Rivian, Heartland, and DCEO's Unified Framework for Manufacturing Excellence

At SME FUSION, the session Standardizing the Sector: Rivian, Heartland, and DCEO's Unified Framework for Manufacturing Excellence explored how manufacturers, educational institutions, state workforce organizations, and community partners can work together to strengthen manufacturing talent pipelines.

Drawing on the collaboration between Rivian, Heartland Community College, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), and regional workforce partners, the panel shared practical lessons for building partnerships that expand training capacity, align education with industry needs, and create long-term workforce development strategies.

Hugh Shadeed, Director, Learning & Development - Rivian

Adam Campbell, Dean of the Career and Technical Education Division - Heartland Community College

Nate Keener, CEJA Central Regional Administrator - State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Denise Moore, Founder/CEO - Black Business Alliance Peoria Chapter, Inc.

Start with a Shared Purpose

For Hugh Shadeed of Rivian, successful collaboration began with a project management mindset: define the purpose, establish the scope, and identify the stakeholders before discussing solutions.

As he explained, "We had to figure out who needed to be at the table."

Although the Rivian manufacturing facility was located only minutes from Heartland Community College, workforce planning had previously been managed remotely, limiting opportunities for collaboration. Once workforce development became a priority, Rivian focused on building relationships with Heartland, DCEO, and regional workforce partners. HCC hosted in-person meetings bringing all these groups together, including Tooling U-SME Corporate and Workforce Development Directors.

Denise Moore emphasized that successful partnerships create opportunities for people. Community organizations play an important role in preparing individuals for manufacturing careers by helping them develop foundational employability skills, workplace professionalism, and confidence before entering technical training programs. By creating pathways for underserved populations and career changers, these partnerships help manufacturers reach broader talent pools while strengthening local communities.

Build Relationships Where Work Happens

The partnership grew through face-to-face collaboration. Rivian invited educators and workforce partners into its manufacturing training facility to better understand operational challenges and workforce needs.

Shadeed pointed to a principle from Toyota, "Go to the Gemba. Go to the place where the work happens."

Bringing partners together in the manufacturing environment helped move conversations beyond assumptions, creating a shared understanding of production processes, technical skill requirements, and opportunities for more effective collaboration.

Expand Workforce Capacity Together

Adam Campbell shared how the partnership evolved from relationship-building into practical workforce solutions. With limited instructional capacity, Heartland looked for ways to expand its impact without significantly increasing resources. One solution was inviting Rivian to become an adjunct instructor, allowing their manufacturing expertise to support classroom instruction while providing apprentices with education directly connected to their work environment.

The collaboration delivered benefits for both organizations:

• Rivian apprentices received instruction aligned with real manufacturing operations.
• Heartland expanded instructional capacity through industry expertise.
• Students learned from an active manufacturing leader.
• Classroom instruction became more closely aligned with production environments.

State and Community Partnerships Strengthen Workforce Development

The panel also highlighted the importance of engaging state and community organizations early in the process. Nate Keener discussed how DCEO supports workforce development by connecting manufacturers with workforce programs, educational partners, and funding opportunities. Rather than requiring employers to navigate multiple agencies independently, DCEO works to align workforce initiatives, grants, apprenticeships, short-term credentials, and employer incentives into a more coordinated system that responds to manufacturing demand.

Keener also highlighted how statewide initiatives, including the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), support training programs that prepare individuals for careers in advanced manufacturing while expanding access to industry-recognized credentials. Through partnerships with community colleges and community-based organizations like the Black Business Alliance Peoria Chapter, workforce programs can better connect underserved populations with the foundational skills, technical training, and career pathways manufacturers need.

One outcome of the collaboration was a $5 million State of Illinois grant to strengthen the manufacturing pipeline. The panel also discussed the importance of reducing duplication across workforce organizations so manufacturers, educators, workforce agencies, and community partners can coordinate efforts around shared regional workforce needs.

The panel also pointed to the role of broad-based manufacturing credentials in strengthening workforce readiness. Although the Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) is not specific to solar, electric vehicle, or energy industries, it offers a foundational credential that can help individuals build transferable manufacturing knowledge. For employers with access to Tooling U-SME classes, it can provide a structured way to use downtime productively, supporting employee development while creating additional career growth pathways.

Collaboration Creates Long-Term Impact

The panel concluded that workforce development is most successful when it becomes a shared responsibility. By aligning manufacturers, educational institutions, workforce agencies, and community organizations around common goals, partnerships can expand access to training, improve workforce readiness, and build stronger regional talent pipelines. Together, these organizations are creating a more connected workforce ecosystem that prepares individuals for manufacturing careers while helping employers meet evolving production demands.

Key Takeaways for Manufacturers

• Define the purpose of the partnership before discussing solutions.
• Engage manufacturers, educators, workforce organizations, and community partners early.
• Meet where manufacturing happens to develop a shared understanding of workforce needs.
• Invest in foundational employability skills alongside technical training to expand access to manufacturing careers.
• Build partnerships around shared regional workforce goals that also support individual organizational priorities.
• Leverage industry expertise, educational resources, and state workforce programs to expand training capacity and strengthen talent pipelines.

As manufacturing continues to evolve, collaborative partnerships, as highlighted during SME FUSION 2026, demonstrate how industry, education, government, and community organizations can work together to build a stronger, more resilient manufacturing workforce. For manufacturers looking to develop these types of partnerships, SME can serve as a trusted partner to help identify opportunities, connect the right stakeholders, and get collaborative workforce efforts started.