It IS Broke…Can we fix it?
Written By:
John Kennedy, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Team Eagle Consulting
When I retired in mid-2023, I had decided that I could best support my Industry by providing advice and expertise to the State of New Jersey while staying in the background. I no longer wanted to be ‘front & center’ as the face of Manufacturing in NJ, as there were/are those that are better positioned to provide immediate impact. However, what I have since realized is that we need all voices to speak in tandem to overcome the issues confronting us. That is true (even) if I no longer have the platform to address things as in the past.
What we have to finally understand is that national economies are all driven by Manufacturing. Those countries without a substantial input and output in this critical sector are totally reliant upon others and subject to every fluctuation, no matter how insignificant, in the Supply Chain. If you add in the National Security facet…then the alarm increases exponentially.
In our state, when you combine Engineering/R&D, Advanced Manufacturing (including Life Sciences), and Logistics/Supply Chain, one comes up with about one million employees and almost $200 billion annually in GDP. These sectors have to be supported at all costs, and that includes filling tens of thousands of open positions. The timing is important…and fleeting.
Over the past year, I wrote a book about the Scout Law called ‘Twelve Simple Words’. It paid homage to the value of these words in my life and in others. I found that this undertaking pushed me to open up more than I ever wanted to on some personal items, but that action was important to the overall impact of the book.
As I completed the effort, I reconsidered another book idea that I had contemplating for some time. One that considers the overall issues with our current educational system, but with a keen focus on Workforce Development as it applies to the Engineering and Manufacturing Sectors. My working title is ‘It IS broke…can we Fix it’? This is not coined in a joking manner, as we have an Industry that has 40,000 open jobs in our state alone. These jobs average $100,000 annually and supply and support career opportunities in highly technical fields.
The main challenge is there is no pipeline of individuals going into these sectors. The secondary issue…there is no feasible plan to make it better. We just keep plowing forward. This as our country falls further behind in education, especially technology, on the world stage. The reactions to our drop have always been to find fault in the testing, the rating systems, and/or decry any negative comments as disinformation. And yes…there are so many stats available that it makes Major League Baseball’s Statcast algorithms seem tame by comparison.
So, I concentrated my research on the ‘Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development’ (OECD) which has 38 Member Countries reporting in 2022, and the USA ranked:
- 13th in Science
- 6th in Reading
- 28th in Math
- 3rd in Spending per Student
In a world driven by ever-increasing technology; where do these numbers place us? In a world that continues on a dangerous path; how will these numbers dictate as threats continue to increase?
One thing I have noticed is that our overall approach to issues is quite a different type of mantra then in the past. Now when it comes to addressing contemporary problems, our goal is to (look first) to affix blame and (second) not work towards solutions. That creates an atmosphere of immediate contempt between factions, while the search for answers becomes an after-thought. It appears that the fact that blame is attached is enough. No further action required.
Sound radical? Think about it for a moment, by considering what you hear or read or view…it has become all about impugning others and their ideas. That way we can take the moral high ground and never feel compelled to supply a single resolution.
My first professional gig in Engineering and Manufacturing came with Coleman Equipment Company in Irvington, NJ. I learned a great many lessons there, but one the biggest was to never come to management with just a problem. Always come with a possible solution or two. Even if they did not fit the situation, it showed others that you were looking ahead to the next step.
We don’t do that anymore…and it shows…especially when it comes to education.
First off, there is more than enough blame for all when it comes to this topic - from Parents to Educators to Government to Industry – so just accept that fact and begin to move forward. Why do I say that?
Simply, only about 40% of adults in the United States hold a 2- or 4-year degree. If the overarching goal has been to get all of us degreed, then that grade (alone) gets us a failing mark. So, what do we have to do to move forward?
- Reset the Educational Foundation – 4 Year College is a component, not the only end-game
- Develop Career Pathways by applying Apprenticeships to carry the entire System
- Understand that every tier in the conduit is on the Critical Path.
- Middle School
- High School & CTE Schools
- County/Community Colleges
- 4-Year Schools
- Post Grad Process
- Insert consistency into the process to allow for…
- Pathways
- Repeatable Curriculum
- On & Off Ramps
- Stackable Credentials & Credits
- Understand that Industry must play an active part in this or failure is inevitable. Be bold enough to make real changes.
The State of New Jersey certainly has all the assets to lead the way for our Region and our Country. The question (then) is – do we have the mindset to make the changes required? Can we consider this Point of View as a place to begin the discussion…and even contemplate arguing as an effective tool?
Time will tell, but it is not an unlimited asset. It is passing…very quickly.