Connecting Educators with Industry

 

Connecting more educators with industry is probably what the title of my blog should say – at least for the American Mold Builders Association’s Chicago Chapter, which has been working for three or more years on new ways to promote moldmaking as a career. Last week, the organization held the first of two education symposiums it scheduled for this year, inviting teachers and counselors from the Rockford, Illinois, area to tour AMBA member Industrial Molds’ manufacturing plant and see, up close, the marvels of advanced manufacturing.

“Industrial Molds was an excellent place for educators to see cutting-edge manufacturing technologies in action,” says Francine Petrucci, president of B A Die Mold, Inc. and AMBA Chicago president. “Industrial’s four automation cells provided the wow-factor we needed and attendees said they were impressed by the operation as a whole because it is an amazing facility.”

I tagged along with a couple of the groups as they toured the facility and it was quickly apparent that the educators were genuinely interested in learning about moldmaking. Granted, Rockford is a city that has a grand manufacturing history and many manufacturing companies are still thriving there, though some closed or moved over the last 15 years. Perhaps it’s because of Rockford’s rich industrial history that the educators were receptive to the AMBA’s message. Still, one teacher told me he was surprised by the bright and clean atmosphere employees worked in, and he didn’t realize how advanced the machines have become. Seeing is believing.

The Chicago AMBA’s next symposium will be held on October 18 at the Technology and Manufacturing Association’s training facility in Schaumburg, Illinois. Similar to the Rockford experience, attendees will be treated with a tour of the TMA’s machining lab where demos will be provided by apprentices who take courses there. Keynote speakers will provide examples of how industry and schools can make the “connection for success” and together provide students with viable career paths in manufacturing. MMT readers in the Chicagoland area are encouraged to invite local teachers, counselors and leadership to this even and more information can be obtained by emailing Karen Norville.