Manufacturing Day Event Steers Oakland County Students to Skilled Trades

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More than 400 high school juniors and seniors enrolled in engineering and emerging technology programs in Oakland County schools were paired with 28 manufacturers on Friday as part of the local observance of National Manufacturing Day.

The students at the four technical campuses — located in Royal Oak, Clarkston, Pontiac and Wixom — spent time learning about robotics, welding and other processes used in modern manufacturing processes. Almost all schools in Oakland County were represented at the event.

“This serves a lot of different purposes, including addressing the shortage of workers in skilled trades and exposing high school students who already have an inclination to different opportunities in careers in modern manufacturing,” said Nancy Thompson, a marketing coordinator for Oakland County. “We’re trying to inspire the next generation of workers.”

Many longtime manufacturing workers are nearing retirement, and as Oakland County manufacturing companies proposer, they’re facing a critical shortage of workers that will only increase in time, Thompson said.

This was the first year Oakland County’s technical campuses participated in National Manufacturing day events, but they plan to in future years, according to Thompson.

Sponsors locally were the Oakland County Department of Economic Development and Community Affairs, Oakland Community College,Oakland County Michigan Works! and Oakland Schools.

Among the 28 companies participating were General Motors, Denso, Lear Corp., GKN Driveline, Makino and Hirotec America.