https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143680 Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:35:41 GMT 2026-04-04T11:35:41Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/157941 Photonic Integrated Devices Manufacturing Workforce Preparation Assessment Report: Middle Skilled Technicians Aiken, Juliet; Moore, Elizabeth; Fedewa, Autumn; Jordan, Taylor; Field, Frank; Unger, Elizabeth; Argarwal, Anuradha; Kirchain, Randolph The Conducere-MIT Collaboratory conducted a Manufacturing Workforce Preparation assessment (MWP) for photonic integrated devices, particularly bio-photonic devices. Leveraging data from O*NET and expert interviews, the team identified the need for two manufacturing technician positions, the Photonic Integrated Circuit Technician and the Functionalization Technician. The team identified tasks, skills, and competencies that are critical and needed at entry for manufacturing technicians producing photonic integrated devices. While tasks between these positions are expected to vary somewhat, the skills and competencies needed to be successful are not expected to vary much. Additionally, needed skills and competencies will likely differ for technicians working predominantly with automated equipment and technologists who conduct their work more manually. Much of what technicians need to be able to do will be learned on the job. This report first shares what photonic integrated devices are and summarizes our findings relevant to the market for this emerging technology. The report then details role, task, skill, and competency findings for the technician positions, and provides insight into equipment, education, recruiting, hiring, and training. Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/157941 2025-01-03T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/157940 Workforce Readiness Level (WRL) Deskbook Aiken, Juliet; Moore, Elizabeth; Fedewa, Autumn; Jordan, Taylor; Field, Frank; Unger, Elizabeth; Kirchain, Randolph This document describes how Workforce Readiness Levels (WRLs) can be used as a critical part of the strategic development of manufacturing processes for emerging technology. WRLs are designed to align with TRLs and MRLs, and conducting Workforce Readiness Assessments will enable organizations to intentionally prepare their manufacturing workforce. Our Deskbook is offered as a companion to the MRL and TRL Deskbooks to assist industry leaders in following a holistic and integrated approach to technology and workforce readiness. We anticipate that WRL assessments will be conducted by both industry leaders as they prepare for workforce transition and expansion, and by researchers and consultants supporting the emergence of innovative and cutting-edge technologies. The outcomes of these assessments will inform not only recruiting and hiring for manufacturing organizations, but also training and development both within organizations and in community colleges and vocational schools. Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/157940 2025-01-03T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/154832 Supplemental Information: Occupation clustering methodology for training in-demand engineering technician skills in the advanced manufacturing industry Moore, Elizabeth; Field, Frank; Kirchain, Randolph This file contains the supplemental information for the article "Occupation Clustering Methodology for Training In-Demand Engineering Middle-Skilled Workers in the Advanced Manufacturing Industry" published in the Journal of Engineering Technology in Spring 2024. Fri, 03 May 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/154832 2024-05-03T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153636 Transforming the Role of the Concrete Delivery Professional: A Study on Innovative Solutions for the Ready Mixed Concrete Industry Kirchain, Randolph; Field, Frank; Unger, Elizabeth; Moore, Elizabeth Currently, there is a severe shortage of concrete delivery professionals (CDPs) – the individuals who transport concrete from the plant to the construction site. In fact, according to a recent study by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), 70% of concrete producers had to turn away business because their CDP workforce was insufficient to satisfy demand. This report presents the findings of a research project conducted by the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSHub), with funding by the Concrete Advancement Foundation, that explores both immediate and long-term innovative strategies to address the national CDP shortage and transform the role of the CDP. These solutions are organized into three categories to reflect the primary way in which each impacts the CDP shortage challenge: productivity, recruitment, and retention. The CSHub research team used a multi-disciplinary approach to arrive at these solutions. The approach included an analysis of over 36,000 concrete deliveries to identify efficiency opportunities, interviews with various industry stakeholders; the construction of a representative ready mix operational simulation model to estimate the value of improving productivity, recruitment, and retention; a survey of over 500 CDPs across the U.S.; and an industry workshop to recognize key barriers to the adoption of proposed recommendations. Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/153636 2024-03-04T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143871 Preparing the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce: A Study of Occupation and Skills Demand in the 3D/Additive Manufacturing Industry Kirchain, Randolph; Moore, Elizabeth; Field, Frank This report is a part of a Workforce Roadmap series that characterize technical workforce needs for advanced manufacturing areas focused on highly specialized training for jobs aligned with specific U.S. Manufacturing Institutes including integrated photonics, robotics, flexible electronics, functional fabrics, and 3D/additive manufacturing. Wed, 01 Jun 2022 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143871 2022-06-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143870 Preparing the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce: A Study of Occupation and Skills Demand in the Flexible Hybrid and Printed Electronics Industry Kirchain, Randolph; Moore, Elizabeth; Field, Frank; Roth, Richard This report is a part of a Workforce Roadmap series that characterize technical workforce needs for advanced manufacturing areas focused on highly specialized training for jobs aligned with specific U.S. Manufacturing Institutes including integrated photonics, robotics, flexible electronics, functional fabrics, and 3D/additive manufacturing. Wed, 01 Sep 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143870 2021-09-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143869 Preparing the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce: A Study of Occupation and Skills Demand in the Advanced Robotics Industry Moore, Elizabeth; Field, Frank; Roth, Richard; Kirchain, Randolph Sun, 01 Aug 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143869 2021-08-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143868 Preparing the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce: A Study of Occupation and Skills Demand in the Advanced Fabric and Fiber Industry Kirchain, Randolph; Moore, Elizabeth; Field, Frank; Roth, Richard Sat, 01 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143868 2021-05-01T00:00:00Z https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143765 Preparing the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce: A Study of Occupation and Skills Demand in the Photonics Industry Kirchain, Randolph; Moore, Elizabeth; Field, Frank; Saini, Sajan; Westerman, George Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:00:00 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/143765 2021-02-01T00:00:00Z