Youth of Today and the Manufacturing Jobs of Tomorrow

When we talk about the manufacturing industry (something we do quite a bit here on our blog), we often discuss the current state of manufacturing, its growing interests, and how CDMC)has a long history of designing deburring solutions tailored to those needs. So, we thought we’d take a look at the future of manufacturing—especially in how it’s related to the youth of today. But, let’s start with a short history lesson.

The manufacturing industry in the U.S. gets its humble beginnings during the Industrial Revolution in the 1800s. Back then, manufacturing jobs were likely to be in assembly and manufacturing of parts and components for a variety of industries, including the railroad industry, the munitions industry (we made a lot of muskets back then), as well as the textiles and food production industries. And although many may associate the early days of the U.S. manufacturing industry with cars, it wasn’t until the 1900s that the automobile industry came into being and stimulated mass manufacturing in the nation.

Today, manufacturing in the U.S. is a multi-trillion-dollar industry that employs one out of every six workers. The future of manufacturing is likely to look very different from what it is today, given all of the innovation that the industry is employing to improve speed, efficiency, and safety along the manufacturing lines. Those who hold manufacturing jobs tomorrow will likely understand the value and application of industrial robots—even for the smallest manufacturing tasks—as well as the role of smart systems that utilize cameras and RFID tags to make sure that every part is accounted for and addressed properly. Students who are interested in the manufacturing industry as a potential future employment opportunity are encouraged during their high school years to talk with manufacturing industry leaders, tour manufacturing facilities, and learn about college coursework related to the manufacturing industry.

The future of the industry will likely be in the hands of the students who are interested in engineering and the design of innovative new manufacturing systems. The role of computers in manufacturing will be significant, so there is no doubt that computer science will play a valued role in the design and development of computer-driven manufacturing systems going forward. Currently, the manufacturing industry in the U.S. is responsible for 11% of our GDP (Gross Domestic Product), with 47% of all U.S. exports being manufactured products. So, it’s easy to suggest that there will be plenty of room in the manufacturing industry for the youth of today who want to get in on the hot jobs of tomorrow.

Although it’s difficult to say what the manufacturing industry will look like in 10 years or 50 years, it’s a safe bet that the processes will still benefit from the use of a custom deburring system or deburring application to remove built-up burrs from gears, sprockets, and other parts along the manufacturing line. And, at that time, CDMC will be glad to help, offering high-volume, repeatable deburring processes to keep the manufacturing industry moving in the right direction.