Managing Automation - September 2007 - (Page 46)

ESSIVE MANUF PROGR IGH ACHIEVERACTURING H 2007 EDUCAT ION & TRAINING MASTERY SME EDUCATION FOUNDATION A new Web site called Manufacturing Is Cool attacks the manufacturing talent crisis and encourages young people to pursue careers in manufacturing. BY HALLIE FORCINIO company facts Web site and outreach program designed to encourage young people to choose careers in engineering and manufacturing has received recognition as the High Achiever in the Education & Training Mastery category of Managing Automation’s 2007 Progressive Manufacturing awards competition. Sponsored by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) Education Foundation, the Manufacturing Is Cool Web site (www .manufacturingiscool.com) is part of the association’s ef for t to advance manufacturing education and of fset the shortage of skilled manufacturing workers. SOCIETY OF MANUFACTURING ENGI“Pulling our industry NEERS EDUCATION FOUNDATION together to tackle recr uitment and educaTOTAL REVENUE/EMPLOYEES: NA/6 employees tional issues is no small LOCATION: Dearborn, MI task,” says Maureen INDUSTRY: Manufacturing Steinwall, president of PRESIDENT: Glen Pearson Steinwall Inc., who PROJECT LEADER: Bart Aslin ser ved on the judging panel for the Progressive PROJECT NAME: Manufacturing Is Cool Manufacturing competiCORE TECHNOLOGIES USED IN PROJECT: tion. “The Web site projAdobe Flash CS3 Professional on a Unix Server ect is just one facet of a ROI/BUSINESS BENEFIT: In its first few months, three-pronged approach, the Web site helped the SME Education Foundation with the goal being to increase the number of students participating in its strengthen the quantity STEPS program tenfold. and quality of the future September manufacturing engineer. SME’s project was focused, well thought through, and, in my opinion, should strengthen the whole manufacturing industry. It’s not often that a project could have this wide an impact.” The need to draw skilled workers to manufacturing is critical. A 2003 survey of U.S. manufacturing employers by the National Association of Manufacturing found 80% experiencing serious problems finding qualified candidates. With fewer young people pursuing engineering-related careers and more engineers retiring, manufacturers will continue to experience a growing need for skilled workers. In fact, a shortage currently estimated at 268,000 is projected to grow to 1.6 million unfilled positions by 2010. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that each year through 2012 employers will be seeking 17,000 industrial/manufacturing engineers, 14,000 mechanical engineers, 14,000 engineering technicians, and 273,000 metal and plastic production workers. With this kind of shortfall, Steinwall believes the importance of the Manufacturing Is Cool project cannot be overestimated. “Attracting young talent to the manufacturing profession is top-of-mind for most companies,” she explains, noting that it has been more than 30 years since manufacturing has been viewed as a viable career path, and other organizations have attempted to tackle the problem with little success. “SME pinpointed the most critical issue facing manufacturing and allocated its limited resources toward tr ying to make a difference. Let’s hope ma 46 2007 http://www.manufacturingiscool.com http://www.manufacturingiscool.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - September 2007

Contents Take 1 Europe’s Automation Chiefs Upbeat on ’08 Business Prospects Vendor Coalition Pushes Human Element of SOA Wireless: Users Still Approaching with Caution One Year Later, IBM Shows Plan for MRO’s Maximo Study: More Work Needed to Lure Next-Gen Talent Executive Q&A Notes Cover Story: 2008 Companies to Watch Special Report: The 2007 Progressive Manufacturing High Achievers Progressive Manufacturer of the Year Business Model Mastery Innovation Mastery Customer Mastery Supply Network Mastery Data & Integration Mastery Education & Training Mastery Operational Excellence Mastery Leadership Mastery Transformation: Orchestrating the Multi-Tier Supply Network Integration: The Timeless Quest for Accurate Data Industries: Maintenance No Longer on Schedule Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - September 2007

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