The problem we need to solve

We are thrilled to see the US reclaiming a technical leadership role, particularly with the resurgence of the maker community and excitement surrounding innovation. We as a nation continue to do research, development, and innovation well. What about manufacturing?

The US government is making significant investments to accomplish important national objectives such as bringing tech manufacturing back to American soil, strengthening educational opportunities, and bolstering the development of the domestic workforce.

A critical question then arises: Does the U.S. possess the talent to effectively execute the projects funded by Congress? Even if we establish state-of-the-art factories today, do we have the skilled workforce to operate and maintain them? Could we keep pace with evolving technology, or would these facilities risk immediate obsolescence? Based on our experiences teaching students at over 60 Universities and interactions with numerous professors, graduate students, and engineering employers, it appears that our approach to engineering education has not changed since the 1980s and is outdated. Through our dealings with industry, we are convinced that we are not preparing our graduates to actually do the work. Traditional training methods, already somewhat outdated in the 1980’s, are ill-suited to preparing engineers for today’s demands, let alone those of the future.

In order to fulfill national needs, we must train engineers for work in modern environments: multidisciplinary teams blending theory with practical knowledge and applying both to the manufacturing process.

And we need to do it quickly.

This is what the BUILD Program is designed to do.