Manufacturing plants need skilled graduates
SECTOR THRIVING
Last Updated: November 3, 2011 9:28pm
High-school guidance counsellors got a glimpse Thursday into 21st-century manufacturing plants with the hope of changing the impression that manufacturing in London is a dying industry.
Gone are the days when workers toiled away at dirty plants doing a single job.
"A manufacturing job is not a guy putting a nut on a bolt all day long," said Jason Bates of the London Region Manufacturing Council.
Instead, manufacturing plants today are clean, high-tech places employing a variety of people.
At plants such as Attica Manufacturing, general machinists, mechanical engineers, skilled trades, safety engineers and material handlers are some of the employees who make the precision plant what it is.
"All those are part of the symphony of manufacturing," said Andy Mavrokefalos, president of Attica.
Young people's confidence has fallen in manufacturing, he said, leaving the sector scrambling to fill some of those roles.
"We do need your best and brightest," Mavrokefalos told the guidance counsellors, urging them to promote manufacturing as a first-choice career.
The day was illuminating for people such as Jerry O'Conner, head of guidance and co-operative education at John Paul II Catholic high school.
"This was a real eye-opener for me today," he said. "I'm stuck in a 'free-trade, good-bye manufacturing' mindset, so this is good to hear."
The perception, he said, was that with free-trade agreements in place, manufacturing jobs were being lost to countries such as Mexico.
Guidance counsellors toured five London manufacturing plants: Attica, TransForm Automotive, Hanwha Corp., OES Inc. and Trojan UV Technologies.
"It was a meaningful opportunity for guidance (counsellors) to see manufacturing in the 21st century," said Michelle Boughner, curriculum co-ordinator at the London District Catholic school board.
The five companies opened their doors to break down misconceptions, said Doug May of Trojan Technologies.
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About the companies
Attica Manufacturing Inc.: Opened in 2002, it makes precision-machine components for various sectors. including health care, energy and automotive. It employs about 50 people.
Hanwha: It opened in 2009 and makes quartz countertops with about 80 employees, including those with skilled trades.
TransForm Automotive: Opened in 2005, it makes transmission components with a workforce of about 200. Jobs at the plant include everything from the operations manager, tool and die makers, electricians, engineers, IT and maintenance.
OES Inc.: It opened in 1980 and makes electronic-control products such as scoreboards. It employs in a variety of jobs. Among the 60 employees, there are 10 different degrees and 25 different diplomas.
Trojan UV Technologies: It opened in 1977 and makes UV water-treatment equipment. It employs about 350 in variety of jobs, including engineers and people who have PhDs.
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