By Danny Gavin, AEM Communications Coordinator --
As equipment manufacturers continue to experience workforce shortages, many are realizing that they must take a holistic approach to workforce to secure the industry’s future. From the high school and college level to dealerships, manufacturers need to be involved and engaged to build their future workforce.
AEM member company AGCO is taking steps to do just that, collaborating with dealerships and colleges across the United States through its AGCO Agriculture Service Technician Program at Parkland College Champaign, Illinois, and its new NexTECH program, which engages with already-existing technician programs throughout the country.
“Our dealers are super excited to have our students coming back to the dealership and demonstrate what they’ve learned, and our students are really excited to prove their knowledge and get more involved with the work they’ll be doing after they graduate,” said AGCO Aftersales Training Business Development Manager Ella Bowling.
No Need to Reinvent the Wheel
While starting a new program is extremely beneficial, it takes significant time and energy. Several existing technician programs are in need of new equipment to train on, and updated information about the latest equipment technology.
Contributing to existing programs can make a huge difference when it comes to fortifying the manufacturing workforce. After all, companies who get in front of students in one way or another will ensure that they’ll be top-of-mind when schools look to place their best students.
“With our latest program, AGCO NexTECH, we partner with schools that have an existing diesel technician program, but the goal isn’t for these schools to reinvent their material,” said Bowling. “We want them to keep doing what they’re doing and support them with AGCO equipment, AGCO training resources, and AGCO curriculum.”
The program provides a few benefits for schools depending on what resources they are looking for:
- Access to AGCO training aids, like powertrain components for hands-on teaching, tech resources, as well as other materials that will make their diesel technology programs successful.
- Access to training curriculum used by the AGCO North American Aftersales team (with its dealer service technicians on the latest models of the company’s equipment).
- Faculty members at partner institutions are invited to attend the annual AGCO NexTECH Summit in Hesston, Kansas, to learn alongside AGCO’s Aftersales training team and gain access to the latest training materials from AGCO.
Manufacturers can’t just show up at a technical college once or twice a year or donate old equipment – engaging with these institutions and making sure training materials are updated regularly is what will pay dividends over time.
Want to learn more workforce strategies and tactics? AEM members are encouraged to join AEM’s Workforce Development Committee.
Apprenticeships Continue to Gain Momentum
Industry apprenticeships are becoming a popular option for many manufacturers, as apprentices learn on the job and have a high retention upon program completion.
Through AGCO’s current Agriculture Service Technician Program, students participate in the program to earn a full two-year associates degree on AGCO training technology, working on AGCO tractors and learning about every aspect of equipment maintenance. The company even invested $5 million to construct a 22,000 square foot training facility on Parkland College Grounds, where all of its apprentices travel to participate – aptly called the AGCO Technician Training Center.
Regional dealers sponsor students by providing tuition support and tooling. Apprentices are typically drawn to this model of education because they can learn on the job (and are getting paid to do it). As their skills increase, their pay increases, and eventually they’ll be able to make their way into the workforce.
“We launched our registered apprenticeship program in August 2024, so it is still a very new program, but we have four students currently participating and they’re doing fantastic,” said Bowling. “We’re now seeing interest from AGCO dealers across the country for our next cohort of students.”
AGCO is currently partnering with Jobs for the Future (JFF), a national education and workforce nonprofit which serves as an industry intermediary for registered apprenticeships in the manufacturing industry, to get their national registered apprenticeship up and running. Once the company’s national program standards for apprenticeship are approved, dealers from various regions will be able to attract students directly from high school into their pipeline.
Focusing on Dealer Needs
While each manufacturer must do their part to build a pipeline of technicians, they also must support their dealers and give them the skills to recruit and retain employees. AGCO has provided their dealers with a training playbook to help dealers and retain technicians, and Bowling recommends that every manufacturer provide resources to improve upon existing efforts.
“Understand and forecast the need for technicians, and work to create a strategy to tackle talent development and retention. There are always organizations like Jobs for the Future that can help tackle the issue or help companies get started,” said Bowling.
There are numerous ways to uplift the manufacturing workforce, through existing programs, new programs, and dealer resources. Manufacturers must act now and engage in a variety of workforce efforts to cultivate the next-generation workforce.
