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Conduct a quick job search on the above and below websites for a specific manufacturing job.

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Conduct a quick job search on the above and below websites for a specific manufacturing job.

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What did you learn?

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Use theses tips when solving math  problems!

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Use theses tips when solving math  problems!

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How are manufacturing and innovation related?

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How are manufacturing and innovation related?

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What factors led to the current manufacturing skills gap?

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What factors led to the current manufacturing skills gap?

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Why is President Obama supporting training programs for manufacturing?

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Why is President Obama supporting training programs for manufacturing?

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What math skills are employers seeking in their employees? 

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What math skills are employers seeking in their employees? 

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The manufacturing skills gap. It seems you can't go a week without a politician, media outlet or industry leader wringing their hands over this issue, perhaps because it's just so confounding. In an industry that has yet to recover the jobs lost in the recession, we're dealing with vacancies in the skilled trades that threaten to derail production growth and sector expansion.

According to Manpower Group's latest "Talent Shortage Survey," skilled trades positions are the most difficult to fill, and have ranked #1 for the past four years. According to Manpower Group's report: among the more than 1,000 U.S. employers surveyed, respondents say they are having difficulty filling open positions because candidates lack technical competencies/hard skills (48 percent); candidates lack workplace competencies/soft skills (33 percent) and because of a lack of/no available candidates (32 percent).

So what are the factors that keep this skill schism at such a meaningful size that we're all still talking about it?

"There are significant opportunities and jobs within manufacturing that are not being filled. It's about training and matching those skills with the jobs that exist," says Bob McCutcheon, U.S. Industrial Products leader for the professional services network PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

"It's also a perception issue," he adds. "These are still some of the most technologically sophisticated jobs that we have, and many of these jobs are actually sitting in front of computer terminals, but public perception is still a few decades old. I think some manufacturers have work to do to change public perception, in order to attract and retain the talent."

While the perception problem isn't a new one, it's now coupled with an aging baby boomer demographic - a group that's well represented in manufacturing and retiring at a rapid rate. In a way, manufacturers are being held hostage by a Millennial generation that doesn't find the industry appealing. Dan Campbell, 2014 chairman of the American Staffing Association and CEO of the staffing and professional recruitment organization Hire Dynamics, thinks there is a prevailing stigma that has resulted in Millennials being reticent to enter into some industries. "But these are outdated views," he says. "We have thousands of open trades jobs at the same time as millions of jobless Millennials - who are facing twice the national unemployment rate."
Peer Input & Apprenticeship
So perhaps it's a bit of a combination of a skills gap and an interest gap. Campbell suggests that prospective manufacturing employers look at specific generational traits when looking to hire Millennials, noting how "Millennials consistently seek to improve the workplace in terms of how they can apply creativity and empower their own positions and teams." He goes on to suggest that employers - within the process of hiring a Millennial - should put them face to face with another peer who is employed by the company. "Have the young employee stress the accomplishments, innovation and benefits of the company and its culture, as well as all the ways the potential hire could immediately start contributing their ideas and innovations to the organization.

Some manufacturers have likewise placed emphasis on peer input by developing apprenticeship programs in order to circumvent some of the missing skills. SCHOTT North America of Lebanon, PA, a manufacturer of special glass and glass-related systems, has elected to take a more active role in training its next generation of workers through a home-grown apprenticeship program for electro-mechanical technicians (EMTs), a decision the company said was based on a growing skills gap and an aging workforce. "We currently have three apprentices who started in January 2013," says Lauren Lake, HR Director at SCHOTT North America in Lebanon. "We set up the program because of a need for new talent since we are investing in new capital equipment for glass forming." Since these new machines rely heavily on PLCs for their operation, the company needed specially trained talent to manage their maintenance, and didn't want to wait for someone else to provide the skilled people. "Few EMTs are available on the market, and other companies are competing for their skills since many automated machines are equipped with PLCs."

Some manufacturers have gone a different route when attempting to address production needs in a spotty labor market. Mark Greenman runs a small startup called Gearward, which produces outdoor gear for men. The company is currently developing a lot of new products that are coming out in the upcoming months, "many of which far exceed our in-house manufacturing skills," explains Greenman, the company's founder. While things like forging titanium, injection moulding and complex sewing could produce bottlenecks without the right skills to address them, Greenman has found success through the use of contract manufacturing. "We simply find companies that specialize in the skills we lack, and have them build the products to our design specifications."

Greenman says this method has been extremely efficient, both in terms of product turnaround time, and also quality, since the contract manufacturing sources are each experts in these specific production skills. "Most importantly, it allows us to be extremely nimble in our manufacturing," he adds, "allowing us to pursue an extremely wide range of products that would be impossible if we had to build them in-house."

SCHOTT's Lake adds that there are other ways to resolve the skills gap, specifically companies working together with local educational institutions to communicate needed skills and help develop training programs. Additionally, today's manufacturing plants are increasingly integrating high tech equipment that requires specific knowledge and overlaps into design and programming, which means an emphasis on STEM skills is usually a good start.

