Deloitte’s 2024 Manufacturing Industry Outlook describes this past year as a momentum-building period thanks to legislation that prioritized rebuilding infrastructure, advancing clean energy initiatives, and developing the domestic semiconductor industry.
Even with that progress, challenges remain for employers in 2024. Key among them is finding and retaining talent.
For many years, advanced manufacturing has struggled with the skills gap – the difference between the talents needed and the capabilities workers possess. As employees retire, there isn’t an adequate supply of qualified new hires to replace them, limiting growth. Even with some of the measures taken to appeal to potential employees including flexible schedules and greater rewards, talent acquisition can still be an issue.
Building interest with students in STEM careers from an early age is a promising part of the talent solution, a tactic aimed at growing the future workforce.
That’s the idea behind the ninth annual Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Night at the Drive, coming June 25 to Fluor Field. For nearly a decade, the event has provided free admission for K-12 students along with an introduction to the opportunities ahead with an exciting show-and-tell from some of the Upstate’s largest manufacturers and leading educators.
Related: Fluor Field to host annual Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Night
This year’s AM&E Night event will highlight hands-on, interactive exhibits featuring robotics, 3D animation and printing, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and much more. Kids will have the chance to win prizes as they see the creative application of technology to the manufacturing process. There’s also a panel discussion with leaders from BMW, Michelin, GE Vernova, and Greenville Technical College discussing the employment outlook and the education that can put people on a path to these strong careers.
As the front porch of the Upstate community for 19 years, Fluor Field is the perfect venue for AM&E Night as the ballpark spotlights the incredible manufacturing and technology work being done in our community plus helps develop our region’s next generation AM&E workforce.
For kids, AM&E Night is a fun night at the ballpark to experience high-tech tools and technologies. For families, the event can dispel old-fashioned ideas of manufacturing as a dirty, repetitive work environment. For manufacturers, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Night at the Drive is a time to shine, giving the community an inside look at the innovative technology at use in their facilities and the advanced technical and digital knowledge needed to make it all work.
For tickets and information on Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Night at the Drive, go to greenvilledrive.com/ame.
Craig Brown, Owner & Chairman, Greenville Drive
Dr. Keith Miller, President, Greenville Technical College
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