Inspiring the future workforce

Over the next decade, it is estimated that manufacturers are seeking to fill over four million manufacturing jobs in the United States alone. Manufacturing Day, recognized nationally on the first Friday of October, was established as manufacturing’s biggest annual opportunity to inspire the next generation in positively shifting perceptions about the manufacturing industry, and build the foundation for the manufacturing workforce of the future. Throughout October, Cummins sites across the globe hosted events to welcome employees, educators and the community into their plants.

“During my career at Cummins, I’ve spent considerable time working across our Manufacturing organization and in our plants,” says Elizabeth Hoegeman, Executive Director, Global Manufacturing for Cummins. “I can say confidently, this is the most exciting time to be in Manufacturing at Cummins. We are leading the way in embracing new technologies, exploring better ways to develop new products and incorporating sustainability into our operations and the products we produce.”

Exposing community to manufacturing

One of this year’s Cummins Manufacturing Day celebration events was held in Columbus, Indiana (Ind.). #MGDay23 brought Cummins Mid-Range Engine Plant (CMEP) leadership and colleagues together with local manufacturers and educational partners to share the value of manufacturing and the importance it plays in our world. It was an opportunity for the community to have exposure to local manufacturing efforts with the goal to open the doors of various manufacturing facilities in the community. Even more importantly, it provided students with a unique opportunity to experience modern manufacturing as an exciting, fast-paced, and high-tech career choice for the future.

Juan Ardila Zorro, Supply Chain Manager at CMEP tells us more: “Manufacturing Day in Columbus has evolved substantially since we started organizing events in 2017. This year our efforts boasts collaboration from five esteemed companies (Cummins, Forvia, ENKEI, Toyota, and Service My Restaurant), along with two dedicated educational partners (Ivy Tech and Purdue University) and was meticulously orchestrated by approximately 100 volunteers. With nearly 250 local high school students in attendance, the influential impact of this gathering on the promising young minds of the next generation is profound and immeasurable. As we steadfastly expand, our vision continually broadens to incorporate more students and engage more companies, enriching the diverse and dynamic mix of our annual assembly.”

Interactively exploring manufacturing

The series of events kicked-off with private panel sessions held at Columbus North and Columbus East High Schools, with students from the manufacturing and robotics pathways as the main audience. They were able to hear directly from the representatives of each sponsor company, sharing their perspectives about the topic: “College versus work after high school … which is the best choice?” 

An interactive open house was held at Toyota Material Handling T+Rex Gymnasium where participants could get a glimpse into manufacturing career fields through activities, conversations with manufacturing experts, and more. Sponsoring company employees were on hand for demonstrations and to interact with the students as they explored a potential future in varied manufacturing roles. Cummins employee volunteers helped students build an engine from LEGO® kits and learn more about circuit boards and how electronics keep our modern world running. Some sponsor companies even demonstrated virtual reality equipment for students to experience and operate.

“It was so rewarding to be able to not only explain what we do in manufacturing and engineering fields, but to also have hands-on demonstrations,” says Joe Scrougham, CTC Test Technology Leader at Cummins. “We were able to demonstrate key electrical concepts and how electricity flows through a circuit, which, I could see, truly sparked interest in the students. There are a variety of jobs that go into making our products and being able to share this information, hopefully, can serve to inspire future workers going into the field of manufacturing and engineering.”

Encouraging future careers in manufacturing 

Cummins certainly knows the importance of manufacturing, having manufacturing facilities throughout the world where skilled workers are producing Cummins power technologies that power the world. Manufacturing is a vital field, and raising awareness is imperative for its continued success. Events like Manufacturing Day give manufacturers as well as those who influence future careers the opportunity to do just that.

“We are really excited about the results from this year’s events,” says Ardila Zorro. “As we look to next year, we are already thinking about more activities and the involvement of even more students. There are so many opportunities for the potential of manufacturing in our communities and the future workforce.”