...Manufacturers can be forgiven if they are feeling under the gun. It’s a
shrinking part of the economy, and students by and large do not see a job in
the sector as a means to a better life.
...“Too few young people consider manufacturing careers and often are
unaware of the skills needed in an advanced manufacturing environment,” the
U.S. Department of Labor has said. “Similarly, the K-12 system neither
adequately imparts the necessary skills nor educates students on
manufacturing career opportunities.”
...The Manufacturing Institute, concerned that too few young people consider
manufacturing careers, recently launched the first-ever Education Council to
focus on expanding and enhancing the manufacturing workforce.
...A recent study by Deloitte says the lack of a trained work force is one of
five root causes of huge cost overruns on major defense acquisition programs.
Bad as that is, numerous studies suggest the talent shortage “will likely get
worse before it gets better.”
...The multibillion-dollar aerospace industry sees the handwriting on the wall
and is worried. It says the nation is not producing enough engineers and
technical workers, such as hands-on manufacturing labor, to meet the need of
the industry either now and in the future. (Launch Into Aerospace, Industry’s
Response to the Workforce Challenge, September 2008, Aerospace Industries
Association)
...Shipbuilders, too, feel the crunch. Companies with shipyards in the region
are worried enough that they formed the Gulf States Shipbuilding Consortium,
in part to address the pressing need for a skilled work force in an industry that’
s becoming more high-tech.
...“We’re trying to get young people interested in advanced manufacturing,”
said Anna Faye Kelley-Winders, Vice President of Community Campus and
Institutional Development. Responsible for workforce development in the
MGCCC district, she and others agree that the nation has almost done too
good a job instilling the idea that a four-year college degree is essential for a
good life.
...“I think there is a serious lack of interest,” in entering the shipbuilding field,
said Phil Dur, former president of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems who
now works with the University of Southern Mississippi. “It’s associated with
what my dad did; hot, grimy, not very elegant.”
...But the growing use of high-tech has changed that. It’s not just for chippers
and welders, but for designers, electronics and machine operators.
...And in a state where wages rank at the bottom, manufacturing jobs should
still represent a better life for many.
...But students can hardly be blamed for seeing manufacturing as a less than
ideal option. Manufacturing jobs have gone away, some to less costly foreign
shores, some to automation.
...The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the shift from goods-producing to
service-providing employment will continue. Service-providing industries will
account for about 15.7 million new wage and salary jobs generated over the
2006-2016 period. Manufacturing jobs will be down 10.6 percent or 1.5
million jobs in the same period.
...But that broad view can be misleading. Some production occupations will
increase and some industrial segments will grow within the overall drop. And
even in fields that lose jobs, those remaining will require more skills and may
find their jobs more satisfying.
...Manufacturing is moving towards using smaller, nimble, specialized shops to
handle work they either can’t or won’t do. Jobs in those industries,
particularly those that have to come up with “solutions” for the bigger
companies, can be rewarding.
...Specialized operations like Gulfport’s Seemann Composites have few
problems finding workers. The company develops composite structures for a
range of products, including submarines and aircraft.
...Trinity Yachts is in the shipbuilding business but builds a highly specialized
product for the super wealthy. While it’s having few problems getting
craftsmen and artisans, it does have problems, like the bigger shipbuilders,
getting skilled basic welders and fitters.
...The problem of attracting workers to manufacturing could be addressed if
those entering the workforce better understood the changing face of industry.
Seemann, Trinity and the Northrop Grumman UAV center in Moss Point
might help tell the story to a new generation of workers. - David Tortorano,
Tcp
January 2009
shrinking part of the economy, and students by and large do not see a job in
the sector as a means to a better life.
...“Too few young people consider manufacturing careers and often are
unaware of the skills needed in an advanced manufacturing environment,” the
U.S. Department of Labor has said. “Similarly, the K-12 system neither
adequately imparts the necessary skills nor educates students on
manufacturing career opportunities.”
...The Manufacturing Institute, concerned that too few young people consider
manufacturing careers, recently launched the first-ever Education Council to
focus on expanding and enhancing the manufacturing workforce.
...A recent study by Deloitte says the lack of a trained work force is one of
five root causes of huge cost overruns on major defense acquisition programs.
Bad as that is, numerous studies suggest the talent shortage “will likely get
worse before it gets better.”
...The multibillion-dollar aerospace industry sees the handwriting on the wall
and is worried. It says the nation is not producing enough engineers and
technical workers, such as hands-on manufacturing labor, to meet the need of
the industry either now and in the future. (Launch Into Aerospace, Industry’s
Response to the Workforce Challenge, September 2008, Aerospace Industries
Association)
...Shipbuilders, too, feel the crunch. Companies with shipyards in the region
are worried enough that they formed the Gulf States Shipbuilding Consortium,
in part to address the pressing need for a skilled work force in an industry that’
s becoming more high-tech.
...“We’re trying to get young people interested in advanced manufacturing,”
said Anna Faye Kelley-Winders, Vice President of Community Campus and
Institutional Development. Responsible for workforce development in the
MGCCC district, she and others agree that the nation has almost done too
good a job instilling the idea that a four-year college degree is essential for a
good life.
...“I think there is a serious lack of interest,” in entering the shipbuilding field,
said Phil Dur, former president of Northrop Grumman Ship Systems who
now works with the University of Southern Mississippi. “It’s associated with
what my dad did; hot, grimy, not very elegant.”
...But the growing use of high-tech has changed that. It’s not just for chippers
and welders, but for designers, electronics and machine operators.
...And in a state where wages rank at the bottom, manufacturing jobs should
still represent a better life for many.
...But students can hardly be blamed for seeing manufacturing as a less than
ideal option. Manufacturing jobs have gone away, some to less costly foreign
shores, some to automation.
...The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says the shift from goods-producing to
service-providing employment will continue. Service-providing industries will
account for about 15.7 million new wage and salary jobs generated over the
2006-2016 period. Manufacturing jobs will be down 10.6 percent or 1.5
million jobs in the same period.
...But that broad view can be misleading. Some production occupations will
increase and some industrial segments will grow within the overall drop. And
even in fields that lose jobs, those remaining will require more skills and may
find their jobs more satisfying.
...Manufacturing is moving towards using smaller, nimble, specialized shops to
handle work they either can’t or won’t do. Jobs in those industries,
particularly those that have to come up with “solutions” for the bigger
companies, can be rewarding.
...Specialized operations like Gulfport’s Seemann Composites have few
problems finding workers. The company develops composite structures for a
range of products, including submarines and aircraft.
...Trinity Yachts is in the shipbuilding business but builds a highly specialized
product for the super wealthy. While it’s having few problems getting
craftsmen and artisans, it does have problems, like the bigger shipbuilders,
getting skilled basic welders and fitters.
...The problem of attracting workers to manufacturing could be addressed if
those entering the workforce better understood the changing face of industry.
Seemann, Trinity and the Northrop Grumman UAV center in Moss Point
might help tell the story to a new generation of workers. - David Tortorano,
Tcp
January 2009
| II: Manufacturing woes |
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