If you’re in precision manufacturing, you already know the challenge: good CAM programmers are incredibly hard to find.

Whether you’ve tried to hire, train, or retain them, the reality is the same - there’s a growing shortage of skilled CAM professionals capable of generating efficient CNC machining programs at speed.

It’s not just a hiring issue. It’s an industry crisis.

But what if your existing team could do twice as much work, with fewer errors, and in a fraction of the time?

That’s exactly what CAM Assist - the AI-powered plug-in from CloudNC - was built to do.

🧠 The growing shortage of CAM programmers

CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) programming is the critical link between design and CNC production. A skilled CAM programmer:

• Translates 3D models into machining instructions
• Selects tools and strategies
• Sets feeds, speeds, and toolpaths
• Optimizes cycle times and setup operations

But this work requires deep experience, intuition, and time - and those are in short supply.

In fact:

• Up to 50% of experienced precision machinists are expected to retire within the next 10 years
• Fewer young professionals are entering the field
• The complexity of modern CNC machining has only increased
• Many shops report months-long gaps trying to fill CAM programming roles

If you’ve searched “where can I find good CAM programmers” or posted multiple listings for “hiring CAM programmers,” you’re not alone.

⚠️ Why it matters: CAM bottlenecks kill productivity

Without enough programmers, your business faces:

• Delayed jobs
• Underutilized machines
• Missed revenue opportunities
• Overworked, burnt-out experts

It’s not just about headcount - it’s about scalability. Without solving the CAM bottleneck, you can’t scale your production reliably.

🤖 The smarter solution: CAM Assist

Instead of continuing to chase hard-to-hire talent, many manufacturers are asking:

“How can I make my current team more productive?”

CAM Assist is a plug-in that automates the most time-consuming parts of CAM programming. Using advanced AI and computational geometry, it generates draft machining strategies in seconds, helping any engineer:

✅ Cut programming time by up to 80%
✅ Generate complete 3+2 axis toolpaths directly in Fusion, Mastercam, or NX
✅ Accelerate quoting and setup
✅ Tackle more jobs without adding headcount

Even partial results give your team a powerful head start - freeing up your best CAM programmers to focus on complex, high-value work, rather than repetitive setups.

🔁 Real results: productivity multiplied

Manufacturers using CAM Assist report:

• Saving 1,000+ programming hours per year
• Programming more parts per day
• Upskilling junior programmers in record time
• Reducing burnout and improving staff retention

It’s not just about reducing hiring pressure - it’s about futureproofing your shop.

👩‍🏭 Use CAM Assist to upskill - not replace - your team

CAM Assist doesn’t replace your people. It supports them:

• New CAM engineers learn faster by editing AI-generated strategies
• Experienced programmers spend less time on repetitive tasks
• Shops get more output from the same team

In an industry where skilled talent is retiring and recruitment is tough, CAM Assist becomes your competitive edge.

✅ Facing a CAM programming gap? This is your next move

If you’re struggling with a lack of CAM programmers or wondering where to find good programmers, start by asking:

Can I make my current team twice as effective instead?

CAM Assist helps you do just that.

➡️ Book a demo or learn more about CAM Assist today.

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