SME Builds on Years of Developing Manufacturing Talent with Five New Michigan School Programs

Three new SME PRIME high school programs and two middle school pathways will help students develop technical skills and explore manufacturing careers.

SOUTHFIELD, MI, UNITED STATES, October 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Building on its deep roots in Michigan and nearly a century of advancing manufacturing and developing talent across the country, SME is expanding its longstanding SME PRIME program and manufacturing education pathways to five new Michigan schools. With SME PRIME already established in 54 schools and serving thousands of students statewide, the expansion strengthens SME’s efforts to connect Michigan students and educators with manufacturing careers and the skills industry needs.

Established in 2013, SME PRIME (Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education) develops customized manufacturing and engineering programs in schools nationwide, guided by industry input and tailored to local workforce needs. The program provides industry-relevant equipment, curriculum, teacher training, student scholarships, extracurricular funding and long-term sustainability support. Together, SME PRIME and SME’s middle school programming reach approximately 19,000 student participants across 33 states, expanding opportunities for students to explore manufacturing and develop technical skills earlier in their education. SME PRIME students earn industry-recognized credentials and certifications, and 91 percent of SME PRIME seniors pursue manufacturing careers after graduation.

“Manufacturers nationwide face increasingly urgent demands for skilled talent. Building the workforce of tomorrow requires connecting students to manufacturing careers early and creating opportunities to explore, develop in-demand skills, and build a foundation for success at every stage of their educational journey,” said Dr. Deb Volzer, vice president of workforce development at SME. “By connecting learning to career opportunities from middle school through high school and beyond, SME is empowering students to envision their future in manufacturing while developing the talent, skills, and capabilities industry needs to drive innovation, strengthen competitiveness, and fuel long-term growth.”

The funding, awarded through the Michigan Department of Education’s Section 61v CTE Expansion Grant program, will support SME PRIME programs at three high schools and pathways at two middle schools. Designed as an exploratory bridge to SME PRIME in high school, the middle school Technology, Automation and Innovation Pathway will introduce students to manufacturing-related technologies and help them build foundational skills for continued learning and future careers.

This expansion reflects SME’s broader mission to strengthen manufacturing and the communities it supports by developing talent aligned with industry’s evolving needs. SME reaches approximately 100,000 students annually across United States through hands-on learning, career exploration, industry engagement, education and training, and pathways to industry-recognized credentials and manufacturing careers.

The funding will expand SME PRIME high school programming at Brown City, Clintondale and Bentley, providing students with hands-on manufacturing education and opportunities to develop industry-relevant skills. At Brown City and East Jackson middle schools, the Technology, Automation and Innovation Pathway will serve as an exploratory bridge to SME PRIME, introducing younger students to robotics, automation, electronics, and 3D modeling and printing while building foundational technical and problem-solving skills.

The grants will support SME programming at five Michigan schools:

SME PRIME — High School Programs

Brown City High School — Brown City, MI
Clintondale High School — Clinton Township, MI
Bentley High School — Burton, MI

Middle School Manufacturing Pathways

Brown City Middle School — Brown City, MI
East Jackson Middle School — Jackson, MI

“Introducing students to manufacturing and technology in middle and high school gives them time to discover their interests and build confidence in their abilities,” said Neil Kohler, superintendent of Brown City Community Schools. “This new pathway in middle school will help students build a foundation for SME PRIME in high school, creating opportunities to explore, develop skills and discover where a future in manufacturing could take them.”

At Clintondale, the expansion builds on the experience of Bryan Schuerman, director of career and technical education and innovation for Clintondale Community Schools, who previously implemented SME PRIME at Pontiac High School.

“Having worked with SME PRIME as CTE supervisor in the School District of the City of Pontiac, partnering with SME PRIME to establish a new state-approved engineering and manufacturing CTE program at Clintondale Community Schools was an easy decision,” said Schuerman. “SME PRIME’s hands-on curriculum gives students the learning opportunities they need to succeed. This new program will build on that approach, expanding our middle school engineering and manufacturing programming into a connected career pathway that prepares students for manufacturing careers from middle school through graduation.”

With approximately 522,000 manufacturing jobs currently unfilled nationwide, and projections indicating that the talent gap could reach nearly 1.9 million by 2034, SME continues its work in Michigan to build clear pathways that connect students to manufacturing careers and equip them with the skills needed to succeed.

The 2026–27 school year will focus on program implementation, with full operation in all schools expected by September 2027.

About SME
Established in 1932 as a nonprofit organization, SME represents the entire North American manufacturing industry, including manufacturers, academia, professionals, students, and the communities in which they operate. We believe manufacturing holds the key to economic growth and prosperity, and champion the industry’s potential as a diverse, thriving, and valued ecosystem. SME accelerates new technology adoption and builds North America’s talent and capabilities to advance manufacturing and drive competitiveness, resiliency, and national security. SME designs new ways to understand and solve problems, and our solutions advance the next wave of growth in manufacturing. Learn more at SME.org.

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Marirose Albright
Communications Specialist, SME
+1 248-798-2961

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