by Dianna Brodine, managing editor Plastics Business The skilled labor crisis is the top issue facing manufacturing companies today, and the solution may lie within the school system, where a captive audience of young adults is making decisions about prospective careers. But, how does a manufacturing company penetrate the educational system to create a funnel of future … [Read more...] about Productive Partnerships: What Education and Industry Need to Prosper
STEM & Training
Learning from the Best: Building a Better Training Program
by Elizabeth Stevens, contributing writer Plastics Business In the plastics industry, as in every industry, people are among a company’s most valuable assets. Three companies in the industry – a molded parts producer, a custom extruder and a custom injection molder/thermoformer – have shown their belief in this principle by investing in and implementing best practices in … [Read more...] about Learning from the Best: Building a Better Training Program
Going All In on Manufacturing Day at Crescent Industries
by Lara Copeland, contributing editor Plastics Business “I had no idea manufacturing was this cool.” “I had no idea how clean the factory was going to be.” “I had no idea of the potential job opportunities within manufacturing.” “I had no idea you use that kind of automation in manufacturing.” These are all remarks left on just a few of the many surveys filled out … [Read more...] about Going All In on Manufacturing Day at Crescent Industries
Manufacturing Day: Enhancing the Industry’s Image
by Lara Copeland, contributing editor Plastics Business The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there are currently 12.3 million manufacturing workers in the US, accounting for nine percent of the workforce. Over the next decade, Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute (MI) estimate that - of the 3.5 million manufacturing jobs that will likely be needed 2 million are … [Read more...] about Manufacturing Day: Enhancing the Industry’s Image
Challenges in Plastics Industry Education
by Nancy Cates, contributing writer Plastics Business Ferris State University Big Rapids, Michigan Program enrollment: approximately 215 Degrees offered: BS in plastics engineering technology; AAS in plastics and polymer engineering technology In 1998, the National Elastomer Center, a 28,000-square-foot facility, was built to house state-of-the-art labs, classrooms … [Read more...] about Challenges in Plastics Industry Education