Manufacturing Day is a coordinated occasion during which U.S. manufacturers open their doors to demonstrate the potential of modern manufacturing and foster interest in manufacturing careers. Held annually on the first Friday of October (October 3, 2014), Manufacturing Day was created to correct public perception, which doesn’t do manufacturing justice.
Manufacturing environments, which include highly trained, well-paid employees who work on state-of-the-art equipment, are commonly thought of as antiquated factories designed for low-skilled workers. Manufacturing Day addresses this misperception by giving all manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, exactly what manufacturing is – and what it isn’t.
This change in perception is the first step in addressing one of the main challenges faced by manufacturers today – a gap in skilled labor. Manufacturing Day is an opportunity to connect directly with job seekers and students to begin to address the skilled labor shortage.
National Manufacturing Day in Quincy
Greg Miller, Vice President, Quality Assurance, The Knapheide Manufacturing Company, speaks at the 2014 National Manufacturing Day Press Conference in Quincy on October 1, 2014.
John Wood Community College will host a Manufacturing Expo Friday, October 3 at the College’s Workforce Development Center, located at 4220 Kochs Lane in Quincy. The public is invited to attend from 12 to 3 p.m. free of charge.
More than 17 percent of Adams County employees are in the manufacturing sector, which is full of head-of-household careers for individuals with the right skills.
During the expo, participants will learn about the new technology used in the manufacturing industry through demonstrations and interactive displays. Robots, 3D printers, virtual welding, computer numeric control machines and state-of-the art electrical technology will be featured inside the JWCC Workforce Development Center.
JWCC instructors will demonstrate how a product is taken from concept and computer animation to its 3D prototype and production using new equipment used by regional employers.
Representatives from Midwest Patterns, Gardner Denver, Doyle Manufacturing, Kohl Wholesale, Trinity Containers, Dot Food, Michelmann Steel, MSC Industrial Supply Co., and Manchester Tank will showcase products and models during the expo. Dependable Education Products Company (DEPCO) will offer interactive demonstrations in Motor Controls, engineering, industrial electronics, advanced manufacturing and robotics. The expo will also feature Lincoln Electric’s virtual welder simulator.
Earlier in the day, more than 300 area high school students will visit the expo as part of a regional manufacturing career exploration effort. Students will visit the JWCC Workforce Development Center and tour ten manufacturing sites arranged by the Great River Economic Development Foundation. Students from QHS, Camp Point Central, Liberty, QND, Southeastern, Unity, Pittsfield in Illinois and, Highland in Missouri will tour regional manufacturing companies including Craig Industries, Manchester Tank, Knapheide, Prince Agri Products, ADM, Awerkamp Machinery, GatesAir, Hollister Whitney, Quincy Metal Fabricators, and Gardner Denver.
Information about JWCC career and technical programs, as well as admissions and financial aid will also be available.
The event is a collaborative effort among JWCC, GREDF, Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois and the West Central Education Regional Education for Employment System #240.
Summit Brings Leaders Together to Develop a Vision for Long-Term Change
[share]Last week more than 40 leaders came together to discuss workforce development issues in Adams County and to develop a shared vision for long-term change. The event facilitator assisted the group with identifying and prioritizing the area’s workforce challenges and building a framework for future collaboration.
Participants included representatives from secondary and post-secondary education, regional and local development groups, staffing services and a number of community-based agencies that all have some involvement in workforce development.
“The availability of skilled labor has become a key factor in site selection and expansion decisions,” noted GREDF President Marcel Wagner. “Our ability to retain and attract businesses directly impacts the well-being of our region and the ability of our families to be financially self-sufficient.”
You may recall our last eDevelopments included findings from a recent survey conducted by Area Development Magazine detailing top site selection factors. Labor costs and availability of skilled labor ranked number one and number three respectively.
