259) Three Career Paths into Manufacturing
- [8:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-16-the-learning-factory-closing-the-skill-gap-starts-with-education-w-mike-nager#t=488) The Role of Community Colleges and Local Industry
- [10:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-16-the-learning-factory-closing-the-skill-gap-starts-with-education-w-mike-nager#t=602) Festo Didactic's Learning Factory
- [12:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-16-the-learning-factory-closing-the-skill-gap-starts-with-education-w-mike-nager#t=777) Emerging Technologies: Cybersecurity and AI
- [15:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-11-16-the-learning-factory-closing-the-skill-gap-starts-with-education-w-mike-nager#t=903) Rebranding Manufacturing and Recruiting Youth

## Topics

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

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Festo Didactic (company)
- Siemens (company)
- Rockwell (company)
- Universal Robots (company)
- Guerrilla 76 (company)
- The Smart Students Guide to Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [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)
- [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)
- [210: Technical Education, Apprenticeships, and Addressing the Needs of Industry Today and in the Future with Ashley Furniture and Western Technical College](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2024-11-05-210-technical-education-apprenticeships-and-addressing-the-needs-of-industry-tod) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [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)
- [How Matric Group is Reimagining US Manufacturing for Tomorrow's Challenges with Patrick Stimpert](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2025-05-06-how-matric-group-is-reimagining-us-manufacturing-for-tomorrows-challenges-with-p) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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