In its pilot year, the Robotic Worx program has engaged hundreds of local students with real world engineering challenges, helped manufacturers find solutions to labor shortage and production needs, and fostered a public/private partnership that is building a future automation workforce ready to solve tomorrow’s engineering problems, today.
“”If I had to pick on word to sum up the whole experience…. it would have to be priceless.”
-Duncan Garvin, Automation Intern, Robotic WorX Program.
A joint initiative between Precision Cobotics, LLC, (PCI) and Millersville University (MU), the Robotic WorX program equips high school and
undergraduate students with the opportunity to address genuine manufacturing problems through automation and robotics. Directed by John Bridgen of PCI and Dr. John Haughery of MU, the program links STEM education to real-world careers and helps manufacturers tackle labor and production issues through workforce development and innovative processes.
In a time when the demand for domestically produced goods has
surged due to global challenges and the technical workforce is at a record low, Robotic WorX is vital. The program supports using automation to strengthen the supply chain and expand the employment base, creating better-paying jobs where humans collaborate with robots. This combination of new automation technologies and emerging STEM talents offers significant growth potential for the manufacturing sector.
Funded by seed grants from Lancaster STEM, the Lancaster County Workforce Development Board, and supported by the PA Department of Community & Economic Development, the program operates out of the Solutions Lab at MU. Managed by Ermias Wogari, a graduate from both McCaskey High School and MU, the lab provides interns with hands-on engineering experience, academic credit, and the chance to develop solutions for real manufacturing problems.
Bob Hildebrand, Director of Product Integrity at Advanced Atomization
Technologies and program collaborator, believes in the program’s impact: “Programs like Robotic WorX are essential for industry growth and
for inspiring young minds to enter challenging fields.”
Intern Avery Axe from Conestoga Valley High School comments, “I enjoy[ed] being challenged with real-world problems from companies, which allows us to collaborate on solutions while enhancing our skills and knowledge.”
To date, Robotic WorX has involved 599 participants, including students and community members, as well as local and national manufacturing firms. Spring 2024 data indicate high school interns improved their career pathway metrics in four key areas related to automation and manufacturing by an average score of 4.2 points on a 10-point scale.
The program has successfully helped students secure fulltime manufacturing jobs, encouraged further education in automation and robotics, and assisted in acceptance to prestigious research programs. For instance, undergraduate intern Duncan Garvan secured a position at PrecisionForm, Inc.; Hecmarys Cintron applied to Millersville’s Automation & Robotics Engineering Technology program; and Cameron Zuschmidt was accepted into the PA Governor’s School of Science summer program at Carnegie Mellon University.
Looking ahead to Fall 2024, Robotic WorX will continue offering internships, job shadowing, and lab tours. For more information or to discuss opportunities for sponsorship or collaboration, please visit the Solutions Lab at https://www.precisioncobotics.com/solutions-lab. LT
Reposted with permission from LANCASTER Thriving!, Summer 2024. lancasterchamber.com/thriving-publication