Each year in October, Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus takes part in National Manufacturing Day, where the goal is to connect students to area manufacturing companies.
For the second year, ABB (formerly Baldor) in Ozark opened its doors for ATU-Ozark’s Automation Program and Tyson Foods Logan County Career Center Machining Operations Program. Students from Ozark High School also took part in the day at ABB. ABB is a manufacturer of electrical motors with its headquarters in Fort Smith, AR.
“We were excited to partner with ATU – Ozark again this year to welcome local students behind the walls of our manufacturing plant. The tours we hosted this year on Manufacturing Day, along with other tours throughout the year, give us a great chance to speak to students that are considering a career in manufacturing,” stated Jason Green, Vice President of Human Resources at ABB.
On October 1, 2019, students spent the day touring and learning from ABB plant management. They were able to see today’s industries are clean, high tech, and have a variety of well-paying in-demand jobs.
Justin Smith, Chief Business and Community Outreach Officer at ATU-Ozark, complimented local manufacturers who open their doors to students.
“Manufacturing Day is a great opportunity to connect our future workforce generation with a job sector that is in great need of employees with high-tech skillsets. ATU-Ozark’s automation and machining programs are dedicated to preparing students for a successful future in manufacturing. Manufacturing Day allows manufacturing to talk directly to the students and physically show them there are rewarding careers right here in their home towns. Introducing students to a global company, such as ABB shows students they can go anywhere if they put effort into it. It just opens up more eyes when students can see the actual equipment and hear from employees who were once in their position,” Smith noted.
Dexter Lekwa, Plant Manager at ABB-Ozark added, ““I want to thank ATU – Ozark and Paris for allowing the students to come visit the manufacturing facility here at ABB – Ozark. I am glad to see students excited about manufacturing and automation. I also would like to mention that automation is not always a 6 axis robot, it is a means of doing a task more productive and more efficient.”
More information on National Manufacturing Day can be found at www.mfgday.com.
