The manufacturing industry is vitally important to both Springdale and the United States. Manufacturers take raw material and convert it to a finished product. The raw material can be almost anything- sheet metal, copper pipe, aluminum bars or even flour. Manufacturers in Springdale produce a wide range of goods, making everything from air conditioner parts to cookies to windows.
In Northwest Arkansas, more 8,000 people are employed in precision production jobs with another 2,700 expected to be needed over the next 10 years. The manufacturing process has changed dramatically over the past decades. No longer are manufacturing plants the dark and dirty factories seen in old photos. They are clean, bright and often high-tech.
Most manufacturers now use robotic systems and computer-controlled machines to produce the products we use in our everyday lives. Those technological advancements led to a national decline in the overall number of manufacturing jobs, but created a growing need for skilled employees as more processes have become computer-controlled.
More than 100 manufacturers have facilities in Springdale, ranging from large plants with hundreds of employees to small shops. Wages can run from $ 10 per hour for entry level workers to over $ 34 per hour for certain plant operators. Skilled trade workers including machinists, welders, and computercontrolled machine operators can earn an average of $ 15 to $ 22 per hour.
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