A steering committee is being assembled to build strategies and address the challenges and goals identified by the group. If you or your organization is interested in being a part of this steering committee, please contact Megan Backs at 217.223.4313 or meganb@gredf.org.
eDevelopments: Educating Educators about Manufacturing Careers
February 20, 2013
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Counselors Academy Exposes Educators to Manufacturing Career Paths
The message from local manufacturing representatives and workforce experts who met with the counselors during the day-long academy was clear: There are good, well-paying jobs right here in our region if our young adults are willing to show up, receive training and work hard.
An educated and skilled workforce is the foundation of every community and future of every economy. Thanks to these partners for their commitment to educating and growing our current and future workforce.
eDevelopments: Educating Educators about Manufacturing Careers
February 20, 2013
[share]
Counselors Academy Exposes Educators to Manufacturing Career Paths
The message from local manufacturing representatives and workforce experts who met with the counselors during the day-long academy was clear: There are good, well-paying jobs right here in our region if our young adults are willing to show up, receive training and work hard.
An educated and skilled workforce is the foundation of every community and future of every economy. Thanks to these partners for their commitment to educating and growing our current and future workforce.
REGION CHARTERS COURSE TO TRAIN STUDENTS FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING CAREERS
November 1, 2012
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Pathways to Results Process Connects Education and Business Resources; $500,000 Grant Boosts Effort
The new world of advanced manufacturing requires a drastically different set of skills from its workforce. On October 25, 2012, private business, education and economic development leaders signed a charter to formalize the “Pathways to Results” process. The process aligns K-12 coursework with college degrees and business resources to give students the new skills needed to ensure family-sustaining careers in our region’s manufacturing sector.
The signing is the latest step in a concentrated effort to change the perception of manufacturing and build the workforce of tomorrow. The charter collectively commits business and K-college entities to clearly define a path for manufacturing careers while boosting resources, equipment and expertise available for students to attain careers in the high-tech industry.
Defining the Path
High school students have clearly defined pathways leading to four-year college degrees. Therefore, parents and the community have an expectation that their high school students will pursue a four-year degree even though many college students have no real idea what career they might pursue upon graduation.
Manufacturing jobs do not currently have a defined educational pathway, which is an even bigger obstacle for parents and counselors trying to guide students into these high demand jobs.
Pathways to Results seek to insert a systematic process for communication with high schools including pathways, preparation, transition and curriculum alignment to make things clearer for students and their advocates.
“It is hard enough for students to know which career path to choose,” Pam Foust, dean of career and technical education at JWCC said. “When they determine a focus, possibly in high school, they might find that they haven’t taken the courses to enter college ready to master evolving skills employers want. What Pathways to Results does is to clearly define the math, science and critical thinking skills that need to be in courses from kindergarten through high school. With these basic skills, any evolving manufacturing technology can be learned from college instructors who will have access to the latest equipment and processes.”
Funding the Process
JWCC received a $10,000 grant from Office of Community College Research and Leadership as part of the state’s effort to improve career pathways. The College and its partners intentionally linked Pathways to Results funding with a federal grant in an effort to grow a skilled workforce to fulfill current and future manufacturing industry needs.
Phil Conover, interim president of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, announced that as a result of collaborative partnerships, John Wood Community College received a $525,769 grant from the Trade Adjustment Assistance – Illinois Network for Advanced Manufacturing Grant (TAA-INAM). JWCC is one of 20 Illinois community colleges that received funding from the Department of Labor.
“Because of the partnerships built over the last several years, this funding uniquely positions the region to prepare future technicians, engineers and managers as our manufacturing industry expands,” Conover said. “This process, when integrated, is a tremendous platform to attract new manufacturers to the region because we will have the skilled workforce they require to be successful.”
The half million dollar grant will be received over a three-year period to expand and improve the delivery of career manufacturing training programs. The training will lead to industry-recognized certificates or associate degrees that can be completed in two-years or less to meet regional employer needs.
