Pictured: Taylor Winfield demonstrates their FANUC collaborative robot

October 1, 2021 kicked off National Manufacturing Week. The STEM College and the brand new Excellence Training Center (ETC) partnered to celebrate with regional manufacturing employers and area high school students.

Around 100 students were in attendance from Chaney, Columbiana County Career and Technical Center, Mahoning County Career and Technical Center, Trumbull Career and Technical Center, Valley Christian, and Youngstown Rayen Early College. Groups participated in several sessions that focused on teaching about careers and opportunities available in manufacturing and the training and educational opportunities available through YSU and the ETC.

A highlight of the day was the employer/career showcase. Manufacturing and manufacturing-related employers sent representatives to speak with students about what their companies do and types of career opportunities available. Companies in attendance included: Butech Bliss, Cargill, City Machine Technologies, Gasser Chair, Humtown Products, Trivium Packaging, JuggerBot 3D, Ohio Star Forge, Ultium Cells, Vallourec and Dearing Compressor. It is critical for the future workforce to understand that manufacturing as a career today is much different than it was several decades ago. Many brought their “toys” and videos to demonstrate this and to give students a real visual of what they can do. Taylor-Winfield, also in attendance, brought a FANUC collaborative robot (cobot) that was programmed to identify a specific item in a bin, pick it up, and place it in the correct position to be laser engraved.

We are so grateful to all of our employer partners for coming out and we look forward to an even bigger and better event next year, Friday, October 7, 2022!

Check out pictures from the event HERE(link is external) as well as coverage from local news media HERE(link is external) and HERE(link is external).