Smart Business Magazine, May 2016

38 Smart Business Cleveland May 2016 So much of manufacturing flies under the radar because it is not the stuff you see every day Karp says Every industry is represented here and the amazing part about that is that the majority of these companies are small They pay dramatically above the average going rate somewhere around 60000 Increasingly these are automated factories so they have tremendous amounts of technology embedded in them and thats what the jobs that are coming available are Karp says one of Ohios premier strengths is the support given to manufacturing innovation This is a big role that MAGNET has We supply one on one consulting for companies to help them introduce new processes or get access to an expert or get extra capacity he says If they dont have enough engineers we can help supply them MAGNET also leverages NASA scientists the universities and the community colleges SPECIAL REPORT JOBSOHIO Tim Sweeney of JobsOhio is excited about how Ohio has identified additive manufacturing 3 D printing as a strategic technology focus area for the manufacturing industry Ohio is well positioned to be a place where it is less expensive to manufacture compared to other states he says And we have research being done at universities such as The Ohio State University University of Akron Case Western Reserve University of Cincinnati and University of Dayton looking at advanced material research and the equipment learning more about additive manufacturing and building a talent pipeline for the emerging additive manufacturing industry Sweeney is the JobsOhio director for advanced manufacturing aerospace and aviation JobsOhio a private nonprofit economic development organization is a one stop organization that helps businesses relocate expand and prosper in Ohio Ohio has a healthy talent pool the research organizations the additive equipment providers and the aerospace and automotive customer base for growth Sweeney says Many Ohio organizations participate in National Network for Manufacturing Innovation programs the centerpiece of which is America Makes in Youngstown It focuses on growing capabilities and strength in additive manufacturing with participation from leaders from business academia nonprofit organizations and the participating partners collaborate on materials technology and workforce issues Those three areas hold the promise for tomorrow Sweeney says If students see how technology a natural draw for the plugged in generation and advanced materials can pique their interest in manufacturing it will go far to establish a pipeline of talent JobsOhio with our regional partners are looking at not only the talent that is needed today but we are also looking ahead and asking where are our gaps he says In some cases you have the younger generation who are saying manufacturing really isnt my area of interest or Im more interested in other areas That has driven the need to focus on the new technology and what that new manufacturing looks like Its about offering that message through the universities the knowledge that this is not your grandfathers or grandmothers manufacturing This is a new manufacturing Sweeney says its never too young to promote careers in the new manufacturing sector You even need to reach younger than eighth grade to start introducing the new technology and putting it on the same par as the other competing interests in technology Why not make Ohio the premier state for additive manufacturing and 3 D printing Bring that point to a young age and say This is really cool technology Really cool technology Ohio is the place for additive manufacturing 3 D printing Every industry is represented here and the amazing part about that is that the majority of these companies are small ETHAN KARP PRESIDENT AND CEO MAGNET