By Steel River Foundry | October 2026 · 8 min read
The following article was written by the team at Steel River Foundry and reshared with permission.
A recent analysis from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute estimates that manufacturing technician employment could grow six times faster than production occupations between 2025 and 2030. At the same time, researchers identified nearly 2 million technicians working in adjacent industries whose existing skills could potentially transfer into manufacturing.
That presents American industry with an enormous opportunity.
Rather than looking exclusively for people who already possess every skill required for increasingly technical industrial positions, employers may need to get better at recognizing the skills workers already have—and creating faster, more effective ways to teach them the skills they still need.
In other words, the challenge isn’t simply finding workers.
It’s developing them.
The Industrial Workforce Is Changing
Today’s industrial technician often needs a much broader skill set than previous generations.
Mechanical knowledge remains important, but modern industrial environments increasingly require workers who can understand electrical systems, hydraulics, controls, diagnostics, computerized equipment, and increasingly sophisticated machinery.
Consider the skills required to maintain just one overhead crane system:
A technician may encounter motors, brakes, electrical controls, variable frequency drives, wire rope, gearboxes, limit switches, structural components and mechanical systems—all while working within established inspection, maintenance and safety requirements.
Heavy equipment presents similar challenges. Troubleshooting a hydraulic system requires a different set of skills than operating the machine. Inspecting equipment requires different knowledge than repairing it.
The result is growing demand for people who aren’t simply equipment operators or mechanics, but multidisciplinary industrial technicians.
The Workers May Already Be Here
One of the most interesting findings from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute is the identification of nearly 2 million technicians working in adjacent industries whose broader technical skills may be transferable to manufacturing.
That changes the workforce conversation.
A diesel mechanic doesn’t necessarily need to start from zero to become an industrial maintenance technician. Neither does an electrician, equipment operator, field service technician or someone coming from another skilled trade.
These workers may already understand tools, mechanical systems, troubleshooting, safety procedures or electrical principles.
The question becomes: What do they already know, what do they need to know and how quickly can we close the gap?
That requires a different approach to workforce development—one that recognizes existing competency and builds upon it with focused technical education and practical experience.
We Need to Accelerate Knowledge Transfer
For generations, much of America’s industrial knowledge has been transferred from one worker to another.
A new technician might spend months or years working alongside an experienced employee, gradually learning the equipment, recognizing problems and developing the instincts that come from experience.
That model remains incredibly valuable.
But it can also be difficult to scale.
As experienced technicians retire and demand for new technical talent grows, companies can’t afford to lose decades of institutional knowledge. Nor can every employer wait years for each new employee to acquire that knowledge exclusively through experience.
The next generation of industrial training needs to accelerate that process.
Structured classroom instruction, hands-on equipment, simulation, digital learning, mentorship and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence can work together to make technical knowledge more accessible.
The objective isn’t to replace experience.
It’s to help workers acquire meaningful experience faster.
Where Does AI Fit Into Industrial Training?
Deloitte’s research specifically identifies artificial intelligence as a potential tool for accelerating skills development.
That doesn’t mean replacing instructors or teaching industrial trades entirely from a computer screen.
AI and digital learning tools can help workers understand concepts, find technical information, reinforce classroom instruction and access knowledge when they need it. Simulation technology can allow equipment operators to encounter situations that would be difficult, expensive or potentially hazardous to recreate with actual equipment.
But industrial competency still requires something technology cannot completely reproduce: hands-on experience.
A worker can learn the principles of hydraulic pressure in a classroom, but troubleshooting an actual hydraulic system creates another level of understanding.
Someone can study crane inspection criteria, but physically examining wire rope, hooks, brakes, controls and structural components teaches lessons that photographs alone cannot.
A crane operator can study load control, but developing the coordination and judgment required to safely control a suspended load requires practice.
The future of industrial training isn’t digital versus hands-on.
It’s digital plus hands-on.
From Training for a Job to Building a Technician
This shift also means thinking differently about industrial training itself.
Instead of viewing crane operation, hydraulics, electrical troubleshooting, equipment inspection, rigging and industrial maintenance as completely separate disciplines, employers can begin looking at the complete skill set their workforce needs.
An employee may begin as an equipment operator and eventually develop inspection skills. A mechanic may add hydraulic troubleshooting. A maintenance technician may strengthen electrical knowledge. An experienced employee may eventually become an in-house trainer responsible for developing the next generation.
Training becomes a progression rather than a one-time event.
That’s the philosophy behind the expanding training programs available through Steel River Foundry, including specialized crane, rigging and lifting-equipment training from the North American Crane Bureau (NACB), along with industrial hydraulics, electrical, mechanical and maintenance training.
The goal is bigger than completing a course.
It’s developing capable people.
Building the Workforce America Will Need Next
The equipment inside America’s manufacturing plants, utilities, mines, warehouses and industrial facilities isn’t becoming less sophisticated.
Neither are the jobs responsible for keeping it operating.
Meeting that challenge will require employers, training organizations and experienced tradespeople to find better ways to identify transferable skills, preserve institutional knowledge and give workers opportunities to expand their capabilities.
Technology—including AI—can help accelerate that process. Simulation can provide new ways to practice. Structured education can provide the technical foundation.
But experienced instructors, real equipment and hands-on learning will remain essential parts of developing competent industrial professionals.
The next generation of America’s industrial workforce may already be working.
Our challenge is giving them the training, experience and opportunity to take the next step.
An Immersive Place to Learn
Warehouse operations don’t always stop at the building’s walls.
That philosophy comes to life at the Foundry Industrial Academy at Steel River Ranch in Cleburne, Texas, where industrial training is paired with an immersive, hands-on learning experience. Attendees can step away from the distractions of the workplace and focus on developing new skills inside a spacious, purpose-built workshop equipped with cranes, lifting systems and other industrial equipment. It’s an environment where concepts can quickly move from instruction and demonstration to hands-on application.
The experience continues after the day’s training is complete. Attendees can connect over group dinners, games and other activities, enjoy the swimming pool or simply unwind outdoors and take in the fresh air of the Texas ranch. It creates an atmosphere designed not only for learning, but also for exchanging experiences, building relationships and developing the kind of camaraderie that has always been an important part of the skilled trades.
Are You Prepared?
At CraneTech, we recognize that keeping American industry moving requires a skilled workforce and a continuous investment in the next generation of technicians. That’s why we partner with the seasoned industry instructors at Steel River Foundry and the North American Crane Bureau (NACB) to provide ongoing, hands-on training for our technicians. From evolving safety regulations and industry best practices to advanced inspection, maintenance, and repair techniques, our commitment to professional development ensures our teams have the knowledge, skills, and confidence to work safely, maintain critical equipment, and keep our customers’ operations running efficiently.
This post is intended as general guidance. Facilities should consult with a qualified safety professional for compliance assessments specific to their operations.
