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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JEFFERSONVILLE, IND. (October 25, 2017) - More than 1,150 students from the region will be visiting 20 facilities from October 24 through October 26 in recognition of National Manufacturing Day, which was earlier this month. National Manufacturing Day was created in response to a dire need in American manufacturing - a major shortage of skilled workers. According to the Manufacturing Institute and Deloitte, approximately 22 percent of skilled manufacturing workers, or 2.7 million valued employees, are retiring over the next decade. This, coupled with the 700,000 skilled employees estimated to be needed for industry growth, means approximately 3.4 million workers will be needed by 2026. Due to a variety of factors, the industry is projected to fall short of its needs by two million workers.
Founded as a national event by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA) in 2012, Manufacturing Day was determined to be an excellent way to combat this malady and reverse negative perceptions about manufacturing jobs and careers. Industry leaders believed Manufacturing Day events were the best way to literally demonstrate the exciting variety of work taking place in manufacturing facilities across the country.
Manufacturing environments are commonly thought of as dark, dangerous factories designed for low-skilled workers. Manufacturing Day addresses this misconception by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors, and in a coordinated effort, demonstrate modern manufacturing and its benefits as a career path, such as:
• Manufacturing is technologically advanced, with ample use of automation, 3-D printing, robots and screen technology;
• Nationally, the annual average salary of manufacturing workers is more than $77,000;
• Manufacturers have the highest job tenure in the private sector; and
• Ninety percent of manufacturing workers have medical benefits.
National studies are showing positive results with regards to Manufacturing Day activities. For example, of the students who participated in last year’s event nationally, 84 percent said they were more convinced manufacturing provided careers that were interesting and rewarding, and 64 percent were more motivated to pursue careers in manufacturing.
National Manufacturing Day events and participation have exploded regionally. In 2014, the first year of regional activities, eight companies offered tours to approximately 100 students. In 2015, the number of manufacturers providing tours jumped to 13 and the number of students participating quadrupled to 542. Last year, 26 regional manufacturers hosted tours for more than 900 students.
Tours are currently scheduled for students during the 2017 event at the following businesses:
• Amatrol, Inc. - Jeffersonville, Ind.
• American Fuji Seal, Inc. - Jeffersonville, Ind.
• APM American Plastic Molding Corporation - Scottsburg, Ind.
• Cimtech, Inc. - New Albany, Ind.
• ERL, Inc. - New Albany, Ind.
• Flexible Materials, Inc. - Jeffersonville, Ind.
• Hitachi Cable America Inc. – New Albany, Ind.
• idX Corporation - Jeffersonville, Ind.
• Integrity Sign Solutions, Inc. – New Albany, Ind.
• Koetter Woodworking, Inc. – Borden, Ind.
• L & D Mail Masters, Inc. - New Albany, Ind.
• Midwest-TEK - New Albany, Ind.
• Owings Patterns - Sellersburg, Ind.
• Parker - Jeffersonville, Ind.
• Perkins Technology Center, Ivy Tech Jeffersonville Campus - Jeffersonville, Ind.
• S&J Precision Inc. - New Albany, Ind.
• Southern Indiana Plastics, Inc. - Jeffersonville, Ind.
• Technidyne Corporation - New Albany, Ind.
• VOSS Clark - Jeffersonville, Ind.
• Winston Industries LLC - Louisville, Ky.
Schools who will be bringing students to tour facilities include:
• Clarksville Community School Corporation
• Greater Clark County Schools
• Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana
• New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation
• Prosser Career Education Center
• Scott County School District 1
• Scott County School District 2
• South Harrison Community School Corporation
• West Clark Community Schools
1si Manufacturing Day Sponsors are:
• MMA Founding and Event Title Sponsor - Harding, Shymanski & Company, P.S.C.
• Contributing Sponsors – American Fuji Seal, Inc., Hitachi Cable America, Inc., and idX Corporation.
To see all the National Manufacturing Day events taking place in Indiana, click here. As events are added, the schedule will be updated.
About One Southern Indiana:
One Southern Indiana (1si) was formed in July of 2006 as the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development organization serving Clark and Floyd counties. 1si’s mission is to provide the connections, resources and services that help businesses innovate and thrive in the southern Indiana/Louisville metro area.
Since its inception, the organization has evolved to include a three-prong approach to serve its members and investors. Business Resources, as the chamber side of the organization, encompasses membership, signature events and programs which support and encourage business growth; Economic Development works to grow the regional economy through the attraction of new commerce and assists with retention and expansion of existing businesses; Advocacy supports businesses at the government level by engaging in initiatives to preserve, protect and promote a business friendly environment free of obstacles to growth and development of commerce. http://www.1si.org.
Media Contact:
Suzanne Ruark
Director of Marketing and Communications
Tel: 812.206.9050
Email: SuzanneR@1si.org
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