About 600 students from public school districts in the area are expected to participate in a series of events on Friday coordinated by National Park College for Manufacturing Day.
Four area manufacturing companies and suppliers will provide industry tours, guest speakers and activities on the NPC campus. National Park College participated in the annual event for the first time in 2014.
The nationwide initiative is intended to correct common misconceptions about manufacturing and recruit younger workers into high-wage and high-demand manufacturing careers. It was created by Founding Partner Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International in 2012 to positively change public perceptions of modern manufacturing.
The National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership and various other partner organizations helped grow the event each year. Manufacturing Day is now produced annually by the National Association of Manufacturers with contributions and support from the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and Manufacturing Institute.
"We want students to understand that today's manufacturing jobs have evolved into sophisticated career paths," said Kelli Albrecht, vice president for workforce and strategic initiatives for National Park College. "Many require highly skilled employees with training in aerospace and industrial technology, engineering, computer programming, biochemistry and robotics."
The initiative began in 2012 with less than 250 events. More than 2,800 events were held on Manufacturing Day in 2016, affecting an estimated 595,341 participants, including 267,607 students.
Participating school districts include Fountain Lake, Hot Springs, Jessieville, Lake Hamilton, Mountain Pine and Ouachita River, which Albrecht said was interested after students from Oden participated in a camp hosted by the college during the summer. A trade show will be held in the Southside Student Center on campus. Organizations registered to participate include Arkansas Welding & Industrial Supply, Mountain Valley Spring Co., Timber Automation, Xpress Boats and the college's Innovative Technologies Center, which will also offer tours at its site on Albert Pike Road.
"We are excited the Innovative Technologies Center is also participating this year with tours of that facility," Albrecht said. "Students will be able to see firsthand how this high-tech training translates into great jobs right here in Garland County."
Albrecht said the college has received tremendous support from local manufacturing partners. Other on-site industry tours will be led by Airtech Supply, Alliance Rubber, Berry Plastics and Timber Automation.
Students will be able to learn about the college's high school technical programs at National Park Technology Center. Participating programs include, Aerospace, Machine Tooling, Pre-Engineering, Welding and Wood Technology.
Local on 10/04/2017