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Ohio University and Fairfield County Workforce Center partnership produces tomorrow’s manufacturing leaders

October is Manufacturing Month, a time to celebrate the strength and innovation of Ohio’s manufacturing sector and to highlight how education and workforce partnerships are preparing the next generation of skilled technicians.

At Ohio University Lancaster and the Fairfield County Workforce Center (FCWC), students, educators and industry partners are working together to meet those needs through advanced training, hands-on experience and a shared commitment to fueling the region’s economic growth.

“As we celebrate Manufacturing Month, we recognize the vital role that education plays in shaping the future of Ohio’s workforce,” said Lewatis McNeal, vice provost of regional higher education at Ohio University. “This is a special opportunity to honor the partnerships between our regional campuses, local schools and industry leaders who are creating real opportunities for students. The Fairfield County Workforce Center and Ohio University Lancaster exemplify how regional higher education can drive economic growth, prepare skilled professionals and strengthen communities across the state.”

While recent news cycles have focused on uncertainty in the manufacturing industry, momentum across Ohio tells a different story. The Intel Ohio One project in New Albany, representing more than $28 billion in investment, is showing renewed activity with visible progress on-site and new energy being directed toward Ohio’s role in the nation’s semiconductor industry.

This renewed optimism reflects the same progress that is taking place at Ohio University Lancaster and the Fairfield County Workforce Center, where advanced manufacturing education is thriving and where faculty and students are directly contributing to the state’s growing skilled workforce pipeline.

Individuals cut the ribbon while a crowd watches to celebrate the opening of the new Engineering Technology Lab
Representatives from Ohio University, the Fairfield County Workforce Center and the community celebrated the ribbon cutting for a $3.5 million addition to the Engineering Technology Laboratory.

Preparing students for in-demand careers

The Engineering Technology (ENGT) program is led by Zaki Kuruppalil, who also serves as the department chair for Engineering Technology at Ohio University. Additional faculty and staff include Todd Myers, Syed Ahmed, Christopher Quolke and Mark Wile. Wile also serves as the program coordinator at the Fairfield County Workforce Center, where he helps connect classroom learning with real-world industry experiences and workforce development opportunities. The program provides students with a strong foundation in applied learning and hands-on technical training.

Through certificate and associate degree programs offered at the Ohio University Lancaster campus, students are prepared for careers in automation, robotics, mechatronics and quality systems. Students benefit from seamless transfer pathways to bachelor’s and graduate degrees through Ohio University’s Russ College of Engineering and Technology. These pathways help students build the technical expertise and problem-solving skills that employers across southeast and central Ohio are seeking.

One of the most significant examples of Ohio University’s commitment to workforce preparation took place in summer 2025 when the University hosted a three-week “Train the Trainer” Automation and Robotics Bootcamp. This initiative was funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory through defense contractor ARCTOS.

The program trained 13 participants including high school and middle school teachers, community college instructors, four-year college faculty, a local business owner and industry professionals. Participants earned eight graduate credit hours from Ohio University (for teachers), two industry credentials from FANUC Robotics, and two credentials from Rockwell Automation.

“This is an excellent opportunity for these participants to get $11,000 worth of training at no cost to them,” said Kuruppalil, principal investigator for the ARCTOS grant. “Two schools, Nelsonville-York and Logan High Schools, were given a $50,000 loaner robot to hit the ground running in their schools. As a part of this initiative, Ohio University is also investing in its Chillicothe campus. An already established Automation Technician Certificate will be replicated at Chillicothe upon completion of state procedures. We have already invested in Chillicothe by procuring five FANUC robot certification carts and five Allen Bradley PLC trainers worth $250,000.”

Dr. Syed Ahmed speaks while giving a tour of a laboratory in the Fairfield County Workforce Center
Syed Ahmed, assistant professor of instruction in engineering technology at OHIO Lancaster, gives a tour of the Fairfield County Workforce Center.

OHIO students are moving into advanced manufacturing positions

“Ohio University is deeply committed to advancing Ohio’s manufacturing and technology workforce,” said Patrick Fox, dean of the Russ College of Engineering and Technology. “By partnering with industry and educators, we are not only preparing students for in-demand careers but also empowering teachers and professionals to share that knowledge within their own communities. This is how we strengthen our regional economy and ensure innovation continues to thrive across the state.”

The goal of the program is to equip educators and trainers with the tools and knowledge necessary to perpetuate applied skills in automation and robotics across Ohio. By teaching teachers, Ohio University is creating a ripple effect that will expand access to high-quality manufacturing instruction and help fill the nation’s growing need for skilled technicians.

According to Myers and Quolke, manufacturers in central and southeast Ohio continue to report an ongoing need for highly skilled technicians capable of working in automation, robotics integration, industrial maintenance and process control. These are not future needs but current needs, and Ohio University students are already stepping into those roles.

As Manufacturing Month celebrates the innovation, resilience and opportunity that define this industry, Ohio University Lancaster and the Fairfield County Workforce Center stand as strong examples of how education, industry and community collaboration can come together to strengthen the state’s economy.

Through certificate programs, associate degrees and advanced pathways, Ohio University is ensuring that the next generation of technicians and innovators are ready to lead the way.

To learn more about OHIO Lancaster’s Engineering Technology program, please visit ohio.edu/lancaster/academics/associate-degree/engineering-tech

To discover more about the Fairfield County Workforce Center, please visit ohio.edu/workforcecenter.

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An Ohio University classroom at the Fairfield County Workforce Center.
Published
October 8, 2025
Author
Staff reports