Insight on Manufacturing

May 2014

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18 | /insight on manufacturing • May 2014 w w w.in s i g h t o n m f g . c o m W hen it comes to the manufacturing sectors of Argentina, France and the United States, what do these countries have in common? All three are looking for ways to deal with an aging, shrinking workforce. ink about it. According to the Pew Research Center, the first wave of baby boomers turned 65 in early 2011. But its projections show by 2030, more than 18 percent of the population will be that age or older. And that's just in the United States. e World Bank Group identified a demographic trend that indicates a similar situation is happening with manufacturing workers around the globe. sales model, with an eye on bringing the current and future owners of a business together. ere's also an organization from Argentina presenting what it learned about a program giving tax credits to college students and why it's not translating to an interest in manufacturing jobs. And a committee will showcase a continuing report on an airline manufacturer's struggle to partner with all sizes of suppliers across France to help workers better respond to demand. In the end, all results will be exchanged via a best practices Setting a global example nEW manufacturing alliance draws an international spotlight Yet, there's one significant difference emerging from all this number- crunching. e United States, and more specifically Wisconsin's New North, is combating the expected employment crunch by creating much- needed private-public partnerships through the Northeast Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (NEWMA). Its results aer seven years in operation are the focus of a recent study by Jeff Sachse, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development regional economist. "I talked to those in the private industry who are driving this idea," Sachse says. "Manufacturers are investing, getting involved and experimenting with ways to create a strong future workforce, especially aer seeing employees starting to retire several years ago. And bringing education to the table, the public side of NEWMA, means discussion, energy, and action around the ways for encouraging students to explore manufacturing as a career choice." On the other side of the ocean, the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has been planning several international forums focused on employment in local markets, with the goal of bringing in groups from around the world to share results. Sachse submitted his case study on NEWMA, and it was accepted. But it's bigger than the OECD acknowledging the partnership is working. "It's about being one of just a half- dozen studies the OECD identified to be presented at its largest conference in June," Sachse says. "My understanding is that what NEWMA is doing by working together to solve problems in the real world is truly unique." Sachse will be presenting in Paris alongside some heavy hitters: One group from Germany will be sharing an apprenticeship model that partners family-owned businesses to help educate potential employees; a second from Belgium will feature its development of a Jeff Sachse, a regional economist with the state Department of Workforce Development, will speak in Paris in June. B y T e r i B a r r

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