A great idea for any industry!
For Industry Week
PMMI is supporting a program called Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs that has been shown to increase interest in manufacturing in kids ages 12-16.
At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be a link between the Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI) and summer STEM camps. However, on closer examination, an association that represents more than 950 North American manufacturers of equipment components is tasked with looking out for the best interests of these companies. And what could be more helpful than finding workers as these sectors, like every other manufacturing sector, faces acute talent shortages?
“As a national organization, it’s hard to create programs from a top-down approach so when I heard about the grassroots program called Nuts, Bolts& Thingamajigs, at a conference I was attending, I knew I hit upon exactly the right program that could get kids exciting about manufacturing as a career,” explains Stephan Girard, senior director of PMMI’s Education & Workforce Development. PMMI has partnered with Nuts, Bolts and Thingamijigs, the charitable foundation for the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association to provide manufacturing summer camps for kids ages 12-16. The camp began in 2005.
What’s unique about the camp is that students get to experience current manufacturing capabilities by creating, building and taking a product home. It’s a well-rounded experience as the students have the opportunity to tour manufacturing facilities, speak to industry experts and even learn about entrepreneurship.
