Supporting the Next Generation of Manufacturing Professionals at SkillsUSA
MESA was proud to participate in the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference, where our team served as judges and committee members for the Automated Manufacturing Technology (AMT) competition alongside Autodesk and other industry leaders.
Representing Autodesk, we provided technical guidance to competitors using Autodesk Fusion and Autodesk Inventor, helping students navigate software challenges while ensuring the integrity of the competition. Industry experts from Mastercam were also on hand to support participants using their manufacturing software, creating a collaborative environment that reflected today's integrated manufacturing workflows.
The competition challenged teams of three students to complete a realistic manufacturing project from start to finish. Participants were required to:
The event simulated the complete digital manufacturing process—from CAD design and documentation to CAM programming, machining, assembly, and validation—giving students valuable real-world experience.
It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm, technical ability, and teamwork demonstrated by every competitor. With more than 100 national competitions taking place during the event, SkillsUSA continues to play a vital role in preparing tomorrow's skilled workforce.
For MESA, participating was about more than judging a competition. It was an opportunity to support future engineers and manufacturers by helping students maximize the capabilities of Autodesk software, answer technical questions, and optimize machining strategies throughout the event.
We're honored to work alongside Autodesk in supporting educational initiatives like SkillsUSA and remain committed to advancing manufacturing education while helping develop the next generation of engineering and manufacturing professionals.
Representing Autodesk, we provided technical guidance to competitors using Autodesk Fusion and Autodesk Inventor, helping students navigate software challenges while ensuring the integrity of the competition. Industry experts from Mastercam were also on hand to support participants using their manufacturing software, creating a collaborative environment that reflected today's integrated manufacturing workflows.
The competition challenged teams of three students to complete a realistic manufacturing project from start to finish. Participants were required to:
- Create accurate 3D models from engineering drawings.
- Produce manufacturing-ready documentation that met industry standards.
- Program a 3-axis CNC milling machine and manufacture components from raw stock.
- Complete a second design challenge by creating additional components that assembled into a fully functional sliding vise.
- Demonstrate engineering problem-solving through a separate technical math exercise.
The event simulated the complete digital manufacturing process—from CAD design and documentation to CAM programming, machining, assembly, and validation—giving students valuable real-world experience.
It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm, technical ability, and teamwork demonstrated by every competitor. With more than 100 national competitions taking place during the event, SkillsUSA continues to play a vital role in preparing tomorrow's skilled workforce.
For MESA, participating was about more than judging a competition. It was an opportunity to support future engineers and manufacturers by helping students maximize the capabilities of Autodesk software, answer technical questions, and optimize machining strategies throughout the event.
We're honored to work alongside Autodesk in supporting educational initiatives like SkillsUSA and remain committed to advancing manufacturing education while helping develop the next generation of engineering and manufacturing professionals.
