To address the growing need for skilled workers in the U.S. industrial base, the Metallurgical Engineering Trades Apprenticeship & Learning (METAL) program collaborates with universities to offer immersive bootcamps that equip participants with essential skills in metallurgy and manufacturing. One unique offering during these bootcamps is virtual reality-based foundry tours.

The tours complement the bootcamps’ hands-on training in critical skill areas like casting, sandblasting, and forging metals. This fusion of traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation ensures that graduates are well-prepared to contribute to advancing national defense and other critical sectors.​

Bringing Advanced Manufacturing to Life Through VR

The University of Tennessee and IACMI developed the virtual reality modules to enhance STEM education by immersing users in advanced composites manufacturing. Modules cover processes like carbon fiber production, sheet molding compound, extrusion, long fiber thermoplastic production, extrusion-compression molding, injection molding, pultrusion, and roll forming.

Students view metal casting through virtual reality at a foundry in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Uday Vaidya, Chief Technology Officer at IACMI, said these virtual reality modules are especially vital to provide immersive learning experiences and generate students’ interest in the metallurgical field.

“The virtual reality foundry is a very powerful one, not all K-12 students have the time to go to the foundry, ” said Vaidya.” “By viewing it on VR, it’s literally like being there. You’re going to basically see things like you’re on the floor, watching metal pour, big presses coming down on blocks of hot metal, you can almost feel the effects of the temperature and pressure. There’s nothing like experiencing it as close to the real world as possible.”

Uday Vaidya, Chief Technology Officer at IACMI, demonstrates virtual reality modules at a foundry in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Led by IACMI–The Composites Institute, METAL addresses critical workforce shortages in the U.S. casting and forging industry. Between now and 2028, the defense industrial base is projected to require at least 122,000 more professionals, including shipbuilders, engineers, and other essential roles supporting the Department of Defense. A shortfall in meeting this demand could pose a serious risk to the strength and security of U.S. national defense.

Vaidya said he’s incredibly grateful to the Department of Defense for funding METAL initiatives and hopes programs like these can support DOD and IACMI’s goal of reaching up to 100,000 students.

Learn more about METAL’s mission and our free online training here.