Thursday, December 13, 2018
With the lack of properly skilled employees on the rise and decreasing interest in manufacturing careers from the upcoming generation, it is expected that nearly two million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled over the course of the next ten years.
No one understands this better than manufacturing companies across the country who are already experiencing the heavy impact of this employment crisis first-hand.
In an effort to keep up with increasing market demands, manufacturing companies are investing in bigger buildings, higher-tech equipment, and digital innovations that are becoming the standard in many manufacturing facilities. However, while the way we manufacture is changing and adapting to the times, the stigma surrounding a career in manufacturing still exists, making it extremely difficult to find and retain enough skilled employees to support this type of growth.
Stiles Machinery believes that if we are ever going to see this employment gap close, the time is now to invest in future generations by exposing them to what a career in manufacturing looks like in the 21st century. That’s why on Friday, October 5, 2018, Stiles celebrated National Manufacturing Day, hosted by Stiles University, by opening its doors to students from three local area high schools, offering them insights into what manufacturing looks like today and the many different career opportunities available within the industry.
Students began the day with a tour of HOMAG Machinery North America, where they saw how German-engineered flat table CNC machines are built and assembled right here in the United States. From there, students made their way down the road to the Stiles Machinery headquarters where they experienced some of those same machines in action, as members of Stiles’ staff demonstrated how the machines are programmed and operated. Students then had the opportunity to take part in hands-on sanding and assembling of the processed parts from the CNC machine to build a children’s table and chair set, which will be donated to a local charity.
“We know that for some students a traditional college route is not something that is appealing to them, but we want them to have a plan that will enable them to get a good job and support themselves and learn a skilled trade, and I think that manufacturing is a great way for them to be able to do that.” – Stiles Spokesperson.
Manufacturing Day is a nationwide celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. The event, which takes place on the first Friday in October each year, is open to all Manufacturing companies across the country.
Tags: manufacturing careers, National Manufacturing Day, Stiles
