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IACMI-The Composites Institute is making a difference in American manufacturing by catalyzing interests in the next generation of manufacturing employees. While manufacturing remains the most important cause of economic growth and future job creation, it also relies heavily on a growing talent pipeline. Upon completing two successful Manufacturing Day events this October, one at Austin-East Magnet High School in Knoxville, Tenn., and the other at the Corktown Manufacturing Facility in Detroit, Mich., our key focus relies on the education, training and inspiration of the next generation of manufacturing talent to ensure a prosperous long-term industry.
At IACMI-The Composites Institute, we are continually looking to identify world-class composites leaders and future employees ready to work on innovative new composites technologies as they are integrated into the industry. With the manufacturing industry contributing $2.17 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2015 (Source: NAM), and employing 12.3 million workers representing 9% of the U.S. workforce, the impact on the US economy is significant. And the growth is expected to continue with more than 3 million jobs expected to become available over the next decade. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.)
For these reasons, we are eager to introduce students to new career possibilities in the advance composites manufacturing industry through events like Manufacturing Day. Approximately 300 Austin-East High School students participated in Community Manufacturing Days on October 6-7, 2016, where they were given the opportunity to experience the functionality of 3D printers, manufacturing tools and my personal favorite, robotics. You can see more highlights from this event in the video recap from Knox County Schools below.
As a dedicated mentor for FIRST Robotics, an international youth organization that operates the FIRST Robotics Competition, First LEGO League, FIRST Lego League Jr., and FIRST Tech Challenge, I have seen first-hand the impact of a newly inspired student in the engineering and technology fields.
Detroit’s Manufacturing Day, held in Corktown on Friday, Oct. 7, welcomed over 50 middle and high school students, educators and parents to its campus on Detroit’s west side, where more than 1 million vehicle instrument panels were produced in 2015. Attendees were treated to facility tours, production simulations and career talks from executive government leaders, Mark Johnson Director of the Advanced Manufacturing Office, and Melinda Woods, Defense Production Act Title III Program Director. Photos from this event can be found on the IACMI Facebook page.
This year, more than 2,700 Manufacturing Day events were held across the country, and we look forward to expanding on this mass movement by working together with partners both during and after these events to help communities thrive—and for future generations to succeed in the growing composites manufacturing industry.
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