How Manufacturers and Schools Can Work Together

With the shortage of manufacturing workers in the United States we must start to investigate the situation closer to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow. Besides the worker compensation, benefits, work environment, and career development topics that may influence career decisions in manufacturing, we should now look closer into the following topics.

• Network with Others and Find Industry Partners

  • With the information and insight gained from networking and local collaborations, it will enhance communications within the industry.

• Support Your Local Youth Apprenticeship Program

  • Youth apprenticeship programs can offer great opportunities for students to learn in the classroom and on the jobsite as well. Contact your local youth apprenticeship coordinator to find out how you can support the program.

• Host a Plant Tour

  • By opening your manufacturing facility up to the public for tours or open house events, you can showcase what is being made in the local community, which should in return spark interest in careers in manufacturing.

• Participate in Career Fair Events

  • By displaying what is made at your facility and providing information about careers offered, it can influence manufacturing careers choices made by the younger generations.

• Offer Student Internships

  • By offering internships to students, they can gain work experience in the manufacturing sector.

• Donate Equipment to Schools

  • An equipment donation to a local school could assure that the school is teaching the students with the same equipment used within the industry. 

• Donate Cash to a School

  • With a cash donation the school could expand its technical education program to fill voids in the programs.

• Offer Job Shadowing to Students

  • By having students learn and shadow employees in manufacturing, the students can see if a career in manufacturing might be right for them.

• Scholarships to Students

  • There are many great scholarship programs setup already for the manufacturing industry. The students would greatly benefit if companies would aid the scholarship programs.

• Join an Advisory Committee

  • By joining a committee focused on improving current programs, it would ensure the success of the manufacturing program

• Classroom Presentations

  • By showcasing and presenting manufacturing to students in the classroom, it would aid in the understanding of manufacturing for students