NIMS, Autodesk create CAM standards

Design and engineering software manufacturer Autodesk Inc. and the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) have partnered to develop the first-ever industry-recognized CAM standards and credentials. These will enhance education and training programs to meet 21st century demands for skilled CAM programmers, designers and engineers. It's estimated that almost 100,000 jobs will be created by 2024. 

CAM allows manufacturers to efficiently adjust their processes to identify optimal production paths that decrease cycle times, reduce scrapped parts and materials, and improve the quality of finished parts.  Skilled CAM programmers, designers and engineers with extensive education and training are in high demand to plan, manage and control these sophisticated and costly machines according to James Wall, NIMS executive director.   

"Companies in technologically-advanced industries are becoming much more reliant on the use of information technology and automation through CAM software to develop high-value added products and materials," he said. "In the next decade, nearly a million jobs will require the technical skills needed to operate CAM software." 

This partnership supports the advancement of CAM training programs by developing industry standards for educating and training CAM programmers.  To develop these standards, Autodesk and NIMS recruited industry leaders Google, NASA, DMG/MORI Seiki USA, HAAS Automation, Delcam, Parker Hannifin/Sandia National Laboratory and Monkey Likes Shiny. 

After development of the skills standards, NIMS will conduct a national validation process, holding regional reviews of the standards by industrial professionals, before releasing the standards to the public. 

For more information on CAM standard and credential development, contact Christine Hubley, NIMS director of marketing, at chubley@nims-skills.org.