MassMEP Expands Workforce Pathways for Women and Veterans in Manufacturing
Open Registration Coming Soon for “Manufacturing Skills for Success – Women in Manufacturing” & VetsRise Cohort Nears Graduation
MassMEP continues to lead statewide efforts to build a diverse, skilled, and job-ready manufacturing workforce—this time by opening new doors for both women and veterans seeking to enter high-demand, high-growth careers.
Now Recruiting: Women for the “Manufacturing Skills for Success” Training Program
MassMEP is preparing to launch its next Manufacturing Skills for Success – Women in Manufacturing training, designed to support women looking to break into or advance within the manufacturing sector.
This program equips participants with the essential knowledge, confidence, and hands-on experience needed to succeed in modern manufacturing environments. Open registration will be announced soon.
Competencies include:
- Foundational manufacturing principles and safety
- Lean & continuous improvement basics
- Introductory quality tools and problem-solving
- Workplace communication, teamwork, and professionalism
- Career exploration and job-readiness preparation
- Hands-on training with industry-relevant tools, processes, and scenarios
This initiative aims to broaden access and representation in manufacturing while connecting employers with motivated, well-trained talent.
Veterans Rise to New Opportunities Through VetsRise, MassMEP, and UMass Lowell
At the same time, MassMEP is celebrating the success of an innovative partnership preparing veterans for immediate entry into manufacturing careers. MassMEP, VetsRise, Headlamp, and UMass Lowell have joined forces to deliver a pathway tailored specifically to the strengths, discipline, and experiences of Massachusetts veterans.
The VetsRise training program blends MassMEP’s industry-aligned curriculum with UMass Lowell’s academic support to deliver high-value credentials and job-ready capabilities.
Veteran participants receive:
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification
- Hands-on manufacturing fundamentals
- Tooling U-SME quality and production training
- Team-based problem-solving experience
- Job-readiness coaching tailored to military-to-civilian career transition
With manufacturers statewide facing persistent labor shortages, this program is helping build a dependable pipeline of highly capable and purpose-driven candidates.
The current VetsRise cohort concludes the first week of December, and employers interested in interviewing or hiring graduates are encouraged to connect with:
Matthew Berard
Associate Director for Workforce Development, MassMEP
matthewb@massmep.org
Strengthening Massachusetts’ Workforce—One Training Pathway at a Time
These complementary initiatives—supporting both women and veterans—reflect MassMEP’s commitment to expanding career access while helping manufacturers meet their urgent talent needs. By delivering practical skills, industry-recognized credentials, and targeted support, MassMEP is building a stronger, more inclusive manufacturing workforce for the Commonwealth.