This October brought the latest installment of Manufacturing
Month, kicked off by a very successful Manufacturing
Day on October 7th. The
aim of this month-long celebration is to drive awareness to the manufacturing
sector by highlighting companies and jobs that many people might not even be
aware of otherwise. It also initiates conversations about the challenges facing
this sector, and what we can do to solve them.
As a manufacturer and
global supplier of bearing products, we are very familiar with the
challenges facing not only our own industry, but also those of our customers.
The agricultural community in particular is facing an issue felt by
manufacturers – an aging workforce and an uninterested generation of potential
workers. Farming, like manufacturing, is seen as a dirty, dangerous job that’s
reserved for people with little education or other options. What they don’t
see, is how far both of these industries have come thanks to new technologies.
Newer, more
adaptable robots are being introduced on the shop floor each day. But these
robots need highly skilled programmers to guide them. With so many lower level
jobs now being automated, the manufacturing sector needs skilled workers to
keep the process moving, and to design the next generation of machinery.
Similarly, agriculture is seeing a shift as more farms are taking advantage of
technology to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently. Drones can
track livestock and keep an eye on crops, while mobile apps can analyze data
and track trends that can influence production. And, of course, there’s the
introduction of a self-driving
tractor to take some of the burden off farmers.
But how can we get more people interested in these fields?
Promoting new innovations and research during Manufacturing Month in October is
one way to get the word out. Hosting student groups and promoting STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) initiatives is another great way
to get kids excited about different career opportunities at a young age. Most
importantly, we all need to make an effort to draw attention to our work all
year round.
