Case Study: Randolph Community College eases local manufacturing skills gaps with Mastercam

Apprenticeship Program and Manufacturing Exposure Eases Local Skills Gap

Randolph Community College faced a challenge common to many industrial communities: a significant skills gap where local manufacturers struggled to find skilled employees while residents sought well-paying jobs. The college needed an effective way to attract and train students for careers in advanced manufacturing. To address this, they implemented Mastercam's Education Suite software as a core component of their Computer-Integrated Machining curriculum.

The solution involved creating a comprehensive apprenticeship program, Apprenticeship Randolph, which integrated hands-on CNC machining with Mastercam training. Students learned toolpath programming and machine operation, building their skills from basic 2D drawing to complex projects. The program, powered by Mastercam, achieved significant results: it successfully placed seventeen apprentices with local companies who are paid while they learn, and it provides a clear pathway to a Journeyman's certificate and an associate degree, directly easing the local skilled labor shortage.

Randolph Community College

Garret Parker

Department Head