MANSFIELD, Ohio — Area schools participated in Manufacturing Day on Friday, a nationally recognized day set aside by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to dismantle misconceptions about the industry.
According to a press release issued by NAM, more than 2,000 Manufacturing Day events are scheduled in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Europe.
“Manufacturing opens doors of opportunity for everyone,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “There are so many eager young people across the country seeking rewarding and exciting careers—and manufacturing delivers that path every day. Manufacturing Day invites everyone to see and experience firsthand how we dream, build and make our future.”
Nearly 700 students from Richland County toured 11 facilities throughout the day.
Regional Manufacturing Coalition Executive Director Melanie Riggleman said there are many viable manufacturing careers available in Richland County.
“The purpose of the day is to show high school students that manufacturing is a very viable career. It is not the old, dark, dirty factories of old. There are a lot of very good jobs in manufacturing, right here in Richland County,” said Riggleman.
On Friday in Richland County, manufacturing businesses gave groups of students tours of their facilities. A common thread in the tours was a stress on the fact that the manufacturing industry includes a wide range of career opportunities.
“We have accountants, human resource workers, all sorts of jobs other than the actual production people,” said Bruce Cummins, President & CEO of Mansfield Engineered Components. “And we’re not the rust belt we once were. It’s clean in there.”
Mansfield Engineered Components designs and produces appliance products like hinges and latches, transportation parts, medical casegoods and general industrial parts. Some of their customers include Whirlpool and Panasonic.
Students were guided through different parts of each company — offices, conference rooms, break rooms, test rooms, shipping and production. For some, the tours reinforced their ideas for a career in the manufacturing industry.
For others, however, like Crestline senior Nick Johnston, the options multiplied.
“Manufacturing [as a career] is probably number three on my list,” said Johnston. “My number one is going into business, then maybe accounting.”
He said seeing different career options through the tours were helpful because he began to see what he would like to pursue after high school.
“That’s the goal,” said Stoneridge Human Resource Manager Christina Simpkins. “Most people think manufacturing is important, but they don’t want their children in it because they think there isn’t room for growth as a career.”
Stoneridge produces and designs products for commercial and agricultural vehicles. They ship their products to multiple locations throughout the United States and the world.
“I hope they (the students) walk away today understanding there are other options. You can go the traditional route and you can go the nontraditional route with manufacturing,” said Simpkins.
Crestline High School teacher Keith Strickler said he is appreciative to RMC for coordinating the tours.
“It’s so good to see this. Kids need to see these places so they can get a better idea of what they’re getting into,” said Strickler. “They have no idea how nice these places are.”
Students from Ontario, Crestline, Pioneer, Shelby, Crestview, Plymouth, Mansfield, Ashland, Madison, Lexington and Buckeye Central spent the day learning about local manufacturers. Businesses they visited included the Kehoe Center at Shelby, Stoneridge Inc., Mansfield Engineering, PR Machine Works, Ohio Valley Manufacturing, American Augers, Therm-O-Disc, Tramec-Sloan, Hillman Precision, Cole Tool & Dye, Gorman Rupp Industries, and the 179th Airlift Wing.
“The purpose of the day is to show high school students that manufacturing is a very viable career. It is not the old, dark, dirty factories of old. There are a lot of very good jobs in manufacturing, right here in Richland County,” said Melanie Riggleman.
