Sinclair College and FastLane Host Manufacturing Day to Expose High School Students to Exciting Careers in Manufacturing

Sinclair Community College and FastLane hosted Manufacturing Day on October 7, 2022, with 160 high school students participating in hands-on activities to spark interest in exciting, rewarding careers in manufacturing. 

Students and staff from five high schools in Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, and Warren Counties converged on Sinclair’s Dayton campus to tour classrooms and labs, hear from manufacturing industry representatives, meet faculty, and learn about internship and employment opportunities in advanced manufacturing. Sinclair’s 2022 Manufacturing Day highlighted education and career opportunities in biotechnology, computer sciences and information technology, electronics & robotics, engineering & engineering technology university transfer, manufacturing & industrial engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology, and HVAC-R.

“Manufacturing Day is an incredible opportunity to expose young people to rewarding careers in advanced manufacturing that provide excellent pay, stability, clean environments, and advancement opportunities,” said Karl Hess, Dean – Sinclair Community College Science, Mathematics and Engineering Division. “This event aligns with Sinclair’s mission to find the need and endeavor to meet it by providing exceptional education and training to prepare students with the skills they need to fill the growing workforce demands of advanced manufacturing employers throughout the Dayton region.”

This year, Sinclair Community College partnered with FastLane that specializes in solutions for manufacturing and engineering companies.

“Workforce development is the biggest need in manufacturing today and by engaging high school students early on, we can expose them to the many benefits of careers in advanced manufacturing,” said April Vanover, Workforce Development & Community Outreach Lead –FastLane. “U.S. manufacturers face a potential shortage of 2.4 million skilled workers by 2028, and FastLane is committed to working with employers and education partners to build the workforce now and in the future.”

Manufacturing Day is manufacturing’s biggest annual opportunity to inspire the next generation to start careers in modern manufacturing through a series of focused events to promote manufacturing to students, parents, and educators on the first Friday of October continuing throughout the rest of the month. Manufacturing Day is an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute, with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association as a founding partner.

School districts participating in Manufacturing Day are part of Sinclair’s FlexFactor Program. In the Spring of 2021, Sinclair Community College began collaborating with area K-12 school districts to offer FlexFactor. FlexFactor, developed by NextFlex, is an outreach, recruitment, and STEM education program designed to familiarize K-12 students with advanced manufacturing technology, entrepreneurship, and the education and career pathways that can lead to a STEM career. Since February 2021, seven high schools with a total of 215 students, divided into 67 teams, have participated in the FlexFactor programming with Sinclair Community College.  

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About Sinclair’s Science, Mathematics and Engineering Division
The Sinclair Community College Science, Mathematics and Engineering Division offers more than 75 certificate, bachelor and associate degree programs that allow students to gain the skills necessary to succeed in the growing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. With a variety of fully accredited educational options and our partnerships with industry, Sinclair’s Science, Mathematics and Engineering Division prepares students to excel in future academic endeavors and in your profession. Learn more at: Sinclair.edu/SME

About FlexFactor:
In the Spring of 2021, Sinclair Community College began collaborating with area K-12 school districts to offer FlexFactor. FlexFactor, developed by NextFlex, is an outreach, recruitment, and STEM education program designed to familiarize K-12 students with advanced manufacturing technology, entrepreneurship, and the education and career pathways that can lead to a STEM career. Since February 2021, seven high schools with a total of 215 students, divided into 67 teams, have participated in the FlexFactor programming with Sinclair Community College.  Relationships have been developed with 49 industry partners who provide tours of manufacturing facilities, mentor students, and/or serve as judges as the students present their final projects. Learn more at:  Sinclair.edu/FlexFactor

About FastLane: 
FastLane is a team of unbiased manufacturing advisors finding the right solution to your most challenging problems fast. Within the last five years, FastLane clients report impacts of 4,885 jobs, $684.8 million in sales, and more than $28 million in cost savings. FastLane is a part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) National Network and is located within University of Dayton’s Research Institute. Learn more at: FastLane-mep.org