Start them young and watch them grow. In the May episode of the TLC podcast,* industry experts and manufacturing educators turned their attention to two extremely successful workforce development efforts. They previewed the Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS 2026 and highlighted the success of a Georgia Tech workforce development program that allows rural high school students to design, 3D print, machine, and race Pinewood Derby-style cars. Race to the Future The Georgia Tech program is configured much like classic Pinewood Derby events, but with a modern manufacturing twist. “We take the Pinewood Derby and add in Georgia Tech-level engineering, design, machining, AI, and additive manufacturing,” explains Steven Ferguson, principal research scientist at Georgia Tech. “We bring researchers and Georgia Tech faculty members into classrooms in rural Georgia, and we teach kids using real professional programs and tools.” The program ends with some good old-fashioned competition. On the most recent race day, more than 100 students gathered for a regional finale. The program is already offered in six school districts in South Georgia and is scaling rapidly, with interest coming from across the state and the nation, as well as internationally. Georgia Tech Research Program Director Kyle Saleeby, who created the program, emphasizes that it was designed to give students a taste of manufacturing design fundamentals – from ideation to 3D printing. He also stressed that students are taught to use data in their designs by incorporating actual NASCAR data sets to predict race outcomes. The participating schools receive a CNC machine, 3D printers, a digital manufacturing kit, and the necessary software. “When we give these students the tools to excel, it is incredible what they come up with,” Saleeby says. A Meeting of Young Minds Putting tools in young hands is precisely the inspiration behind the Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS, which will celebrate its 28th anniversary at IMTS 2026 from September 14-19, 2026, in Chicago. Catherine “Cat” Ross, the director of community engagement at AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, joined the podcast to discuss the Student Summit’s impact on students, teachers, and families. “The primary goal of the Student Summit is to show young people that manufacturing technologies are not just cool; they can lead to careers that can change the trajectory of their lives and improve their families and communities,” she says. The Student Summit welcomes thousands of students on each day of the show. For the Student Summit at IMTS 2026, 16,000 students are projected to attend. Attendees are able to participate in hands-on exhibits, take on robots in exciting competitions, and interact with industry experts including NASA professionals. Attendees include K-12 students from the Chicago area and around the country, as well as college-level students and faculty. The event is free and includes access to the IMTS show floor, which features thousands of exhibitors representing every facet of the manufacturing industry. *TLC is an informal, industry-focused podcast covering a wide range of manufacturing topics, from exciting tools and powerful software to programs that support industry growth. The podcast is hosted by Tom Kurfess, chief manufacturing officer at Georgia Tech; Stephen LaMarca, senior technology analyst at AMT; and Kyle Saleeby, research program director at Georgia Tech.
In the May episode of the TLC podcast, industry experts and manufacturing educators turned their attention to two extremely successful workforce development efforts. They previewed the Smartforce Student Summit at IMTS 2026 and highlighted the success of a Georgia Tech workforce development program that allows rural high school students to design, 3D print, machine, and race Pinewood Derby-style cars.
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