Manufacturing Day for Students
Want to learn what the pressing challenges are for a local manufacturer? Chances are they are concerned about finding the skilled and professional labor needed to run their plants. The focus on expanding and growing skilled labor is driven, in part, by a recent report by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute (MI) that found that as many as 2.4 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2028. This startling statistic is driven by the skills gap that has emerged from the evolution of things such as:
- The Internet of Things (IoT)
- Technology
- Predictive maintenance
- Enterprise resource planning (ERP)
- Virtual and augmented reality
- 3D printing and more
That’s why many manufacturers and technical schools are participating in MFG Day events that kick off on October 2. MFG Day is an initiative of the MI, along with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association as a founding partner. Their collective goal is to support the manufacturing industry with training programs so they can attract and grow the skilled workers they need as manufacturing becomes increasingly automated.
The MI has a number of target audiences, and aims programs to students, women, veterans and workers. The goal is to provide each group with skills training, community building and support for the advancement of their careers in manufacturing. Each of these groups represents an untapped talent pool for manufacturers and technical schools because they don’t traditionally consider manufacturing as a career option.
Consider students. With a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) courses in high schools, many students are exposed to the theoretical background needed for a future manufacturing role. With a college degree or with technical skills training, students can have a bright future in today’s modern manufacturing world if they only recognize its potential. That’s the role of MFG Day—to introduce students to the broad range of possibilities across all functions with today’s manufacturers.
Fore more information on MFG Day for students, go here.
Women, Veterans and General Workers Have a Future in Manufacturing
Don’t forget manufacturing as an option for women, veterans and general workers too. Today women represent just a third of the labor pool in manufacturing, although they represent more than 50 percent of the workforce. The industry is actively looking to support women in both skilled labor and professional roles because it recognizes that Rosie the Riveter was the original pioneer for women entering the workforce. Women represent a skilled talent pool for both large and smaller manufacturers, and manufacturers recognize that increased diversity will improve their workplaces.
Over 200,000 men and women transition from military service each year. Each of them brings a sense of mission and working toward common goals, which are important skills for the manufacturing environment. MI has developed an integrated training, certification and career development program in conjunction with local community colleges to prepare veterans for a successful career in manufacturing.
For current manufacturing workers, MI provides an advanced manufacturing education program that up-skills them both technically and professionally. This provides workers with the necessary tools to advance their careers as the manufacturing environment continues to evolve.
To summarize, there’s a career opportunity for almost anyone in manufacturing! For more information on manufacturing training options, go here.
