Last fall manufacturers teamed up with team Kinexus in Benton Harbor to host a series of tours for educators of local manufacturing plants to drive home the nature of modern day technologies being employed in the local market. It was part of the strategy to put manufacturing job opportunities into the forefront with educators so that they could share those options with students in their individual systems. Now, the next step is being taken as plant tours are being formulated for students and their families to gain that same first hand view.
The newly created Manufacturing Education Awareness Group (MEAG) has formed the Working Together Tour, with support from the Kinexus team. The tour is designed for local students and their families to learn more about the careers that exist within manufacturing at the first event, with the goal of then filling those jobs at the second event.
The first event will take place on April 23, 2019 from 3:00 to 8:00 PM. More than 400 students, parents, employers, and community members are expected to attend that event. Those taking part will arrive at the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center where they will split into smaller groups and board buses. Each group will visit two different employers and take tours of their manufacturing facilities, learn about career opportunities, and see what a day in the life looks like in the manufacturing industry.
Once the tours conclude, all of the attendees will reconvene to listen to keynote speakers, enjoy a catered dinner, and continue the conversation with their peers.
Bridgman Schools Superintendent Shane Peters has been a prime motivator in the movement and a member of MEAG. He says, “We know that we need to have a conversation about manufacturing with students, parents, and employers and that’s really where the vision of this event came from.”
The second event will be a job fair that will occur on May 11th at Bridgman High School from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Attendees can apply and interview on the spot for full time or part time roles, apprenticeships, internships, and more.
Dave Goodenough is Director of Robot/Technology Development at Edewater Automation and another founding member of MEAG. He tells us, “As a previous host site for Manufacturing Day and now a MEAG member, we’re excited to connect individuals with sustainable career opportunities available requiring minimal post-secondary education.”
These events will celebrate and create awareness for Southwest Michigan’s thriving $2.9-billion manufacturing industry, employing nearly 18,500 people across the Tri-county region.
Tim Tate, another founding member of MEAG and Director of Manufacturing at Edgewater Automation says, “We’re looking forward to the spring job fair because that’s where we will see the work pay off. Local employers are in need of work-ready talent and our hope is that events like these will help us create that pipeline.”
Local sponsors for the Working Together Tour include:
- Accu-Die
- Apollo Seiko
- Beaudoin Electric
- Eagle Technologies
- Edgewater Automation
- Gast Manufacturing
- Hanson Mold
- Kinexus
- Lean Factory Automation
- Maximum Mold
Manufacturing employers who would like to register for a booth at the job fair must register my clicking this link:
Spots are limited and employers are encouraged to register before April 12th.
Manufacturing Education Awareness Group (MEAG) was created in 2018 to bring employers, students, and local schools together to generate awareness and educate people on the opportunities that exist within the manufacturing industry. For more information, email the Manufacturing Education Awareness Group at MEAGInformation@gmail.com.
The photo accompanying this story on Moody on the Market shows educators on a similar tour last fall.
You can see more of their initial trip into the manufacturing workplace with educators as shared in this story on Moody on the Market last November:
