French Oil Mill Machinery Company Participates in Manufacturing Day
PIQUA, Ohio (PRWEB) October 10, 2018 -- In their steadfast commitment to partner with their community, custom process equipment manufacturer, French Oil Mill Machinery Company, works to educate their Piqua, Ohio community about the manufacturing industry, what they do at their company, the types of careers available in their organization and the skills needed for those positions. As part of this ongoing effort French participated in Manufacturing Day this year, as they have since 2014.
In the span of three weeks French will host three different adult and student groups for facility tours and engineering presentations. French first hosted 30 members of the Society for Industrial Archaeology as part of their annual fall tour. French then hosted 85 students from the Piqua High School’s new Success Bound program that gives students early career education. In mid October French will host 25 students from the Upper Valley Career Center’s Manufacturing and Machining programs, as well as the Manufacturing Growth Specialist from FastLane, West Central Ohio’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).
Why is Manufacturing Education So Important in Their Region?
According to the Ohio Manufacturer’s Association (OMA) “Manufacturing Counts” document, the number of manufacturing jobs in Miami County, the county in which French is located, is almost twice that of the national average. Twenty percent of the jobs in the county are manufacturing jobs, compared to twelve percent throughout the state. In Shelby County, the county just north of Miami County, this figure is almost thirty-eight percent.
There are 204 manufacturing establishments in Miami County, and almost 1,500 in the surrounding counties, employing close to 70,000 workers.
The average annual earnings of Ohio machinery manufacturing workers in 2016 were $61,157. This equates to just under $30 per hour based on a 40 hour work week. This salary provides a quality lifestyle for manufacturing workers and their families.
Fortunately, the manufacturing industry in Ohio is growing. Ohio had 9,200 more manufacturing employees in 2017 than in 2016.
A majority of manufacturing companies are small in size. Sixty-four percent of Ohio manufacturing businesses have less than twenty employees. Those entering the workforce may be inclined to seek employment with a business they are familiar with, however a majority of the manufacturing establishments may not be on their radar. French recommends to not overlook or underestimate smaller businesses as potential employers.
Machine shops are the largest category of Ohio manufacturing establishments. Piqua, Ohio and the surrounding area are fortunate to have resources like the Upper Valley Career Center (UVCC) that offers a Manufacturing Technologies program and other programs and apprenticeships that prepare students with the skills needed to fill manufacturing jobs. UVCC also has adult education programs for those looking to change careers and enter the manufacturing industry.
Manufacturing is a major factor in Ohio’s economic status, as it is the largest of the twenty sectors of the state’s economy. In addition, Ohio manufacturing is responsible for almost seventeen percent of their state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Ohio ranks third in the nation for manufacturing output, behind California and Texas.
Additional Resources for Manufacturing Education
As MFG Day and it’s mission continue to gain traction and awareness, there are continually more resources available for manufacturing education.
PTC, an industrial innovation platform, recently debuted a Smart Manufacturing comic book and app that shows how various technology advancements are transforming the manufacturing industry. App users can follow the story of superheroes manufacturing a drone while making decisions on manufacturing production, like product design and service.
The MFG Day website also has a number of additional resources like the Dream It. Do It. program’s “An Introduction to Manufacturing” guide for students in grades 6-12. Links to virtual MFG Day events like the Arconic Foundation and Discovery Education’s virtual field trips can be accessed at any time, allowing educators, students and parents to continue manufacturing education throughout the year.
French encourages its community to use these tools to inspire the next generation of the manufacturing workforce.
About French Oil Mill Machinery Company
French is an ISO-certified, 4th generation family-owned U. S. company that custom designs, manufactures and supports hydraulic press systems for molding rubber and composite materials, industrial rubber mixers, screw presses for synthetic rubber processing and for the separation of liquids from solids, and oilseed equipment used to extract vegetable oil from seeds and nuts, and to produce biofuels. For over 118 years they have partnered with their stakeholders, in over 80 countries worldwide, to provide products with superior value and superior service that improve their customers’ productivity and reduce their overall production costs. Their 225,000 square foot corporate office and manufacturing facility are located in Piqua, Ohio.
Sources: Ohio Manufacturing Counts
Tayte Lutz, French Oil Mill Machinery Company, http://www.frenchoil.com, +1 (937) 773-3420 Ext: 131, [email protected]
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