On May 26, I gathered with Career Coaches, Career Tech Directors, College and Career Counselors, as well as Business and Industry partners from across the state of Alabama to gain insight into careers in Advanced Manufacturing. The event was hosted by United Launch Alliance in Decatur.
After introductions and welcome, we were split up into groups to tour the ULA facility. According to their website, ULA brings together two of the launch industry’s most experienced and successful teams – Atlas and Delta – to provide reliable, cost-efficient space launch services for the U.S. government. U.S. government launch customers include the Department of Defense, NASA, the National Reconnaissance Office and other organizations. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Alabama, and Harlingen, Texas. It took us upwards of two hours to complete the tour of the 1.6-million-square-foot factory. Due to the nature and sensitivity of the missions, there were parts of the facility that we did not even see. We were also not allowed to take pictures inside the factory. The most interesting thing I learned during the tour was that it takes approximately 18 months to complete a mission. ULA's perfect product delivery promise ensures a 100% success rate and that the client is getting what they ask for each time, which is so important given who they exist to serve. The key piece of information that I gathered is that ULA employees range all the way from welders to machinists to chemists and engineers. It takes all kinds of specialties to build these rockets from the ground up! I would LOVE for some Madison County students to experience this tour! If you are interested, contact me so that I can set up a tour for your class! Upon completion of the tour, we were given the opportunity to hear from a panel of representatives from the Advanced Manufacturing Industry. Representatives from ULA, Brown Precision, and Dynetics were present. Through the panel discussion, I learned about opportunities for job shadowing, internships, and apprenticeships available in advanced manufacturing. Though many of those opportunities are only available for college-aged students, it opened the door for a discussion about how we can get our secondary students plugged in to this career field. If you are interested in a Career in Advanced Manufacturing, contact me! Another interesting piece of information that I gathered from the panel discussion, which is included in almost every single discussion with business/industry leaders, no matter the field, are the types of skills for which employers are looking in potential employees. Basic employability skills are so important and can be a key factor in whether or not you get the job and stay employed long term. The panelists said they are look for fast learners who are independent, self-motivated, have effective communication skills and a good attitude. They are looking for individuals who are team players and are willing to step outside of what is "their job" to accomplish goals. They want to hire individuals who are adaptable and follow instructions. Advanced Manufacturing careers require adequate math skills. They want someone who can be analytical and is detail-oriented. These are the things that will set you apart in a competitive career field such as this one. The last piece of the puzzle was to hear from some of our post-secondary education partners. Representatives from Wallace State Community College and Calhoun Community College were available to present some education opportunities in advanced manufacturing. Wallace State offers degrees and short certificates in areas such as welding, mechatronics, and machining. Calhoun Community College offers a phenomenal F.A.M.E program for students interested in the fields of advanced manufacturing or industrial maintenance. One of my favorite parts of the whole day was hearing from a current student in Calhoun's F.A.M.E program. He is currently completing his internship through Brown's Precision. Please click on this link to find out more information. This is a very competitive program to get into, but is very rewarding. Most students who graduate from this program are offered a job at the end of their internship by the participating company. If you are an upcoming senior, be looking for information from me on how to apply for the 2017 cohort. For more information on Advanced Manufacturing Careers, use the links below provided by Lindsay Ferguson, Workforce Director for the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce: Facts About Manufacturing - Workforce & Compensation Top 20 Facts About Manufacturing / Cool Sites Alabama Manufacturing Facts Public Perception of Manufacturing
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AuthorAs a Career Coach I have the opportunity to gain exposure to various careers and industries in order to inform Madison County students what options and opportunities may be available to them. I also have conversations with post-secondary institutions to gain insight into educational opportunities from which our students can benefit greatly. I look forward to sharing my what I learn throughout this journey with each of you. If you have questions or want more information about a specific post, please reach out using the Contact page in the menu above. Let me help you write YOUR story...one page at a time! Archives
November 2016
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