Oct 22, 2025

Passing the Torch: Mentorship and the Future of Manufacturing Talent

In an industry built on precision, consistency, and craftsmanship, one truth remains constant: people make the process. As automation, digitalization, and AI accelerate across the plastics industry, the value of human mentorship – of knowledge passed from one generation to the next may never been more critical.

The Challenge Ahead

Across North America, manufacturers face a widening skills gap. Experienced molders, technicians, and toolmakers are retiring faster than replacements can be trained. While technology continues to evolve at an incredible pace, the tacit knowledge – the instincts, the troubleshooting intuition, the “feel” of the process- can’t simply be downloaded. It must be taught, shared, and experienced.

At Turner Group, we see mentorship as the bridge between generations. It’s how experience becomes innovation, and how decades of lessons learned turn into tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

From Classroom to Shop Floor

Through partnerships with education providers and training innovators like Kruse Training, we’re helping to build that bridge. Today’s learning opportunities go far beyond textbooks or shadowing on the shop floor. Interactive modules, virtual molding simulations, and live cause-and-effect demonstrations at facilities like the ARBURG Technology Center in Irvine bring the process to life – empowering new talent to understand not just the how, but the why behind every molding decision.

Mentorship happens when classroom learning connects with real-world insight. It’s a senior processor explaining why a cooling circuit matters. A technician shows how to listen to the rhythm of a machine. A manager takes the time to walk a young engineer through a root-cause analysis instead of just fixing the problem.

Creating a Culture of Transfer

The future of manufacturing won’t be secured by technology alone—it will be sustained by the people willing to share what they know. Turner Group’s partners are leading by example, offering on-site training, mentorship programs, and open knowledge exchange that go beyond the traditional boundaries of “vendor” and “customer.”

Each mentorship moment – whether it’s guiding a new mold setup, explaining energy optimization, or reviewing a CAE simulation – adds another link in the chain of experience that defines our industry.

Lighting the Way Forward

As we look toward 2026 and beyond, our mission remains clear: support the next generation of manufacturing talent through collaboration, education, and opportunity. By passing the torch—intentionally, consistently, and generously—we ensure the flame of innovation keeps burning brightly across every plant, lab, and classroom we touch.

Because the future of manufacturing isn’t just about smarter machines.
It’s about smarter people – and the mentors who help them become that way.

Turner Group is proud to partner with industry leaders and educators committed to building the next generation of plastics professionals.

Interested in bringing advanced training to your team?