Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 44 Summary ■ CNC machines are specialized pieces of equipment that are operated by highly trained and skilled technicians. ■ In 2017, there were 12.4 million workers in the manufacturing industry in the United States. Roughly 8.5% of all jobs were in manufacturing. ■ CNC manufacturing supports industries such as automotive, medical technology, aerospace, defense, computing and technology, woodworking, and sheet metal fabrication. ■ Career paths in CNC manufacturing can include machine operator, machine setup operator, programmer, QC inspection, manufacturing or mechanical engineer, manager, or trainer. ■ Knowing how to prepare job application materials is essential for securing employment. ■ The soft skills required to compete in the modern workforce include good health and hygiene, time management, positive attitude, professionalism, decision-making and problem- solving, communication, good ethics, teamwork, leadership, negotiation, and safety consciousness. ■ Many technical skills are required in manufacturing. Machinists must be detail- oriented, willing to learn, and trained on multiple types of machines and operations. ■ An apprenticeship refers to an instructional program of on-the-job training under the supervision of a journeyperson. An apprentice works directly with a skilled laborer to learn a trade. ■ On-the-job training (OJT) is a long-accepted method of training in manufacturing. Companies typically hire employees that have the soft skills they are looking for and rely on more advanced employees to train them on specific products and machines. ■ Organizations such as NIMS, SME, and NTMA all offer certifications at multiple levels for manufacturing and CNC machining. Review Questions Answer the following questions using the information provided in this chapter. Know and Understand 1. With the advent of _____ machines, machinists no longer have to move the machine handles by hand. A. automatic lathe B. boring C. CNC D. milling 2. True or False? Today’s CNC machines are highly specialized pieces of equipment that can be operated by unskilled workers. 3. True or False? The automobile industry is generally unconnected to machining and manufacturing. 4. As the medical field has advanced and surgical techniques have become more technical, the need for _____ components has increased. A. automatic B. precision C. steel D. titanium 5. True or False? Some of the greatest advances in machining have been brought about by our exploration of aviation and space travel. 6. _____ continues to push our limits of precision and our ability to machine exotic materials. A. Aerospace B. Lathing C. Milling D. Information technology 7. Manufacturing has always played a massive role in the _____ of our country. A. abilities B. defense C. farming D. lathing 8. True or False? The modern computer age was a key factor in the advancement of manufacturing improvements over the last 30 years. Chapter Review