Throughout the country, October is celebrated as Manufacturing Month and local Northern Kentucky manufacturers open their doors so students can get an up-close experience of the industry and get excited about a career in this field.
Lorraine O’Moore, Director of Work-Based Learning at NaviGo Career & College Prep, an organization of Learning Grove, helped organize 17 tours in 2022 and is organizing more for this year.
These tours give students firsthand experience of what it is like to work in this field, while also helping manufacturers develop strong partnerships and build robust talent pipelines within these schools.
Last year, more than 250 students participated in tours, including about 65 students from Highlands High School who visited KraussMaffei, a manufacturer of machines and systems for producing and processing plastics and rubber.
The students’ day began with a presentation about the company and the markets they support, and then they were shown live demonstrations of KraussMaffei’s main technology, said Midwest Regional Sales Director Martin Stojkovic.
He said it’s important for students to see what they are learning in the classroom be applied to the real world, and the tour was a great opportunity for them to learn about manufacturing career pathways.
“We need qualified, technical people and we want to get them started at a very young age,” said Stojkovic.
Highlands High School Engineering Teacher Ron Rosel said there are often misconceptions surrounding careers in manufacturing, and because this industry touches so many facets of our lives, it is vital students are exposed to this type of work.
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