Students Get Clearer View of Opportunities in Manufacturing

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Gavin Orr found himself in a bit of a bind – not with the virtual pipe he was screwing together but with the desk he kept bumping into in real life.

Sporting a virtual reality headset, the Hubbard High School senior was working on an underground pipe simulation, all while dodging furniture that wasn’t part of the job. “That was actually fun,” he said with a grin after completing the task.

The virtual reality demonstration was part of a National Manufacturing Day event hosted by the Mahoning Valley Manufacturers Coalition and Youngstown State University.

The event, which aimed to introduce young people to the manufacturing industry, gave Gavin a glimpse of what could be his future career as a welder, a path he’s considering after high school thanks to some encouragement from his dad.

Seventy-two high school sophomores and juniors from Valley STEM + ME2, Hubbard, Cardinal Mooney, Southeast, Warren Harding and Brookfield schools attended the event, which was held at YSU’s Excellence Training Center.

Students interacted with representatives from 12 local companies and organizations, including Butech Bliss, Novelis, Humtown, NLMK, Hynes Industries and America Makes, among others.

“It’s our opportunity to really engage students in a hands-on way to teach them about all the opportunities in manufacturing,” said Alex Hertzer, executive director of MVMC. “One of the things we’re excited about this year is students get to interact not only with manufacturers, but they’re going to go through hands-on demonstrations in each one of the labs.”

The event featured demonstrations in CNC machining, robotics and 3D printing, showcasing the types of skills students can learn in the industry.

Jackie Ruller, executive director of Workforce, Education and Innovation at YSU’s Excellence Training Center, emphasized the importance of events like this in fostering student interest in the industry.

“We hope to spark their interest when they see the center or the industrial maintenance department, anything that may intrigue them to want to come here,” Ruller said.

Ruller pointed to several programs at the center designed to help local companies find and train workers, including workforce training in robotics, industrial maintenance, additive manufacturing and CNC machining.

For younger students, YSU offers a pre-apprenticeship program in advanced manufacturing, which allows K-12 students to earn credits toward graduation and provides a pathway into manufacturing jobs or further education.

“We have a pre-apprenticeship for advanced manufacturing for K-12 students. If you complete it, you get 12 points toward graduation,” Ruller said. “Then you either go into an apprenticeship, get a job, or you could come to YSU.”

For local manufacturers, events like Manufacturing Day offer a chance to engage directly with potential future employees and showcase the variety of career opportunities available.

Jessica Weimer, HR manager at Starr Manufacturing in Vienna, spoke about the importance of connecting with students and giving them a real-world perspective on careers in fields like welding and fabrication.

“We do custom fabrication and machining. Right now, a lot of our products are in the oil and gas industry,” Weimer said. “Today is an opportunity to get in front of young people and let them know what the options are. They don’t always have to go straight to college. Welding, in particular, is a very good field to go into.”

Weimer added that Starr currently employs two high school students from the Trumbull Career & Technical Center, giving them hands-on experience in the workplace. “It’s great for them because they get to learn those soft skills that I think a lot of younger students struggle with, and it gets them the experience they need.”

Jeremy Brain, plant manager at CTM Labeling Systems in Salem, echoed Weimer’s sentiments about the value of early exposure to manufacturing careers.

CTM manufactures pressure-sensitive labeling equipment used across the United States and parts of Europe, and Brain was eager to showcase the company’s capabilities to potential recruits.

“We have a full machine shop, and we do all this manufacturing in-house,” Brain said. “We wanted to come showcase some of our equipment and potentially find some new hires. We’re always looking for talented people.”

Jason Yonkey, a sophomore at the Valley STEM + ME2 Academy at the Mahoning County Career & Technical Center, operated robotic arms during the event.

Though still uncertain about his future career path, Yonkey is considering a job as either an aviation or auto mechanic, inspired by his father’s work as an aviation mechanic.

“I want to do something hands-on,” Yonkey said.

Hertzer said the event not only introduced high school students to potential careers but also supported ongoing workforce development efforts in the Mahoning Valley.

Hertzer highlighted MVMC’s Work Advance program, which provides training and job readiness support for both young people and adults interested in entering the manufacturing field. A pilot of the program in Warren is showing promising results, particularly in job placement.

“We’ve had really high placement numbers from the people going through the cohort,” Hertzer said. “We’re excited to be able to serve both Trumbull and Mahoning counties in a more accessible way.”

The Work Advance program, which includes training in essential skills like mathematics and technology, is part of a broader strategy to address the skills gap in the region’s manufacturing workforce.

Hertzer emphasized that events like this help make local opportunities tangible for students, connecting their interests to actual jobs in the Mahoning Valley. 

As the students removed their VR headsets and walked away from the demonstrations, they left with a clearer view of the possibilities in manufacturing.

“From a career exploration standpoint, it’s great, but if they don’t know what’s happening locally, sometimes it’s not as real.”

Pictured at top: Gavin Orr, a Hubbard High School senior, tries to fix a virtual pipe. What he sees through the VR headset is pictured on the laptop in front of him.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.