It is hard to go through the day and not see or hear about the importance of technology in our world. In the employment sector, research advises that the number of STEM jobs will soar, and insists we encourage our young people to pursue degrees in mathematics, science and engineering. This is true and encouraging for those who have an interest and drive to become engineers, but local findings suggest the real revolution in opportunities for our young people (and supported by many area orthopedic companies) is the increased number of advanced manufacturing positions available.
Last school year, there were reportedly 300 openings in advanced manufacturing in Warsaw alone. Companies in the immediate vicinity of Warsaw indicate that they are looking to the surrounding communities to move parts of their operations to help supply the workforce in this growing field. These positions are primary CNC operators, polishers and the maintenance of these high-tech machines. These positions require training that is significantly less expensive and time-consuming than what results from a traditional four-year college degree. Employers are looking for candidates who come to work regularly, and are on time and who will take pride in their work. Technical training is provided through local high school career centers like Heartland in Wabash or Ivy tech.
To this end, the renovation of the advanced manufacturing lab at Manchester Junior-Senior High School would provide a critical link that is required to make up the difference in the large numbers of technically trained candidates for this growing job market and provide our students with a leg up on other schools. This resonates with many parents and students who want to continue their pursuit of a four-year college degree but also want alternative options as career paths evolve with inevitable life changes. Many of our students are not able to sacrifice half their day to travel to Heartland yet stay on the four-year college track. It is through this route which many small towns and communities in our part of the state can be preserved.
Orthopedic companies are numerous in our area and are looking for communities near Warsaw that can provide a trained workforce. This work is not in the traditional environment that we associate with manufacturing 20-30 years ago. These positions are high paying with great benefits and are in operating room clean conditions. Advanced manufacturing occupations do not require four-year college degrees or the $100,000 worth of debt that come with them.
During strategic planning our research team engaged in dialogue with companies like PreMed Tec (the extension of Precision Medical that just came to North Manchester) and IMD owner by Todd Speicher a native of North Manchester. Their company officials are excited and looking forward to providing internships and a partnership locally. The immediate Warsaw area is tapped out of qualified laborers.
There is no time like the present to make the fundamental shift to what our area companies are calling for while other schools continue to interpret the need for STEM-based workforce as a need for engineers rather than the more abundant absence of trained machine operators, polishers and high-tech maintenance personnel that our program will provide. PMT and IMD are just a few of the companies that experience an inordinate amount of turnover due to the shuffling around when experience, advanced manufacturing employees leave for the more lucrative positions at bigger companies like Zimmer Biomet, Paragon and DePuy, just to name a few.
Make no mistake: We will continue to encourage and support college-ready students as well as future engineers, but our proposed advanced manufacturing program provides something for all of our graduates. It is my hope that our community can support the refurbishment and renovation of the high school advanced manufacturing lab by voting "YES" in November on the Manchester Community Schools building project.