Rob Hewlett, D.A., is the dean of the College of Business at Bellevue University, which recently launched an Advanced Manufacturing degree program. According to Hewlett, some of the program has been designed around issues raised by manufacturers and trade groups, including weak areas they've identified like problem solving. The program also targets the use of positive behaviors that lend themselves to building trust-based collaborative relationships within a manufacturing team as well as value-chain partners. "These weaknesses are hindering repatriation of many of the advanced manufacturing jobs slated for the U.S.," warns Hewlett. "The new manufacturing environment isn't your father's manufacturing job. It requires deep planning, thinking, judging and collaborating skills in addition to technical skills. These manufacturing professionals are dealing with agile systems, lean systems, flex systems and working to demanding requirements; they are leaders and need leadership skills."

Besides leadership skills, the industry needs a blend of more technical skills as well. Professionals are needed that are proficient as coders, flex/agile/Lean manufacturing designers and possess sophisticated client skills capabilities to work with recurring or non-recurring manufacturing of components in a 3D manufacturing or 3D printer environment. "The need to blend technology, creativity, problem-solving, IT and client service skills into a single professional is essential," says Hewlett. "We are building manufacturing craft professionals, not factory workers tied to rigid processes and practices."

As a manufacturer, SCHOTT also sees value in becoming an advocate partner, and keeping the lines of communication open with educational institutions. Says Lake, "Another aspect to look at is trade school promotion to help advocate manufacturing jobs. Companies should also consider marketing these positions as highly paid, so young talent will be more interested in pursuing these careers."

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Why The Manufacturing Skills Gap Is Serious

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The manufacturing skills gap. It seems you can't go a week without a politician, media outlet or industry leader wringing their hands over this issue, perhaps because it's just so confounding. In an industry that has yet to recover the jobs lost in the recession, we're dealing with vacancies in the skilled trades that threaten to derail production growth and sector expansion.

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CareerCast.com | The premier site to find local and niche jobs

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CareerCast helps job seekers find a job, create a resume, get email job alerts, read career news and best job rankings. Employers post jobs to multiple sites.

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building construction skilled trades manufacturing other Jobs in Schaumburg, Illinois. building construction skilled trades manufacturing other Job Openings in Schaumburg, Illinois | Jobs.com

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View building construction skilled trades manufacturing other jobs in Schaumburg, Illinois from employers who want to hire YOU. Find your perfect job & apply. Jobs.com - a better job search experience.

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In his weekly address, President Obama continues his push to "make America a magnet for good jobs in the future," pitching high-tech manufacturing hubs and infrastructure improvements to help create jobs.

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Manufacturing News Videos on all the lastest technology and industrial news

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Cheat Sheet

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From Technical Math For Dummies

By Barry Schoenborn, Bradley Simkins

Grasping some technical math basics can simplify everyday situations faced by many professionals and even non-professionals, including having to solve word problems, calculate tips, make change, or match American and metric measurements.

Simple Steps for Solving Word Problems

Word problems aren't just on school tests. You solve word problems every day in your work or even while you're just out and about. Don't worry - these steps make solving word problems easier than you think. Just follow these easy steps to take away the mystery:

1. Read the problem.

Begin by reading the problem carefully. Don't jump to any conclusions about the answer until you understand the problem.

2. Identify and list the facts.

Look at all the information given in the story problem and make a list of what you know.

3. Figure out exactly what the problem is asking for.

Know what you're trying to find. The problem often states the required answer, but sometimes you have to ferret it out from the information given. If an important fact isn't there, you can often convert some piece of the given information.

4. Eliminate excess information.

The problem may include facts that don't help you find the solution, so clear them out of the way.

5. Pay attention to units of measurement.

For example, if dimensions are given in inches, but the answer must be in square feet, you need to convert units. You can use a table of conversions, an online calculator, or your own memory to get the conversion factors.

6. Draw a diagram.

Sometimes a diagram helps you visualize the problem (but not always).

7. Find or develop a formula.

When you see the math that needs to be done, you probably know a common math formula to use for the computation. You will find that you use some special formulas again and again.

8. Consult a reference.

If you're stuck, look for a reference of some kind, such as a conversion chart or even a blog where someone has encountered the same problem you're having (although as always, consider Internet sources carefully).

9. Do the math and check your answer.

After you have an answer, be sure to test it. If the result is outrageously high or low, verify whether you made a mistake.

Calculating a Standard 15-Percent Tip

Calculating a 15-percent tip in your head may seem tricky, but here's a, well, tip for those situations when you need to calculate that standard tip amount. And it works 100 percent of the time. In order to determine a 15-percent tip, follow these steps:

1. Take the bill and figure 10 percent in your head.

Just move the decimal point one place to the left. For a $50.00 dinner, that's $5.00.

2. Figure half of the amount created in Step 1.

Half of 10 percent is another 5 percent. In this case, you get $2.50.

3. Add the amounts from Steps 1 and 2.

Together they're 15 percent of the bill. So $7.50 ($5.00 + $2.50) is a 15-percent tip for a $50.00 dinner.

