Issue link: http://www.insightdigital.biz/i/245761
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 A world of potential You all know what you need. The question is, how do you get it? Where do you find the workers you need to fill those new, skilled positions? Where are they going to come from in the future? These questions are what led to the formation of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance, an organization that is working on developing our workforce in a number of ways. Like many industries, manufacturing still offers a vast array of jobs for workers of different skill sets and educational levels. In many cases, workers can still learn on the job, and lots of manufacturers are willing to train the "right" person – meaning, someone with the communication skills, work ethic and professional demeanor necessary to working in today's team-based environments. These are often called "soft" skills, though some leaders take exception to the term as it tends to diminish the importance of these skills, also called "employability skills," which can be more of a factor in hiring than even technical know-how. At the same time, manufacturers also are in desperate need of specialized, skilled workers, particularly in the areas of CNC machining, specialized welding and engineering technology. The days of settling into a job right after high school with no additional training are over – most workers will need to continue to update their skills throughout their careers. You can see evidence of this among our 2014 All Stars (see insert). Many of these young people have an associate degree or bachelor's degree or both, and several are working on master's degrees or are enrolled in courses designed to build their on-the-job knowledge. What does this all mean? It means attracting more young people to manufacturing careers and to the educational programs that will lead them there. That's been the work of the NEW Manufacturing Alliance since 2006, to improve the industry's image and make young students aware of the adult career pathways available to them in manufacturing. Since the alliance's inception, it has forged relationships with educators and launched a number of innovative projects, such as filming videos of real-world math problems at local companies and offering a leadership academy to production workers. Read more about the alliance's efforts in our cover story on page 8. Just as the region's manufacturers are exploring ways to mine the potential of our young people, they're also starting to look more closely at the potential for growth outside our borders. Economic development professionals in the 18-county New North region are teaming up with technical colleges and planning commissions, forming "New North Global," an effort to help area companies start exporting or build upon their current international trade efforts. This fall, the group is partnering with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's International Division on a trade mission to South America, visiting countries that have a demand for products made right here in the New North (see Back Office, page 22). Lastly, if you're not headed to Manufacturing Matters and the Manufacturer of the Year awards in Milwaukee Feb. 27, consider attending Insight's InDevelopment conference at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton. Keynote speaker Fred Kent, founder and president of the Project for Public Spaces in New York, will discuss ways to transform downtown areas into places that build a strong sense of community, and subsequently create greater value (See Plant News, page 26). Other InDevelopment presenters include commercial and community development professionals, keenly interested in opportunities to help grow and expand companies in Northeast Wisconsin. We at Insight Publications hope to see you there! F w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m January 2014 • / insight on manufacturing |7