Manufacturing Week Increases Awareness of Manufacturing Careers in Area Schools

ABOVE: A student at the North Lawrence Career Center practices his welding skills in a safe, virtual environment.

LEFT: Two 8th grade students from Mitchell Community Schools work together on a design challenge.

A series of manufacturing-based events and activities were planned and implemented throughout the week of September 27th through October 1st by 8th grade students in Mitchell, Schoals, and Orleans schools and 9th-12th grade students at the North Lawrence Career Center who attend Bedford North Lawrence, Mitchell, Medora, Orleans, and Brownstown Central High Schools. Goals for Manufacturing Week were to: increase awareness of what manufacturing is; share the importance it has in our communities, region, state, and nation; and identify and explore potential careers in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing Week was deemed a huge success by all involved in the planning and execution of the program.

In Mitchell, 104 students participated throughout the week with the first activity being an interactive lesson created and executed during student’s advisory time. The lesson allowed students to engage collaboratively in creating a common definition for manufacturing and play a game reviewing statistics and facts related to the landscape of manufacturing in Indiana. Additionally, students visited the district’s digital fabrication lab to learn more about microelectronics. This time was intentionally set aside to emphasize the role of automation and robotics in manufacturing. All eighth grade students participated in career awareness programming and explored industrial engineering and biopharmaceutical manufacturing in their Engineering and Science classes during Manufacturing Week. Lastly, students participated in an a day-long design challenge on Friday, October 1st, this year’s nationally recognized Manufacturing Day (always held the first Friday in October). Students were given materials, constraints, and requirements to complete during the design challenge – to launch a ping pong ball from the basketball free throw line into a basketball hoop without any member of the team touching the ball. One team’s ball reached the backboard and top teams earned prizes through a scoring rubric that held a strong emphasis on using the skills of critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, and communication. Representatives from PRD, B&D Electric, Dishmaster Faucet, Lawrence County Economic Growth Council, Region 8 Workforce Board, and StoneGate Arts & Education Center were on hand to provide encouragement to the students and answer questions during their design challenge.

Chris Swayer from Dishmaster Faucet had this to say, “Thanks for letting us come in. It was great to see kids excited about the project they’re working on.” Jarret Parks from B&D Electric added, “The kids really impressed me! I was shocked that the kids actually talked to me and asked questions. It was a really good experience for everyone!” Students were excited as well and one Mitchell 8th grader commented, “My favorite part about Manufacturing Day was being able to talk to other groups and not being under so much pressure. We were able to still feel like kids but have responsibility with fun.”

Meanwhile, 77 students from Orleans were able to participate in a tour of Jasper Seating in Orleans and Stone City Products in Bedford, with a special picnic style lunch in between provided by the Orange County Economic Development Partnership.

At the North Lawrence Career Center (NLCC), approximately 150 students in the Introduction to Trades, Welding, and Machine Trades classes were able to better understand the importance of manufacturing through daily trivia, design challenges, and educational hands-on experiences. Lincoln Electric set up 2 virtual welders for students to obtain a hands-on experience with welding in a safe, virtual environment. “This type of early exposure to welding can be extremely beneficial for our students as it would be safe and cut down on material cost that would be spent if in a shop setting… our students enjoyed this experience tremendously” states NLCC Assistant Director, Steven McNabb.

Design challenges in the machining classes pertained to a goal of designing and creating spinning tops that would spin longer than other tops. Welding classes took scrap objects and welded them to create a new object. Manufacturing Day was a virtual day for students, but that didn’t stop them from completing their final design challenge of the week from home. Students were tasked with taking saltine crackers and creating “welds” with cheese spray from a can and sending photos of their completed “welds” to their teachers. “Student and teacher participation was fantastic and the top winners from the design challenges received prizes provided by sponsors,”said McNabb.

Through Manufacturing Week coordinated by the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council’s (LCEGC) Workforce Coalition, all students had access to a quality learning environment and could participate in an opportunity to experience successful outcomes. “It was a privilege working with each of our sponsors and partners and it was captivating for me to see students engaging in activities throughout the week,” says LCEGC Marketing Manager, Jennifer Jones. “We’d like to thank our sponsors as this project was made possible by In-MaC, GM Kids Foundation, and Precision Metalforming Association Educational Foundation thru our partner, Stone City Products. Special thanks to our partners, North Lawrence Career Center, COSMOS (Collaboration of Shoals, Mitchell, and Orleans Schools), the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, 1340 AM WBIW, Jasper Seating, Inc., and Lincoln Electric. None of it would have been possible without this community of invested stakeholders coming together to make it happen.”

The annual observance of Manufacturing Day and the commitment from the community’s invested stakeholders to evolve the event into an entire week-long, educational program was crucial as Advanced Manufacturers in Lawrence and Orange Counties continue to struggle with attracting and retaining the needed workforce to fully operate their organizations. Employers have indicated to LCEGC’s Director of Career Development, Joe Timbrook, that for many positions a person with experience and a certificate would be hired.