Building the Next Generation: Inside ABACORP's Internship Program...

The gap is real. So is the answer.

American manufacturing has a people problem. Experienced machinists are retiring faster than new ones are being trained, and the parts that keep aircraft flying, defense programs on schedule, and medical devices all depend on skilled hands.

At ABACORP, we decided not to wait for the talent pipeline to fix itself. For more than 30 years we have built precision parts for aerospace, defense, automotive, motorcycle, and medical customers. Today, we're also building the next generation of people who will make them.

Skilled hands are aging out...

Across the country, the machinists who built American manufacturing are reaching retirement. They take decades of know-how with them: how to build a setup and create a process for repeatability and accuracy, hold a tight tolerance, and solve problems that no operator or operations manual covers. Meanwhile, fewer young people are choosing the trades. Many still picture manufacturing as dark, dirty, and outdated, when today's shops run on multi-axis CNC, automation, and precision engineering. That skill can't be hired off the street. It has to be passed down, and the shops that train their own people will be the ones that keep up.

How our internship program works...

Our interns don't watch from the sidelines. They work on real equipment, alongside experienced machinists, on the same AS9100-certified processes we use for aerospace and defense work.

• Hands-on from day one: interns learn on our 3–5 axis milling and turning centers, in aluminum, steel, and plastic.

• Real mentorship: every intern is paired with a highly skilled manufacturing professional who teaches the craft, not just the task.

• Engineering meets the shop floor: engineering students see how a design becomes a finished part, and why tolerances, tooling, and setup matter.

• Modern tools: from multi-axis CNC to our OB7 collaborative robots, interns see what manufacturing actually looks like today.

• A path forward: the program is designed to turn interns into long-term members of exceptionally skilled manufacturing professionals.

Where the program leads...

Engineering students bridge the gap between the classroom and the shop floor, seeing firsthand how design decisions play out at the machine.

Machinists in training build the hands-on skills that take years to master, learning setups, programming, and inspection from our experienced team.

Early-career team members take on real responsibility quickly, from running equipment to leading areas of the shop.

Why this matters to our customers...

When a supplier can't staff its machines, lead times slip and quality suffers. Investing in new talent is how we protect the things our customers count on: on-time delivery, consistent quality, and a shop that will still be here for the next program or solution you need. For aerospace, defense, and medical buyers, that means a women-owned, AS9100-certified, ITAR-compliant partner with a workforce plan, not just a machine list.

Join us:

• Students: interested in machining or mechanical engineering?

• Schools and training programs: we love to partner on internships, shop tours, and Manufacturing Day events.

• Customers: see what a next-generation shop can do for your next project.

Contact Kim@abacorpcnc.com to continue the conversation.

Visit us at www.abacorpcnc.com to learn more about us!