Daniel L. Twarog
President
North American Die Casting
Association
Wheeling, Ill.
Edited by Lawrence Kren
Misconceptions about the strength of American manufacturing and an aging workforce are just two of the many the reasons cited for the shortage.
I'm convinced many young people
don't consider careers in manufacturing because they think nothing is made
in America anymore. But the headlines
often overlook the fact that the United
States is still the world's number one
manufacturer, accounting for about a
quarter of global manufacturing in
2004, according to the World Bank.
It's true changes in the global economy have shifted some production out
of this country resulting in job losses.
Low-skill positions have taken the
biggest hit, according to an article published by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York, A Leaner, More Skilled U.S.
Manufacturing Workforce. However,
employment in high-skill positions has
seen a 37% rise over the last 20 years.
Clearly there are opportunities for
workers with the right skill sets, and
more will come available as the workforce ages. By 2012, workers age 55
and older will represent 19.1% of the
total labor force versus 14.3% today.
So, what can be done to fill these
positions? A number of initiatives are
underway, ranging from grassroots efforts to broader campaigns sponsored
by industry groups.
For example, Florida Community College at Jacksonville works with local industries
to develop courses focused specifically on that area's economy. It offers training
in trades related to ship repair, and is talking with The North Florida Business
Aviation Association about creating a scholarship to help students attend the
airframe and powerplant technicians certification program at FCCJ's Aviation
Center of Excellence.
A wider-scale approach is the
Dream It. Do It. career campaign sponsored by the National Association of
Manufacturers and its research and education arm, The Manufacturing Institute. Dream It. Do It. aims to attract
young people to manufacturing careers
and expand their educational and training opportunities through strong coalitions with local civic, political, education, and business entities. Begun in
2005 as a pilot program in Kansas City,
and recently launched in Northeastern
Ohio, Nebraska, and southwest Virginia, the campaign will expand to other
regions across the country this year.
For more than 30 years, NADCA also
has been encouraging young people to
pursue careers in manufacturing and
die casting through its Laine Die Casting Internship & Scholarship Program.
Applicants work in the die-casting industry for at least three months and
submit a paper about their experiences.
Last year's internships ranged from
the operational tasks of relocating two
machines in a casting cell and visually
determining the causes of defects in a
cast part, to reverse-engineering research and support of a Six Sigma
Greenbelt project to reduce robotic automation downtime.
Whatever the method, industrial leaders must develop a game plan for recruiting, retaining and training employees if American industry is to remain
competitive in the years ahead.
NADCA is a trade organization that helps member companies compete domestically
in a global marketplace. For information about the Laine Die Casting Internship
& Scholarship Program, please visit: www.diecasting.org/students/scholarship/ scholarship.htm