After a Strong Manufacturing Year, What’s Next?
Manufacturing is the backbone of North Carolina’s economy and North Carolina’s creators had a successful end of the decade in 2019. From significant progress on the new and improved United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreement and reauthorization of the critical Export-Import Bank, to more local victories like 119 events hosted in our state for Manufacturing Day and successful programs like Heroes MAKE America, there’s plenty to celebrate as we closed out last year. But challenges remain on the horizon and as we look ahead to the new year, we want to hear from you.
What are your organization’s priorities for 2020? What do you think will be the big issues for manufacturers in the new decade? Please fill out this quick survey and tell us what’s on your mind in 2020 so we can continue to be a voice for you.
Looking Back on Manufacturing Day Celebrations
As North Carolina’s manufacturers continue to struggle to find skilled talent to fill their open positions, events like Manufacturing Day and other efforts to address the outdated stigma about this industry will be a key piece of any solution.
Held last fall, Manufacturing Day 2019 was a success as businesses across the country opened their doors to students, parents and teachers to showcase the limitless opportunities available in their fields. With nearly 120 events hosted across the state, we were pleased to see so many NC Chamber members participated in this exciting event.
Cornerstone member Apex Tool Group hosted two tours in the afternoon after school and had an impressive 60 students, parents, educators and government officials attend. Students heard from R&D and Test Lab engineers about taking ideas from the drawing board to the factory floor, met with graphic design and marketing teams to learn about generating buzz for products, and toured the warehouse to learn about how tools reach retail and industrial supply customers.
Veneer Technologies in Newport partnered with Carteret Community College to host students for a tour and information session about the community college’s manufacturing programs and Veneer Tech’s pre-apprenticeship programs.
In Salisbury, Power Curbers, a concrete slipform equipment manufacturer, has been participating in Manufacturing Day since it began. In 2019, they hosted 17 people including a teacher and students from Salisbury High School. Students loved seeing the shop machinery and even got to interact with a finished machine.
In Randolph County, more than 225 middle school students were able to see the breadth of manufacturing opportunities available for their futures at a Randolph Community College Manufacturing Day Celebration. NC Chamber Cornerstone member Mohawk Industries and member Elastic Therapy Inc. participated in the event where students were able to interact with machines, speak with representatives from the organizations, and learn about apprenticeship opportunities through Apprenticeship Randolph.
Thank you to all the NC Chamber members who are opening doors and minds through events like Manufacturing Day and other programs. We look forward to continuing to work with you to share opportunities in manufacturing with today’s students.