Franklin, Tenn.—Manufacturing Day is an event that is being promoted throughout the country to highlight careers in manufacturing. A. O. Smith’s
main parts facility, APCOM, which is located in Franklin, Tenn. recently hosted Williamson County’s Fairview High School students during their Manufacturing Day on October 2, 2015.
Nationally, Manufacturing
Day is in its fourth year, and its mission is to “address common misperceptions
about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors
and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is and what it isn’t,” according
to the Manufacturing
Day website.
APCOM is in
its first year participating in the event. They hosted Fairview High School,
which has been focused on Mechatronics, a
multidisciplinary field of engineering, and STEM (science, technology,
engineering and mathematics). APCOM staff took students on a tour of the
manufacturing facility and spoke briefly about what they do and the career
opportunities in their field.
“First and
foremost, students can see that manufacturing continues to develop in
technology, creating opportunities in a variety of fields,” said Bill Jacobs,
APCOM’s director of operations. “Secondly,
they saw what we do as a manufacturing company, focusing on APCOM’s automation,
product designs and our design/build of equipment. Thirdly, they learned about the
opportunities we can offer as an employer.”
Manufacturing
Day was brought about to address the concerns of low employment in the
manufacturing field. Right now, around 80 percent of manufacturing jobs are
held by workers age 45-65, according to the Manufacturing Day’s website.
“We are
always in need of talented young individuals to fill positions related to the
Mechatronics program,” said Jacobs. “We struggle to find technically qualified
personnel in a very tight market. I am hopeful that these young men and women
will become excited by what they see at APCOM and one day they become the
future of the business.”
While this is
the first time APCOM participated in Manufacturing Day, they hope it will
become a yearly tradition to give students a look into the world of
manufacturing.
“When this
was brought up in the Williamson Economic Development meeting, we quickly
jumped on board. The skills being taught at Fairview High School are the skills
we need for APCOM’s future and continued success,” Jacobs concluded.
Manufacturing
facilities are continuing to host events throughout the month of October, visit
www.mfgday.com for more information.