Many cellphones and smartphones have tip calculators, but the steps provided here can help you out in a pinch if you don't have access to your phone for some reason.

Counting Change for Customers the Old-Fashioned Way

Although many cashiers simply dump all your change in your hand at once, counting change the old-fashioned way ensures that customers get the proper amount. Here's an easy way to make a customer's change, using counting and simple addition:

1. Leave the payment in plain sight on top of the cash drawer.

Say your customer gives you a $10.00 bill for a $9.56 purchase. Put it on the cash drawer while you gather the change.

2. Count the change out and give it back to the customer, starting with the smallest coins and describing what you're giving.

For the example of $9.56, say

"Your purchase was $9.56, out of $10.00. That's $9.56,

plus 4 cents (4 pennies) makes $9.60,

plus 5 cents (a nickel) makes $9.65,

plus 10 cents (a dime) makes $9.75,

plus 25 cents (a quarter) makes $10.00."

Matching American and Metric Units of Measurement

If you've ever had to match American and metric measurement units, you know direct comparisons of these unit systems can be tricky. If you need to know the metric equivalent of an inch, for example, or the American equivalent of a kilometer, use the following table to help you make a proper comparison between the two systems of measurement.

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Technical Math For Dummies Cheat Sheet - dummies

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From Technical Math For Dummies By Barry Schoenborn, Bradley Simkins Grasping some technical math basics can simplify everyday situations faced by many professionals and even non-professionals, including having to solve word problems, calculate tips, make change, or match American and metric measurements. Word problems aren't just on school tests.

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Politicians have touted modern manufacturing as the solution for lifting the economy and providing good jobs.

But today's manufacturing work requires strong math skills - not just adding and subtracting, but a good grasp of fractions, decimals and basic trigonometry. And job applicants who want to go into manufacturing often don't have what it takes.

So colleges and nonprofits, especially throughout Illinois, are stepping in to bridge this skills gap by combining manufacturing training with basic reading and math.
Doing Math On The Job
During the recession, more than 2 million manufacturing employees lost work. Since then, just about half a million jobs have come back. You can do the math: that means at least 1.5 million people are still out of work.

But when you talk to employers, they say they can't find good people to hire. North American Tool Corp.'s Jim Hoyt has two openings right now for his northwest Illinois company, and he expects to continue hiring. But he often sees the same problem crop up during the application process.

"I'll write a few numbers down, mostly numbers with decimal points, because that's what we use in manufacturing, and have them add them or subtract them, or divide by two," Hoyt says. Job applicants often can't do the math.

Having basic math knowledge, especially of decimals, is important because of the precise inputs modern machines need. Like most manufacturers, North American Tool uses CNC, or computer numerical control, equipment. CNC machines make everything from the cutting tool parts North American Tool makes to automotive and medical equipment.

But calling these machines computerized is almost a misnomer because there are still plenty of manual calculations. And if you're off, even by a fraction, the equipment can crash.

Hoyt says a CNC crash usually happens because of a number that's typed in wrong or calculated incorrectly. "I'll hear a wreck in my office and pretty much the whole shop will get quiet," he says. Those crashes can cost tens of thousands of dollars in fixing the expensive CNC machines and lost productivity.
Learning The Basics
These days, many employers don't want to teach the basics and risk damaging equipment. So students have turned to vocational programs at schools like the Richard J. Daley College on Chicago's South Side to learn how to operate CNC machines.

Ray Prendergast, who directs the college's manufacturing programs, says algebra and basic trigonometry are prerequisites. The college's admissions testing measures entry-level proficiency. But Prendergast says, "The majority of students who come into my program are not at English 101, and they're not at Math 118."

So Daley College just began offering remedial education for manufacturing. In the past few years, these bridge programs have become especially popular throughout the Midwest, where many who offer CNC or welding courses realize the students just aren't ready to go straight into the coursework.
Becoming The Next Generation
Nonprofits, including the Jane Addams Resource Corp., one of Chicago's first bridge programs, are also stepping up to meet the training needs,

Bernarr Patton, a former student there, says his bridge instruction was essential for what he wants to do now. The training has helped him with all the mathematical calculations involved in welding.

He says he also wants to go into welding to follow the footsteps of his uncle, an iron worker who started his own company. Patton hopes becoming part of the newest generation of manufacturing workers will be a good enough business that maybe he can pass it on to his two sons.

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For Manufacturing Jobs, Workers Brush Up On Math

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Today's manufacturing work requires a strong grasp of fractions, decimals and basic trigonometry - skills that many job applicants often lack. So colleges and nonprofits are stepping in to fill the skills gap with programs that combine manufacturing training with basic math and reading.

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This is our area to communicate , brainstorm, share knowledge, and provide feedback on topics related to applying math to industry.  What questions do you have about the field of manufacturing and skilled trades?

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This is our area to communicate , brainstorm, share knowledge, and provide feedback on topics related to applying math to industry.  What questions do you have about the field of manufacturing and skilled trades?