Morton High School students visited Principal Manufacturing in Broadview, IL
SCHAUMBURG, IL – Friday, local manufacturers and high school students celebrated National Manufacturing Day. A number of TMA's members opened up their facilities to the next generation of workers.
National Manufacturing Day is intended to change perceptions of the manufacturing industry to encourage the next generation of workers to consider a career in manufacturing. Among the members of the Technology & Manufacturing Association participating this year are Principal Manufacturing, Broadview IL; Prater Industries, Bolingbrook IL; Keats Manufacturing, Wheeling IL; Termax Corporation, Lake Zurich IL.
"Today is a great day for the manufacturing industry," said Steve Rauschenberger, President of TMA. "Our members continue to engage the community to change the misperceptions of manufacturing. Connecting manufacturers and high school students, and informing students of the benefits of seeking a manufacturing career is exactly what today is all about."
"The manufacturing industry is experiencing tremendous growth, and that growth will lead to the need of 3.5 million jobs in the next ten years. Manufacturers are facing a critical skills shortage that will have an adverse impact on the economy if those jobs go unfilled. Most students are stunned to learn that you can make over $100,000 and work with cutting-edge technology in today's factories. Not to mention that most of these factories are cleaner than the average kitchen," Rauschenberger concluded.
Manufacturing Day is an annual opportunity for high schoolers to visit manufacturing companies and learn more about the STEM careers available.
This is good.
My Dad visited a machine shop at age 15 when, during summer vacation, he and a schoolmate friend had to take a lunch to his friend’s dad.
My Dad was fascinated by the machining process.
He was hooked.
He went into that business and 25 years later was owner of a shop of his own.
Exposure to young men and women to different industries will attract many of them into those business. With them will come new ideas, new innovations, new processes and new products to benefit us all.