SME aims for lead in manufacturing workforce training

SME cited the global growing need for skilled labor as a problem it is addressing. "By 2012, it is estimated the United States alone will be short 3 million skilled workers," said Barbara M. Fossum, SME president. SME's certification products, in-person training, and webinar resources will be joined with Tooling U's online training platform and more than 400 courses.

Closing the acquisition is anticipated at the end of September, at which time SME will be the only shareholder. SME's Tooling U will continue to operate without interruption, providing online education with its existing staff from its base in Cleveland. Going forward, SME will invest in additional online courses and a more interactive interface to support all levels of employees from the machinist and shop floor worker to manufacturing engineers and management personnel.

Chad Schron, co-founder of Tooling U, said, "During the last decade, we have built Tooling U into the number one source of online training for the manufacturing industry. Now, with SME's vast and growing resources, we will have the ability to provide our customers and SME members with new and enhanced online education along with a full portfolio of work force development options, all in one place."

To see a video on Tooling U, click here.