Manufacturing is a multifaceted industry that can provide jobs in many types of fields. Because of its flexibility, adults with a wide range of passions and skillsets can find success in a career that is related to manufacturing in some way.
For example, our team of professionals here at Valco have many specialties (e.g., customer service, product development) but are all connected under the same umbrella, given our company’s forte of manufacturing, stamping and prototyping metal parts.
The Importance of Manufacturing and STEM Educations
Manufacturing’s versatility within a company, along with recent statistics stating that the industry has created more jobs in 2018, has grabbed the attention of both students and educators everywhere.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education is another segment that is continuing to pick up speed. This may be because, like manufacturing, the projections for jobs within these four fields are all set to increase by 2020 – and in some cases, by more than 30% nationwide.
These types of jobs also account for 10% of the jobs offered in the United States alone.
The Many Career Directions for a STEM/Manufacturing Professional
Students who choose to pursue a manufacturing career will likely be required to have a base of knowledge in at least one – if not all – of STEM’s components, making the two sectors go together hand-in-hand. By earning a degree in one of these areas, you can take your career into several routes.
A handful of jobs that students could choose to work toward that are within STEM’s core fields, and that also connect to manufacturing, may include:
Computers and Mathematics
- Software Developer
- Mathematical Technician
- Computer Programmer
Architecture and Engineering
- Agricultural Engineer
- Surveying Technician
- Architectural Drafter
Life, Physical and Social Science
- Chemical Technician
- Wildlife Biologist
- Environmental Science Technician
Other possibilities related to these fields may include a career in management, sales, education and more.
9 Examples of Manufacturing and STEM Education in Northeast Ohio
Manufacturing and STEM are two educational segments that are becoming more and more important to emphasize, as job demands in these fields are projected to go up. Because of this, the city of Cleveland is taking initiative.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of organizations that are teaching the next generation of leaders the essential skills needed for manufacturing and STEM careers. This teaching is done in the form of summer camps, classes, internships and more.
By exposing students to these career paths as children or teenagers, it is the hope of many that these growing jobs will get filled by a new generation of innovative trailblazers.
- The Alliance for Working Together Foundation – This foundation (AWT) offers manufacturing-related summer camps for children, with the hope that they will become interested in the sector and someday pursue the profession. Other branches of education offered by AWT include ambassador programs, a RoboBots program for high schoolers, and networking events.
- Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network – This educational program, which goes by MAGNET, is a northeast Ohio organization that works to get more jobs in the area related to skilled positions filled. This is done by finding high school students paid internships on the shop floor, even before they graduate.
- Early College Early Career – Within MAGNET, the ECEC program was also created with the common goal of educating students on manufacturing and filling jobs. This youth apprentice program finds students paid internships with local manufacturers and emphasizes an “earn and learn” policy.
- Cuyahoga Community College – Tri-C has made teaching young students the basics of manufacturing a priority by introducing The Nuts and Bolts Academy. This academy is a summer camp for children ages 9-18, and it exposes them to manufacturing and engineering through various hands-on activities.
- MakerMinded – This national program challenges students to participate in STEM/manufacturing-related activities listed on their website, document their experience, earn points for participation and win prizes at the end of the school year based on the number of points earned. The Ohio chapter of this program was introduced in August 2017 and has expanded to five states.
- MC²STEM High School – This high school is changing the way students in the Cleveland area receive a STEM education. MC²STEM’s four-year plan includes classes at the Great Lakes Science Center, time at GE Lighting and time at Cleveland State University’s downtown campus.
- The Center for Innovation in STEM Education – This center, or CISE, was created as a partnership between the Great Lakes Science Center, MC²STEM High School, Cleveland State University and the Ohio STEM Learning Network. It offers unique programs in areas such as FabLab, an MIT-developed software for rapid prototyping.
- TechCorps – TechCorps is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to allowing K-12 students to have equal access to technology resources. As a result, this Columbus-based company has expanded to northeast Ohio and has taught students in Avon about creating computer applications and problem solving.
- Rosie’s Girls – This summer camp for girls is put on by Hard Hatted Women, a program focused on women’s presence in STEM-related careers. Rosie’s Girls is an exploration camp for girls in 6-8th grade, with programs that expose attendees to skilled trades and technical fields of work.
Valco Is Proud to Be Based in a City That Promotes Manufacturing Careers for the Next Generation
For the last 50 years, our headquarters have been located in the Cleveland suburb of North Olmsted, Ohio. We’re proud to be within a city that is making manufacturing and STEM careers a priority for the new generation of children and future leaders.
If you have any questions about our own manufacturing process, be sure to reach out to us today! We look forward to hearing from you.