Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/116226
EDITOR'S NOTE | NIKKI KALLIO n k a l l i o @ i n si g h t o n b u si n e ss. c o m Let's make America a manufacturing magnet again Since the last issue of Insight on Manufacturing face in filling available positions (see Cover Story, page 9). – "IOM" for short – came out, we've had a Nicolet Plastics of Mountain and ChemDesign of Marinette presidential inauguration and a state of the are two companies that have found ways to deal with this union address. Were you watching? The word challenge, such as working with local technical colleges to "manufacturing" played a prominent role in train the right people with the right attitudes (soft skills) to President Obama's speech. provide them with the technical know-how they need, and to "Our first priority is making America a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing," the president stated, adding that in the past promote the local area as an ideal place to live. They also say getting youth interested in manufacturing is key, because then they'll have a homegrown workforce. three years manufacturers have added about But the current aging workforce is placing even more 500,000 jobs, a good start to recovering what urgency on the need to find skilled employees to replace was lost in economic downturns following them. Mike Kawleski of Georgia-Pacific writes in this issue Sept. 11, 2001 and the plunge in 2008. Major (see Insight From, page 24) about a program that brings companies such as Caterpillar and Ford are back retired workers to mentor new hires and workers who bringing jobs back from other countries. The have recently been promoted. What better way to get the president suggested courses of action to improve next generation ready for manufacturing than to share the upon this trend, including building more knowledge of those who have been there, done that? manufacturing innovation institutes like the At the same time, the new generation will bring their one in Youngstown, Ohio, where workers are optimism and ideas to the floor, evolving manufacturing into learning 3D printing technology. He wants to something that looks new. create 15 more of these hubs to help develop the Speaking of which, did you notice our new IOM banner? state-of-the-art skills that will give American We decided "Insight on Manufacturing" could be a mouthful, manufacturing an even greater boost. and our new look for IOM will help differentiate us from our The jobs are out there. It's all about skills – finding talented people and continuing to anchor magazine, Insight. We hope you like it, and we hope you enjoy this issue. F develop in them the abilities that are needed to boost manufacturing's role in our economy. In this issue, writer MaryBeth Matzek explores the challenge that rural New North companies w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m March 2013 • / insight on manufacturing |7