The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Manufacturing Day shows career futures
Students interested in pursuing a career in manufacturing, learn more about the opportunities available.
Students interested in possibly pursuing a career in manufacturing, learned more about the opportunities available and some of the skills it takes to acquire the various positions.
JBC Technologies Inc., 7887 Bliss Parkway in North Ridgeville, hosted its first Manufacturing Day event Oct. 19.
National Manufacturing Day is observed annually on the first Friday in October. This year, President Obama issued a proclamation indicating National Manufacturing Day was Oct. 7, 2016, but manufacturers around the nation are participating throughout the month.
In the proclamation, Obama called upon Americans to observe the day with programs and activities that highlight the contributions of U.S. manufacturers.
JBC Technologies invited local educators and students to participate in a plant tour, demonstration and discussion Oct. 19.
Owner Joe Bliss, of North Royalton, as well as other staff members, took students on tours throughout the facility and answered questions on what the company does and future engineering opportunities.
Since 1988, JBC Technologies has served as a solutions provider that uses die cutting and non-metalic fabrication skills, along with product design knowledge and American ingenuity, to produce parts from a wide variety of materials.
Rhonda Daugherty, human resources coordinator at JBC Technologies, said planning for Manufacturing Day started about a month ago.
“We heard about Manufacturing Day and thought it would be good for our students,” Daugherty said.
Nearly 60 students from the Lorain County Joint Vocational School, 15181 state Route 58 in Oberlin; North Ridgeville High School, 34600 Bainbridge Road in North Ridgeville; and St. Edward High School, 13500 Detroit Ave in Lakewood, participated.
Bliss said while he was in high school, he attended a manufacturing related event and it positively impacted his future. “It worked out for me,” he said, noting that his business is nearing 30 years of existence. “The goal was literally just to inspire. If we could inspire everybody to maybe look at manufacturing, that would be incredible.
“But we’re be happy with just one. If we could inspire just one person, it would make it all worthwhile.”
Keith Keim, 16, a junior at Midview High School and is in the Lorain County JVS’s precision machining technology program, said he found Manufacturing Day very interesting.
“I think (JBC Technologies) would be a good place to start out a career,” Keith said.
He said he enjoys working with computerized machines and is hoping to study engineering at The Ohio State University.
One takeaway Keith said he learned from Manufacturing Day was to keep advancing forward to be the best.
“We definitely need people like you,” Bliss said to the group of students. “Don’t hesitate to reach out.”