Those opportunities are a must , especially for filling in talent gaps ; manufacturers need human workers skilled in the newest trends .
“ We ’ re in the emerging fourth industrial age — it ’ s going to be everything from AI to digital platforming ,” he says . Automation and AI play a massive role in creating more efficient manufacturing processes . When a plant part breaks , sometimes it can take weeks to figure out what broke . With newer automation introductions , workers can plan with predictive failure monitoring systems and estimate when a part is close to replacement .
Even technologically advanced facilities still require human operators . Ray hopes that FCMA and other organizations can inspire and recruit top talent for the local manufacturing industry .
The Sunshine State is booming in manufacturing growth ; according to the U . S . Department of Labor , Florida has grown its manufacturing employment by 23.3 %. It ’ s lucrative , too : For every $ 1 spent in manufacturing , the economy benefits with a $ 2.69 return on investment .
“ It ’ s a good career ,” he says . “ It ’ s a great place for a career path .”
Cutting-edge manufacturing on display at Medtronic
Jessica Lovatt
Volusia Manufacturers Association president and CEO One of the things Lovatt adores about VMA members is their willingness to cheer each other on .
Recently , Lovatt sent out a “ quick pick survey ” to all members . The surveys are a one-question problem asking for expertise from members . One of her more successful surveys included connecting two manufacturers to solve a big problem — one manufacturer ’ s air compressor breakage closed an entire product line . A repair tech couldn ’ t get to the site for two weeks .
Jessica Lovatt
Within an hour and a half of sending out the survey , another manufacturer brought over an air compressor to get assembly rolling again .
“ Our whole community comes together so we can all thrive ; that ’ s what I ’ m most proud of ,” she says of VMA .
Additionally , she loves promoting local manufacturers in a positive light . It takes varied talents to make products here , and there ’ s room for all , she says .
“ There ’ s a breadth of different products made in our area ; we are super lucky ,” she says . “ We don ’ t have a group of manufacturers competing against each other . They talk to each other .”
She thinks of VMA ’ s recent “ signing day ” as similar to what high school or college athletes experience when recruited by a team . VMA ’ s FAME ( Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education ) program , an ‘ earn while you learn ’ model for students , has been wildly successful and popular .
Opportunities like the one experienced by a Daytona State College student who worked at Germfree in Ormond Beach , earning $ 45,000 while pursuing his studies , exemplify the potential for growth in the manufacturing sector . Upon obtaining his Advanced Manufacturing Technician degree , he was offered a position at a North Carolina company with a salary exceeding $ 90,000 annually and the opportunity to travel internationally .
Those are the types of opportunities available , and that will continue to arise as manufacturing embraces new tech that requires skills like automation usage .
“ We don ’ t have enough humans to do all the jobs we need ,” she says . “ We need the human element because , at this point , automation can only do so much .”
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