Greenville County Schools Celebrate National Manufacturing Day

More than four hundred Greenville County high school seniors recently attended a Manufacturing Day Celebration at Greenville Technical College’s Center for Manufacturing Innovation.

Students were exposed to 3D printing, robotics, mechatronics, CNC machining and more. Students had the opportunity to speak with employers to learn about educational opportunities and careers.

The event is a partnership between Greenville Tech, the Greenville Chamber and Greenville County Schools. Participating employers include Bosch Rexroth, ABB Baldor, JTEKT, Bausch + Lomb, 3M, BMW Manufacturing Co., Meyer Tool, AFL, T&S Brass, Jarden Plastics, Stueken, Michelin, Nutra, Saint-Gobain, Tower International and GE.

After the event students toured local manufacturing facilities and visited with employers to better understand career options and see advanced manufacturing in action

Started in 2012, Manufacturing Day is an annual celebration of modern manufacturing. Manufacturers invite students, educators, the business community, media and lawmakers to their more about careers in their industry and improve public perception.

“We are thrilled to host the first Manufacturing Day of this scale in Greenville County. Bringing together 16 of our area’s best employers, every high school in Greenville County, and more than 400 interested students, our goal is to connect these young people to educational opportunities and high-earning careers in advanced manufacturing,” said David Clayton, executive director of the Center for Manufacturing Innovation. “At CMI and during the plant tours, students will see first-hand the modern work environments and a wide variety of interesting occupations in this growing sector.”

“Workforce availability continues to be a top concern cited by leaders in the region’s business community. The most innovative employers are looking at creative ways to develop various talent pipelines for their jobs,” said Hank Hyatt, Vice President, Economic Competitiveness at the Greenville Chamber. “The Chamber is pleased to be a partner in this effort to leverage Manufacturing Day to expose more students to well-paying opportunities in manufacturing. The more often manufacturers connect to students, the more likely that students will seek careers in those sectors.”

“Anytime we can bring current labor market information to Greenville County students, it is a meaningful experience. The advanced manufacturing sector is looking for people with strong problem-solving skills, who are interested in a high-tech career. We want our students to know about these great opportunities with these incredible companies right here in the Upstate,” said Dr. Marjorie Dowd, Director of Education and Economic Development with Greenville County Schools.

The U.S. is the world’s largest manufacturing economy. Manufacturers help to drive South Carolina’s economy, with $31.3 billion in manufactured goods exported in 2016, and 30,000 people in Greenville County are employed in manufacturing.