Deutz Hosts 40 Students on Manufacturing Day

Deutz Corp. partnered with ResourceMFG, an EmployBridge Company, to host Manufacturing Day (MFG DAY) for approximately 40 students from nearby Jackson County Schools and Lanier Technical College. Created by Founding Partner Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, International in 2012 and now produced by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), MFG DAY connects the nation’s future workforce with potential employers and presents manufacturing careers in a more positive light. In 2018, 275,000 people participated in nearly 3,000 MFG DAY events across North America.
      “We were very pleased that these students came out to see our facility,” said Jim Smith, director of production operations for Deutz Corp. “It was a chance for students in the Pendergrass area to see career options that are innovative and impactful by showing them the exciting work that takes place at Deutz. We look forward to expanding this celebration for next year and connecting with more of the Pendergrass area’s future workforce.”
       Industry sources say that an estimated two million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled over the next decade due to companies' inability to find talent with the required skills. Five years ago, several leading industry organizations determined the best way to combat this malady and reverse the negative misperceptions people may have about manufacturing jobs and careers is to literally show them “up close and personal” the exciting work that takes place at plants across the U.S.
     “ResourceMFG is pleased to collaborate with Deutz to close the ongoing skills gap in manufacturing and introduce opportunities to the next generation of blue collar workers,” said Alex Vasquez, division vice president of ResourceMFG. “The MFG Day event at Deutz was a small victory against the gap, and the students, our bright future minds, who attended were impressive.”
     Adrienne Merritt, senior human resources generalist for Deutz Corp., agreed that MFG Day was a success for all involved. “Today was a wonderful opportunity for Deutz to showcase our Pendergrass facility to students and faculty from Jackson County area high schools and Lanier Technical College. I was pleased to see the enthusiasm and interest among the students as they toured our operations and interacted well with our staff.  We are extremely pleased to have hosted this MFG DAY event and hope we were able to bring a greater awareness of manufacturing as a successful career path.”
     Learn more about MFG DAY at www.mfgday.com. For more information about DEUTZ and its complete line of diesel and natural engines, visit www.deutzamericas.com.