A Faster Path to a Stable, High-Paying Career in Manufacturing
Manufacturing is booming across Ohio — and employers are actively looking for people who are ready to step into skilled roles. WorkAdvance was created to help you do exactly that.
In just eight weeks, this free, full-time training program gives you hands-on experience, industry-recognized safety training, career coaching, and guaranteed interviews with local manufacturers who are hiring right now.
No tuition. No guessing. Just a clear path into a career with real earning potential.
Why WorkAdvance is Different
Job Ready
WorkAdvance isn’t about sitting in a classroom and hoping for the best. It’s designed around one simple goal: getting you hired.
Train & Learn
You’ll learn the foundational skills manufacturers expect, but you’ll also get something just as important: confidence. Confidence walking into an interview. Confidence on the shop floor. Confidence knowing you belong in this industry.
Move Forward
From day one, you’ll be supported by WorkAdvance instructors and career coaches who want to see you succeed, not just finish the program.
What You'll Learn
During the program, you’ll build a strong technical and professional foundation that prepares you for real manufacturing environments.
You’ll learn how to:
- Work safely and confidently around equipment through OSHA-10 General Industry training
- Use basic measurement and precision tools to understand quality and accuracy
- Read and follow standard operating procedures used in manufacturing facilities
- Understand visualizations and technical graphics commonly used in engineering and production
- Apply the fundamentals of Lean Manufacturing, quality systems, and process controls
- Learn the basics of Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) and why it matters on the job
- Practice problem-solving, documentation, and communication skills used daily by technicians
This training mirrors what employers actually expect — so when you walk into work, nothing feels foreign.
Career Readiness
Technical skills matter, but employers also want people who can communicate, collaborate, and show up professionally.
That’s why WorkAdvance includes dedicated career readiness training, where you will:
Build or refine your resume
Practice interviewing and “elevator pitches”
Learn workplace communication and etiquette
Strengthen problem-solving and teamwork skills
Prepare for long-term career growth, not just your first job
By the time interviews arrive, you won’t be guessing what to say, you’ll be ready.
Guaranteed Interviews
At the end of the program, you’ll participate in an employer interview event, where local manufacturers meet directly with WorkAdvance graduates.
These aren’t generic job boards or online applications, they are real conversations with employers who value this training and are looking for talent.
Many participants move directly into employment shortly after completing the program.
Why Manufacturing, and Why Now
Ohio is in the middle of a manufacturing resurgence. Major investments in advanced manufacturing, technology, and supply chains are creating thousands of new technician and production roles across the state. Employers need skilled, reliable workers, and they need them now.
Starting wages of $25 per hour
Shift differentials for evenings or weekends
Overtime opportunities and bonuses
Benefits and long-term stability
Pathways for advancement
This isn’t just a job, it’s a career you can grow with for years to come. Workforce data and employer demand show that skilled manufacturing and technician roles are expected to remain in high demand across Ohio. Getting your foot in the door now puts you in position to move up as the industry continues to grow.
Two Locations. One Goal: Get You Hired.
We designed WorkAdvance to work for real life. You can choose the location and schedule that fits your routine and still get the same hands-on training and employer connections.
(New Albany evening classes already filled.)
Connecting Training to Jobs
WorkAdvance is supported by the Central Ohio Manufacturing Partnership (COMP), a regional organization that brings manufacturers, educators, and workforce partners together to solve talent challenges.
COMP works directly with employers to understand what skills are needed — and then helps build programs like WorkAdvance to meet those needs.
That means this training isn’t theoretical. It’s aligned with real jobs in real companies across Central Ohio.
Your Next Step Starts Here
If you’re ready for a career that offers stability, growth, and opportunity — WorkAdvance is your starting point.
Complete the form below to learn more about the next cohort and take the first step toward a manufacturing career.
It’s free. It’s fast. And it’s built to get you hired.