Initiatives - http://sminet.org

Since 1994, SMI has developed and implemented a regional networking model that enabled manufacturers, educators, and community leaders to work together on shared workforce and competitiveness goals. The model was successfully deployed during periods when public funding supported regional coordination and industry engagement. Through Regional Leadership Councils, small and mid-sized manufacturers collaborated locally to share resources, align training needs, engage schools and policymakers, and build leadership within their communities. The structure emphasized convenience, communication, and trust—making collaboration a practical business strategy rather than an occasional event. Because decisions were made at the regional level, solutions remained local, measurable, and accountable, ensuring that public and private investments delivered real value to both companies and workers. This proven framework demonstrated how cooperation, when properly resourced, can become a competitive advantage for manufacturers and a catalyst for community prosperity.

FastBreak is SMI’s core workforce model. It is a proven, intensive model that prepares motivated individuals to succeed in modern manufacturing and technical careers while helping employers reduce hiring risk. Unlike traditional training programs, FastBreak operates as a simulated, high-performance workplace. Students learn in teams, meet real deadlines, apply feedback, and develop both technical and professional skills that employers consistently say are missing. Each regional FastBreak site serves up to 250 applicants annually through an 8-week, full-time immersion combining computer-assisted learning, real-world problem solving, and collaborative instruction. Participants attend 5½ days per week in an environment that mirrors employer expectations for punctuality, accountability, and teamwork. Graduates demonstrate: • Certified math and reading proficiency (They increase 2-3 grade levels) • Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, and workplace technology • Proven reliability, communication skills, and team performance Approximately 75% of participants complete the program, with many moving directly into employment, apprenticeships, or continued education. For employers, FastBreak functions as a pre-screened talent pipeline—graduates have already demonstrated discipline, drug-free compliance, and commitment to learning. They are transformed and have a work-ready mindset. To ensure broad access, SMI also operates Step-Up, a preparatory track for individuals who enter below eighth-grade levels in math or reading. Step-Up provides the same immersive structure with added mentoring and support, preparing participants to successfully transition into FastBreak. Together, FastBreak and Step-Up create a clear, accountable pathway that builds confidence, raises performance, and delivers the dependable talent employers need.

For more than 30 years, SMI has been a leading advocate for relevant, industry-aligned Career-Technical Education (CTE) in California—working to elevate manufacturing pathways within a system long dominated by a college-only mindset. Through its regional networks and partnerships, SMI helped bring nationally recognized workforce models to California, generating more than $10 million in state-funded programs and engaging thousands of students and educators statewide. SMI played a key role in expanding and supporting proven frameworks, including: • Project Lead the Way, now operating in more than 1,200 California schools • National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) standards and certifications • VEX Robotics, reaching 650+ schools and 1,700 teams • Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) programs At the local level, SMI has worked directly with Los Angeles County schools to rebuild and sustain high-school manufacturing academies and, in 2017, helped reopen a middle-school shop program that now feeds a high-school pathway. Through strong government and industry partnerships, SMI coordinated the donation of more than $2 million in equipment and supplies, helping keep shop programs viable during lean funding periods. Over three decades, SMI has also funded and coordinated 470+ internships and apprenticeships, connecting young people to real manufacturing careers—many of whom went on to become skilled employees and leaders within the companies where they first trained.

SMI conducts industry research and partners with educators, associations, and content experts to develop practical, data-driven improvement models for manufacturing and workforce development. Effective outreach and program design begin with accurate, relevant information drawn directly from industry and education partners. Working with regional community colleges and school districts, SMI has helped write and manage more than $10 million in public grants, using research findings to shape programs that respond to real employer and workforce needs. Key research initiatives include: • Regional State of Manufacturing Surveys Assessing the health, challenges, and workforce needs of manufacturers within targeted regions. These surveys also incorporate input from community partners to identify urgent issues, including responses to disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. • Aerospace and Defense Supply Chain Barriers Analyzing and validating processes that identify operational and workforce barriers faced by lower-tier suppliers critical to the defense industrial base. • Survey of California Industrial Teachers Examining the current state of shop and manufacturing educators, including workforce readiness, program quality, pending retirements, and areas needing investment or modernization. • Mechanical Aptitude and Student Development Highlighting the role of hands-on learning and mechanical aptitude in developing student intellect, problem-solving ability, and long-term career readiness. Through applied research and continuous feedback from industry and education partners, SMI ensures that its programs—and those it supports—are grounded in evidence, aligned with employer demand, and capable of producing measurable results.

The California Shipbuilding Ecosystems Alliance (CalSEA) is a statewide initiative supporting the U.S. Navy’s efforts to strengthen California’s maritime and defense industrial base. The alliance brings together government agencies, industry, academic institutions, and nonprofit partners with deep experience in workforce development, supplier advancement, and technology adoption. SMI participates in CalSEA as a workforce and industry engagement partner, helping connect small and mid-sized manufacturers, educators, and workforce systems to the resources needed to support shipbuilding, maritime, and defense readiness across California. CalSEA integrates workforce development, supplier development, and technology deployment to: • Support current and future demand for skilled maritime and defense workers • Expand supply chain capability, capacity, and operational efficiency • Accelerate adoption of Navy-relevant technologies, including additive manufacturing, digital transformation, AI, autonomy, and robotics Through CalSEA, eligible small and mid-sized manufacturers gain access to no-cost services designed to strengthen competitiveness and resilience, including: • Upskilling and training for incumbent workers • Talent development and recruitment support for next-generation workers • Continuous improvement assistance to address capability, capacity, and performance • Guidance on Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing adoption • Support navigating capital investment, financing, and growth strategies • Assistance identifying new contracting and Navy-related opportunities • Technical support for technology road mapping, funding strategies, and critical technology adoption Through its participation in CalSEA, SMI helps ensure that workforce and supplier development efforts remain aligned with industry needs, locally grounded, and focused on measurable outcomes—strengthening California manufacturers while supporting national defense priorities. (Ash NOTE) This would be a great spot for a picture of a welder and also the BuildSumarines.com Logo.