At the end of last month, the US Department of Labor included manufacturing in a list of “10 good jobs that don’t need a degree.” They said that industrial machinery mechanics, maintenance workers and millwright positions are expected to increase by 17% in the next 7 years, and applicants who are qualified should have very good job prospects when applying… Leer más →

Many manufacturing professionals who are looking for a promotion or new job often find themselves asking, will obtaining a APICS certification improve my career prospects? Leer más →

The importance of training Training is extremely important to the future of manufacturing in the United States, yet in many states, it has fallen by the wayside. Training for skilled manufacturing positions has been hit by a perfect storm of budget cuts and the mistaken idea that all young workers should go to college. What.. Leer más →
Pop culture references manufacturing as the factories of the 1800’s or modern day overseas sweatshops — full of mind-numbing, remedial tasks in dark and dingy factories. Today, manufacturing’s evolving workforce environments tell a much different story: clean and safe environments with employees managing advanced machinery that drives innovation and productivity. Leer más →
Chicago School helps U.S. jobs Austin Polytechnical Academy was a Chicago school founded as a partnership between labor and business to train students for high-end manufacturing jobs that often remain unfilled for lack of trained talent. See more in this video about how this school helps to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. Austin Polytechnical.. Leer más →

When it comes to the monumental task of training another generation of manufacturing employees, armed with the high-tech skills that the technology-heavy processes of the future will require, it’s easy to come down hard on the educational system. There are some basic tropes: guidance counselors push all students toward an undergraduate degree; shop classes are.. Leer más →

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that manufacturing job postings declined from 243,000 in April to 236,000 in May, according to the latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). This represents the third consecutive monthly decline in openings, down from 274,000 in February and 302,000 in May 2012. This data reflects recent weaknesses in.. Leer más →

Manufacturing jobs in the U.S. appear to be coming back—if ever so slightly. Several American firms, including Caterpillar, GE and Ford, have announced they’re shifting some manufacturing operations back to the United States, mainly because of increasing production and energy costs overseas. And since January of 2010, the United States has added 520,000 manufacturing jobs,.. Leer más →