Fresno State unveiled a new, advanced model manufacturing lab Nov. 2 alongside industry partners to support specialized training of the Central Valley manufacturing workforce.
The lab reflects nearly $500,000 in funds from the Fresno-Madera K-16 Collaborative (a Fresno State Foundation-sponsored program) and the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation’s Good Jobs Challenge federal workforce development grant. An additional $350,000 from the Farms Food Future (F3) Initiative, the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and the Division of Continuing and Global Education at Fresno State funded parts of the project.
Fresno State faculty and students will use the lab to train employees from local manufacturers, trade shops and machining companies. Areas of emphasis include manual and computer numerical control (CNC) machining, product design, 3D printing and scanning, blueprint reading and other competencies that are common in the industry.
Employer-focused training workshops can also use traditional manual machining presses and equipment to understand the fundamentals behind boring, cutting, drilling, grinding, lathing, milling and metrology measurement instruments. Upskilling incumbent workers creates opportunities for increased wages, which aligns with the Good Jobs Challenge grant.
The Department of Industrial Technology plans to add robotic arms and a conveyor line to demonstrate assembly line operations.
Companies can schedule workshops targeting specific employee training needs on weekends or nights to accommodate worker schedules.
Mike Luchesi, an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Industrial Technology at Fresno State, hosted the first set of workshops in August and September for six employees from Total Concept Enterprises, a local machining manufacturer that specializes in fasteners.
Luchesi offers nearly five decades of experience in manufacturing and earned his undergraduate and master’s degrees in industrial technology from Fresno State.
He has taught similar skills in classes at Madera Community College, West Hills Community College and Fresno City College for most of the past 35 years, as well as at the high school level and at Pleasant Valley State Prison.
“Being able to teach these workshops is a great experience for me,” Luchesi said. “I had to learn the same things when I started, so I know the employees’ needs and how to connect with them. The size of the classes, their timing over a few weeks and the hands-on training on a range of equipment are really critical for developing skills that might take up to two years if they went through a formal community college or university program.”
Industrial technology students Christopher Court, Faith Schroeder and Sarbrinder Singh will assist Luchesi in training sessions. They have also helped Andrew Harper, the department’s instructional support technician, set up the lab.
Industrial technology courses in manufacturing, product design, production operations and technology will use the lab in spring 2027. Industrial technology students can also use the lab to work on their culminating undergraduate and master’s degree projects.
The Good Jobs Challenge federal grant funds the employee training sessions and aims to train 40 to 60 employees by May 2027, when it ends.
The Fresno-Madera K-16 Collaborative manages the grant under the direction of Karri Hammerstrom, executive director, and Nikolai Rico, business engagement coordinator. They have worked with Fresno State to organize the partnership and funding and integrate lab planning with the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation as well as Genelle Taylor Kempe and Sandra Thomas from the San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance.
“We’re proud to help local employers close skills gaps and give their workers a path to advance,” Hammerstrom said. “This inaugural program is just the beginning, and we’re confident that the Industrial Technology Department and Jordan College will grow it into a lasting hub for advanced manufacturing workforce development at Fresno State.”
Plans for the lab began in fall 2022 when the Department of Industrial Technology and the Ag One Foundation organized efforts to raise funds.
Harper initially designed the lab, and the department gathered additional advice on potential equipment and curriculum from its advisory board, area educators and local manufacturers such as PNM, Innovation Alley, Grundfos, Total Concept Enterprises and Anlin Windows & Doors.
The lab moved closer to becoming a reality under the leadership of Dr. Rolston St. Hilaire, dean of the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. The college approved funding for the lab’s facility renovations, including electrical and plumbing upgrades and painting.
The Division of Continuing and Global Education provided additional seed funds to support the Jordan College’s efforts. The division anticipates future workshops that align with its commitment to student and community workforce skill development.
The lab’s skills training will create significant opportunities for both workforce development and economic growth.
“Precision manufacturers in the Valley have consistently identified a need for entry-level and incumbent worker training to capitalize on the demand for their services,” said William Oliver, president and CEO of the Fresno County Economic Development Corporation. “These employer partners have helped design rapid incumbent worker training modules for the benefit of their employees and the industry, and will be able to grow their businesses as a result of this Fresno State project.”
Companies interested in taking part in the program can contact Nikolai Rico, business engagement coordinator for the Fresno-Madera K-16 Collaborative, at nikolai@csufresno.edu or 559.373.0686.
