For more than 100 years, our company has been providing packaging solutions and services to help our customers grow their businesses. Without our employees, none of this would be possible. You touch everything we design, operate, create, recycle, and service.
Unfortunately, many people do not understand what today’s manufacturing really looks like. However, we are out to change that. Throughout the month of October, we will be focusing on the people who make Mauser manufacturing successful, the importance of manufacturing, myths surrounding manufacturing, and the future of manufacturing.
Manufacturing is not dark, dirty and outdated – it is sleek, modern and innovative with skilled employees using advanced technologies. It is a safe place where continuous improvement thrives, safety is pivotal, and caring for the environment is a top priority. Let’s review some common manufacturing statements and identify the myths and realities.
- Manufacturing jobs are limited and low skilled.
MYTH: Manufacturing is the core of our company. While every job has repetitive aspects, our employees have a unique view of the current processes and procedures. Mauser employees are tasked daily with thinking outside the box on how to improve not only processes and procedures but also the design behind our products.
- Manufacturing is male dominated.
REALITY: Manufacturing is male dominated. Women hold 27 percent of current manufacturing jobs, according to a U.S. congressional report—only 17 percent hold board seats, 12 percent are executive officers, and six percent are CEOs. However, this is not because employers are not willing to hire women in those roles.
An August 2014 survey conducted by Women in Manufacturing (WiM) concluded than 10 percent of women in the 17-to-24 age range selected manufacturing among their top five career fields—less than half thought the work would be interesting or challenging.
In reality, among women already in the manufacturing sector, 82 percent said they found their field offered interesting and challenging work and 74 percent of women felt it did in fact offer multiple career opportunities.
- Manufacturing, and manufacturing jobs, are dying.
MYTH: World trade in manufactured goods has more than doubled between 2000 and 2017—from $4.8 trillion to $12.2 trillion. (Source: World Trade Organization)
The manufacturing industry is creating more open jobs than there are skilled workers to fill them. This so-called skills gap challenge is hardly a new one for the industry. In North America, Mauser’s new North American apprenticeship program will help narrow the gap in our maintenance workforce and better prepare us for the future of manufacturing. Learn more about this program next week.
Source: Top 20 facts about manufacturing: http://www.nam.org/Newsroom/Top-20-Facts-About-Manufacturing/