# Forwardskilling: Technical Training for the Existing Workforce w/ Bill Berrien

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2025-01-21
- Length: 38m
- Episode: 241
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-21-forwardskilling-technical-training-for-the-existing-workforce-w-bill-berrien
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-b85b8876-a6fb-4ea5-b94b-d41455270b60

## Summary

Bill Berrien, Owner and CEO of Pindel Global Precision and Liberty Precision Manufacturing, explains his 'Forwardskilling' initiative, a mid-career apprenticeship model designed to upskill existing manufacturing workers. He details how his company applied a 'sharing economy' approach to technical training, partnering with Milwaukee Area Technical College to create a CNC Swiss production machinist pilot program. Berrien highlights the operational lessons learned from shifting class schedules to accommodate shift workers and the financial impact of doubling or tripling employee wages through these new high-skill roles.

## Chapters

- [0:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-21-forwardskilling-technical-training-for-the-existing-workforce-w-bill-berrien#t=36) Introduction: Bill Berrien and Pindel Global Precision
- [5:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-21-forwardskilling-technical-training-for-the-existing-workforce-w-bill-berrien#t=335) The Shift from Low-Skill to High-Automation Manufacturing
- [8:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-21-forwardskilling-technical-training-for-the-existing-workforce-w-bill-berrien#t=536) Challenges in Upskilling Small and Mid-Size Manufacturers
- [19:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-21-forwardskilling-technical-training-for-the-existing-workforce-w-bill-berrien#t=1173) The Sharing Economy Model for Technical Training
- [23:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-21-forwardskilling-technical-training-for-the-existing-workforce-w-bill-berrien#t=1406) Pilot Program Results and Schedule Adjustments
- [26:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-21-forwardskilling-technical-training-for-the-existing-workforce-w-bill-berrien#t=1607) Future Vision: Regional Expansion and Clearinghouse
- [30:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-01-21-forwardskilling-technical-training-for-the-existing-workforce-w-bill-berrien#t=1809) Replicating Forwardskilling: Internal Teams and Vendor Partnerships

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Pindel Global Precision (company)
- Liberty Precision Manufacturing (company)
- Milwaukee Area Technical College (other)
- Universal Robots (company)
- E-Cammy (other)
- GE Healthcare (company)
- Tsugami (company)
- Zeiss (company)
- Hexagon (company)
- Dusan (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [160: Buying a Manufacturing Company and Reimagining Upskilling with Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-07-160-buying-a-manufacturing-company-and-reimagining-upskilling-with-bill-berrien) (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)
- [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)
- [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)
- [BONUS: What Manufacturers Can Learn from Central Wisconsin's Workforce Strategy (LIVE from Wausau, WI)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-06-05-bonus-what-manufacturers-can-learn-from-central-wisconsins-workforce-strategy-li) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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