business backgrounder | manufacturing
“ The influence of Washington ’ s manufacturing can be felt worldwide . Mexico remains one of Washington manufacturers ’ biggest supporters .”
— Hector Ivan Godoy Priske , Consul General at Mexico ’ s Consul in Seattle .
“ Covid-19 has changed so much about our daily lives , but it didn ’ t stop manufacturers from coming through when we needed them ,” said AWB President Kris Johnson , “ whether by making essential supplies to keep our households running , or pivoting their operations to make personal protective equipment . Likewise , we didn ’ t want it to stop us from shining a spotlight on this important industry sector or prevent policy makers from hearing about the challenges facing manufacturers .”
education and workforce
The six-day tour began in the John W . Walstrum Center for Advanced Manufacturing Technology at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood . The high-tech building , completed in 2018 , is home to a wide variety of programs that connect students with relevant equipment and training for modern manufacturing , from mechatronics and electricity to composites and non-destructive testing .
The school ’ s Manufacturing Technologies Program already has impressive success stories .
One Running Start student finished his last two years of high school at Clover Park . He left at age 18 with a diploma , a two-year-degree , an $ 85,000-per-year HVAC job , and no student loans or debt .
“ It turns the idea of blue collar on its head ,” said Brandon Rogers , associate dean of innovation and instructional initiatives , during a tour of the facility .
One recent graduate who landed a great job has already returned to expand her skillset .
Kaitlin Pype grew up working on cars and working with her hands . Unsure what to study at college , she tried out the mechatronics program at Clover Park . She graduated and was immediately hired as a panel shop expediter at Motors and Controls Corp . She ’ s now returning to the college for its new four-year Bachelor of Science program in mechatronics engineering technology .
“ The main thing about manufacturing is the diversity of it ,” Pype said during an interview for the Manufacturing Week Live program . “ If you ’ re into mechanical , if you ’ re into electrical , if you ’ re into software , programming , if you ’ re into working with your hands , blueprinting , building things , you could do anything you want in manufacturing . There ’ s hundreds of directions to go into and you just have to pick one .”
innovation and women in manufacturing
From Lakewood , the tour crossed the state to Spokane . Broadcast from the stillunder-construction sixth floor of the new Catalyst Building , the mobile studio looked out over the city ’ s University District and included a close-up look at the possibilities of cross-laminated timber ( CLT ) wood construction .
“ The main thing about manufacturing is the diversity of it . If you ’ re into mechanical , if you ’ re into electrical , if you ’ re into software , programming , if you ’ re into working with your hands , blueprinting , building things , you could do anything you want in manufacturing . There ’ s hundreds of directions to go into and you just have to pick one .”
— Kaitlin Pype , a student in the four-year Bachelor of Science program in mechatronics engineering technology at Clover Park Technical College . fall / winter 2020 35