Skills Training for a Modern Manufacturing Workforce: Does the German Model Have Lessons for the United States?
*This event is by invitation only.
A key to sustaining the manufacturing resurgence in the United Sates is a skilled workforce. In recent decades, the United States has fallen behind in training the types of workers—whether in skilled production and higher professions or in science and engineering research fields—needed to remain competitive in global markets. In this environment, the German dual system of training is increasingly seen as a major contributor to narrowing the skills gap. This conference, co-sponsored by the Aspen Manufacturing & Society Program, the German Embassy, the Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT), and the German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI) in cooperation with several US manufacturing firms and the German Chamber of Commerce, brings together leading experts from government and industry to explore ways in which individual companies, often German multinationals and regional consortia are finding effective ways adapt the dual system to the U.S. economic and social environment. The final panel will offer policy prescriptions for the United States. This event will be keynoted by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Pritzker, who has long been a leader in the public and private sector in this field. CEOs of leading German and American companies who have found successful ways to meet their needs using the dual system also will be featured. Each program segment will be followed by a moderated Q&A session.
In addition to Secretary Pritzker, other speakers and moderators include the following: Peter Wittig, German Ambassador to the United States; Ronald D. Bullock, Chairman, Bison Gear & Engineering Corporation; Gregory W. Cappelli, Chief Executive Officer of Apollo Education Group and Chairman of Apollo Global; Peter Feil, General Manager, Stöber; Arjonetta Gaillard, Human Resources Manager, MTU America; Elfi Klumpp, Head of International Education and Skills Development, Festo Didactic; Peter Maisel, President and CEO, Kostal North America; Blake D. Moret, Senior Vice President, Control Products & Solutions, Rockwell Automation and Chairman of The Manufacturing Institute; Nicholas T. Pinchuk, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Snap-on Incorporated; Steven Rotman, President, Ameritech Die & Mold, Inc.; Eric A. Spiegel, President and CEO, Siemens North America; Ilker Subasi, Assistant Manager of Technical Training, Volkswagen Group of America; and Thomas Zielke, President, The Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT).
Moderators: Emily S. DeRocco, Former President, The Manufacturing Institute, NAM; Joann Halpern, Director, German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI); and Stephanie Jehlitschka, Vice President, German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc.
This conference, co-sponsored by the Aspen Manufacturing & Society Program, the German Embassy, the Representative of German Industry and Trade (RGIT), and the German Center for Research and Innovation (GCRI) in cooperation with several US manufacturing firms and the German Chamber of Commerce, brings together leading experts from government and industry to explore ways in which individual companies, often German multinationals and regional consortia are finding effective ways adapt the dual system to the U.S. economic and social environment.