Workforce Management

OMA Member’s Editorial Spotlights Industry Sector Partnerships

In a guest editorial published by the Canton Repository, James Batchelder — president of OMA member The M. K. Morse Co. and a founding member of the Stark County Manufacturing Workforce Development Partnership — spotlights how manufacturers are coordinating through industry sector partnerships to grow their local manufacturing talent.

Batchelder wrote: “It’s not just about sharing best practices but also building collaborative solutions. These collaborative solutions … are what makes industry sector partnerships different from other workforce initiatives.” Read the full editorial online or via PDF. 4/26/2021

University of Akron Center to Focus on New Finishing Technology for Manufacturing

The University of Akron (UA) has launched The Center for Precision Manufacturing — a research center for UA faculty and graduate students to develop new finishing technologies for the manufacturing industry. See UA’s press release.

UA President Gary Miller says the school is partnering with key manufacturers in Ohio to help the companies develop new products and technologies. 4/26/2021

AWT Hosts Combat RoboBots Competition

As part of its effort to raise awareness about manufacturing careers, the Alliance for Working Together (AWT) — an OMA-endorsed industry sector partnership — recently held its 11th annual Combat RoboBots competition in Mentor. This is Ohio’s largest regional combat robotics competition and allows students to partner with industry mentors to design, build, and battle their robots in an enclosed ring. The event was covered by News 5 Cleveland. 4/27/2021

Husted Spotlights Credentials, College Credits for Students

Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted has launched a social media series titled, “Free College? Yes, in Ohio.” As described by the Marion Star, the series highlights high school and college students who are using statewide programs to earn industry credentials and college credits.

Among the students featured in Husted’s series is Ryan Schlecht, a senior at Tri-Rivers Career Center in Marion. The 18-year-old is part of the Engineering Technologies at RAMTEC program to study robotics and automation. Schlecht has already earned 18 credits — at no cost to him — through Marion Technical College. 4/28/2021

Making Ohio Assets Available to All OMA Members

The OMA’s research-based brand Making Ohio was created in 2018 to make it easier for industry sector partnerships and employers to help young people, career switchers, parents, and educators learn about manufacturing careers. From interactive career pathways to virtual tours, MakingOhio.com is a great resource for online career exploration.

But there’s more to Making Ohio than a website. We’ve created a set of no-charge marketing assets that you can transform into T-shirts and other giveaways, social media messages and images, flyers and postcards. These assets can be co-branded with your business’ or partnership’s logo and used in myriad ways to increase awareness of the great jobs available in manufacturing.

Now that more in-person events are happening, it’s time to take a closer look at the assets at MakingOhio.com to discover how you can use them. Check out the how-to guide and complete the easy application to get your Making Ohio tools today. 4/22/2021

Husted: More Regionalized Workforce Solutions Needed

In a meeting of the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board last week, discussion was focused on Ohio’s promotion of alternative career pathways.

According to a report by Hannah News Service, Lt. Gov. Jon Husted told board members that the general public tends to be unaware of the opportunities for dual career and college tracks. He said “more industry sector partnerships would be useful” in raising awareness — and that regionalized approaches are necessary to find workforce solutions. (Here’s the OMA’s directory of regional industry sector partnerships.)

Lt. Gov. Husted reported the TechCred program has been utilized by 1,168 different Ohio employers that have received $20.7 million over seven rounds, funding 19,841 credentials. More than 400 employers have received awards in multiple rounds. The current application period ends at 3 p.m. Friday, April 30. 4/19/2021

Sites Announced for High School Tech Internship Program

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted this week announced Ohio’s new High School Tech Internship Pilot Program. The initiative aims to connect high school students with technology roles at businesses, including manufacturers. See this site for details and a list of 12 pilot sites.

Employers can qualify for up to $1,250 in wage reimbursement if an intern is employed for at least 150 hours and paid at least $12 an hour. Employers may receive an extra $100 in reimbursement if they can demonstrate the intern has earned an industry-recognized credential from the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program list. Employers interested in offering internships through the program should contact the pilot sites with which they want to work. 4/21/2021

Reminder: In-Demand Jobs Week Is May 3-7

If you haven’t already, now is the time to finalize your plans to participate in Ohio’s In-Demand Jobs Week, to be held virtually May 3-7. This is a great opportunity for manufacturers to inform students, parents and educators about rewarding careers in manufacturing, while boosting awareness of earn-and-learn opportunities.

Add your business’ event to this interactive map by using this email address. Include the event name, date and time, and a short description. 4/22/2021

New Robotics & Manufacturing Training in SE Ohio

In Marietta, Washington State Community College (WSCC) and Washington County Career Center (WCCC) have announced an innovative partnership that will create a robotics and advanced manufacturing pathway for local high school students. This new pathway is part of the two-year automation and robotics program at WSCC.

OMA-endorsed industry sector partnership Appalachian Ohio Manufacturers’ Coalition (AOMC) was involved in forging this partnership, which will allow students to utilize state-of-the-art labs as they earn both high school and college credit while also receiving recognized industry credentials.

“The AOMC is thrilled with the launch of Robotics Automation Engineering program and the increased collaboration between our education partners WSCC and WCCC,” said Sherri Becker, training coordinator at Solvay Specialty Polymers LLC and a founding member of AOMC. “This is a big win for manufacturers in southeast Ohio.” 4/14/2021

Tips on Recruiting Gen Z

A report highlighted by HR Dive says that manufacturers seeking to attract millennial and Gen Z employees need to present “a compelling vision that includes clear career pathways and training opportunities.” The report by Tooling U-SME, an industry training non-profit, cited research showing 62% of Gen Z members want to learn to improve at their job.

Meanwhile, manufacturers that advertise open positions need to focus on simplifying the application process, while carefully considering job titles and the timing of job posts, according to an IndustryWeek interview with a job-search software leader. 4/13/2021