Spark the Fire

Much is being written about the need to attract young people into manufacturing and there is a need to make sure we have a qualified workforce to continue keeping the US as a strong manufacturing country. Criterion has participated on advisory boards for many of our local technical training centers, community colleges and colleges in our area.

 The Battle
of the Robots

Last weekend the NTMA Training Center in Ontario, CA held a Battle Box battle of the robots. The theme was "Spark the Fire" to introduce young people to manufacturing.

Do you think they
can destroy the Printer?

I took 3 of my grandson and their dad to see the robots.

The attendance was great and the mixer of people gathered to watch was a perfect blend. My hat is off to the staff of the NTMA Training Center as they drew the young kids in allowing them to operate some RC cars in between the robot battles.




There was a pit area where you could get a close up look at the robots and talk to the students who designed, built and battled the robots. The students were excited to explain to us how they built the robots and what they learned while building them.

The Pit Area 

I wonder if I could do this
someday?

A spark was lit as one of my grandsons asked if I thought he might be able to do something like that one day. I hope it turns into a flame and he will be a part of our manufacturing future.