M anufacturing remains a strong player in the area, according to the Roanoke Regional Partnership: about 11 percent of the local workforce is employed in the field, compared to 10 percent nationally. In the past few years companies like the Ardagh Group, which manufactures packaging, have cut a ribbon. There are more employers here than a decade ago, but the rise of automation and other technology advances means the number of manufacturing workers has declined slightly. Ardagh has locations worldwide, but the more typical manufacturer might be Custom Tool & Machine, the 2017 Small Business of the Year as se- SKILLED WORKERS ARE A NECESSITY FOR THE HIGH TECH INDUSTRY. 54 | 2018 VALLEY LIFE MAGAZINE lected by the Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. The company specializes in CNC machining and serves industries from aerospace to medical. It was founded by a husband and wife team 26 years ago and now has a client base reaching overseas. Chamber President/CEO Joyce Waugh said the selection committee was impressed by its "growth, diverse customer base and the company's unwavering commitment to providing quality products." Manufacturing is more high tech these days and that's where the call for more skilled workers comes into play. Virginia Western Community College President Dr. Bobby Sandel has made workforce training his mantra and the school's Mechatronics program MANUFACTURING: COURTESY OF ROANOKE VALLEY TELEVISION, RVTV-3 BUSINESS