The Adobe Flash Player is required to view this multimedia interactive. Get it here.

President wants to boost U.S. manufacturing

Beach Waterpark sued by Ohio Attorney General's Office for failure to deliver
Updated 3 min. ago
Worker falls 20 feet from utility pole
New 23 min. ago
Water rescue occurring at Caesar Creek Lake
Updated 26 min. ago
Out-of-state shoppers arrested in clothing theft
10:14 a.m.
Fairfield gas station robbed at gun point
10:02 a.m.
> More headlines

By Hannah Poturalski, Staff Writer 8:45 PM Monday, February 13, 2012

Partnerships between manufacturers and technical colleges could become commonplace in the future as more specialized skills are needed.

President Barack Obama announced Monday a new $3.8 trillion spending plan for Congress to consider, with aspects concerning education and manufacturing.

The plan proposes $121 billion over a decade to expand U.S. manufacturing; $350 billion in short-term jobs measures, such as extending unemployment benefits; $30 billion to modernize 35,000 schools; and a 15 percent increase in funds to college work-study programs.

“I know he (Obama) is wanting to help manufacturing and as a manufacturer I’m glad to hear it,” said Dave Lippert, president of Hamilton Caster & Manufacturing Co. “We struggle to find people with machine and welding skills.”

In order to make the manufacturing needs known, Lippert and other employees serve on business advisory committees for Hamilton City Schools, Miami University’s School of Engineering & Applied Science and Butler Tech.

“We try to stay connected with academia,” Lippert said. “We need students that want to get into manufacturing and go to the Butler Techs of the world.”

Within Sinclair Community College’s Workforce Development division, two grants help offer short-term training programs in Healthcare Information Technology and Bioscience Manufacturing, according to Brenda Latanza, manager of public workforce initiatives at the Courseview Campus Center in Mason.

Latanza said when developing curriculum for its Bioscience Manufacturing Technology program, Sinclair and Cincinnati State officials partnered with area pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers to determine desired entry-level skill sets.

“If you want sustainable curriculum, it’s the only way to do it,” Latanza said. “Curriculum has to be under constant review, and as long as you have a good relationship with your industry partners it only gets better.”

At Butler Tech’s Adult Workforce Education office, Jack Willard, associate director for business and industry programs, said oftentimes manufacturers will favor technical training over a two- or four-year degree.

“Employers have raised the bar and competition in the workplace is so fierce you better have something that makes you stand out,” Willard said.

Butler Tech offers a 13-month Advanced Manufacturing Technology program aimed toward entry-level workers trying to stand out in the job hiring process.

Willard said Obama’s spending plan could be effective in boosting manufacturing, as long as funds are focused on access to training versus grants for new equipment.

“Employers struggle because they want to send an incumbent worker to get training but can’t afford to.”

Share this article