Funding will provide for equipment, course development, advising, instructional support, software, program coordination, internship mentoring, tutoring and supplies. The grant will also fund the hiring of personnel to help students transition from high school to college and college to careers.
In addition to state and federal funding, Lauren Kiest, an owner in aNH3, a company that supplies products for the agricultural industry, recently created a private manufacturing scholarship with the JWCC Foundation to help students access funds to receive the new skills training needed for today’s industry.
Current Climate
Manufacturing accounts for 17 percent of this region’s economy, yet few students are transitioning from high school to John Wood Community College’s manufacturing program. JWCC is the only area institution to offer specific degrees and certificates leading to careers the industry demands. Currently four JWCC students have declared advanced manufacturing as their major. Twenty-six JWCC students are pursuing welding certificates or degrees; 12 are pursuing a degree in computer-aided design (CAD); and 39 students have declared their intent to earn a degree or certificate in electrical technology.
At the high school level, Quincy Area Vocational Center (QAVTC) has a total of 35 students in day technical programs including CAD/drafting, electronics, precision metals and welding. Twenty students from rural schools are enrolled in QAVTC’s evening programs. An additional 80 students are enrolled in Project Lead the Way at QAVTC.
Adams County Board Chairman Mike McLaughlin, JWCC President Dr. John Letts, Quincy Mayor John Spring and Interim GREDF President Phil Conover at October 5, 2012, National Manufacturing Day Press Conference
Workforce shortages are growing in areas such as industrial maintenance, (programming and maintaining technologically advanced equipment), precision machining, welders and automation systems. The current high school and college students studying for these careers will not come close to filling current and future positions available with the area’s 100 manufacturing firms.
“Manufacturing is a whole new world,” Roger Leenerts, business owner and Pathways to Results charter member said. “For many years it has not been suggested as an ideal career path, that it is low paying, dirty and unstable. The reality is that it requires a highly skilled workforce to maintain high tech machinery. We want high school students to see manufacturing as a career, not just a job.”
Not Your Dad’s Plant – Perception Change Manufacturing has been the economic engine of the region for decades, but gone are the days of man-made assembly lines with workers assembling various product parts. The industry is rapidly evolving, with clean work environments and head-of-household wages waiting for employees with the right skills.
Students with manufacturing degrees can earn upwards of $60,000 because they possess the knowledge and skills to manage all or portions of automated processes from design, logistics and production. Candidates with specialized knowledge of electrical and computerized components of automated machines can earn between $35,000 and $50,000. Welders are in high demand and can earn $20 an hour with basic knowledge and much more with additional training. Most manufacturing jobs include solid benefits.
More information is available by contacting Foust at 217.641.4956 or pfoust@jwcc.edu.
GREDF to Conduct Survey to Assess Area’s Workforce
March 2, 2012
John Wood Community College Manufacturing Technology Graduate and Knapheide Manufacturing Employee, David Del Castillo. Courtesy of JWCC Public Relations and Marketing Office
[share] The Great River Economic Development Foundation in partnership with The Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois has retained Growth Services, Inc., a workforce consultant, to conduct a survey of area employers. The goal of the survey is to evaluate the area’s workforce from the businesses’ perspective. The results will be used to identify and address workforce issues within the region and take steps to assure that the needs of area employers are being met, both now and in the future.
Local employers will be asked to provide information about their employee base, including the quality of the workforce, their experiences when hiring new workers, education, skill levels, wages, salaries, benefits, and commuting distances. The results will be used to generate an aggregate report and individual responses will remain confidential.
The report will also be used as an economic development tool to help both existing and prospective new businesses assess the area’s workforce.
The survey will be sent to employers electronically, and it is designed to be user friendly and take approximately 30 minutes to complete. “We encourage all those receiving surveys to participate; higher participation rates will enable us to better identify and address issues that are of importance to our employers,” says, Jim Mentesti, GREDF president.
What is National Manufacturing Day?
