Manufacturing Your Future

If you're a person who loves figuring out how things like robots, digitized equipment or 3D printing work, there may be a manufacturing job out there for you.

Scientific discovery and advanced manufacturing increasingly go hand in hand. Highly skilled workers operate high-tech gadgets to transform new ideas into products. These are next-generation factory jobs.

Manufacturing Your Future

If you're a person who loves figuring out how things like robots, digitized equipment or 3D printing work, there may be a manufacturing job out there for you. Scientific discovery and advanced manufacturing increasingly go hand in hand. Highly skilled workers operate high-tech gadgets to transform new ideas into products. These are next-generation factory jobs.

A history of manufacturing

Manufacturing peaked in the 1970s at 19 million jobs, compared to 11 million jobs in 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Back in the day, you could graduate from high school and possibly have a factory job for life.

Today, some see a renaissance in manufacturing, with the U.S. adding manufacturing jobs at its fastest rate in decades, according to a March 2015 White House estimate. These highly skilled, high-paying jobs tie manufacturing work to education and innovation.

A history of manufacturing

Manufacturing peaked in the 1970s at 19 million jobs, compared to 11 million jobs in 2013, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Back in the day, you could graduate from high school and possibly have a factory job for life. Today, some see a renaissance in manufacturing, with the U.S. adding manufacturing jobs at its fastest rate in decades, according to a March 2015 White House estimate. These highly skilled, high-paying jobs tie manufacturing work to education and innovation.

JD Stone lived the traditional factory life for more than 33 years. In the midst of the manufacturing decline, he was laid off. He did not work for 3M at the time. Stone didn't let that stop him. He went back to school to study advanced manufacturing.

"In 2013, I read that the U.S. imports 500,000 people from abroad to fill skilled positions. I thought, 'Well, I live in this country. Why can't I be one of those 500,000 people?' I know the talent is here, but sometimes they don't see the opportunity."

JD Stone lived the traditional factory life for more than 33 years. In the midst of the manufacturing decline, he was laid off. He did not work for 3M at the time. Stone didn't let that stop him. He went back to school to study advanced manufacturing. "In 2013, I read that the U.S. imports 500,000 people from abroad to fill skilled positions. I thought, 'Well, I live in this country. Why can't I be one of those 500,000 people?' I know the talent is here, but sometimes they don't see the opportunity."

JD enrolled in a manufacturing program in Kentucky. He says one of his favorite parts of the two-year degree was learning in an industrial classroom setting that was certainly not your usual classroom. JD did all of this while working full time.

At 3M, like many companies, finding qualified candidates with advanced manufacturing skills is challenging. JD was scooped up as soon as he graduated - hired full time by 3M as a maintenance technician at 3M's Cynthiana, Kentucky, plant.

JD enrolled in a manufacturing program in Kentucky. He says one of his favorite parts of the two-year degree was learning in an industrial classroom setting that was certainly not your usual classroom. JD did all of this while working full time. At 3M, like many companies, finding qualified candidates with advanced manufacturing skills is challenging. JD was scooped up as soon as he graduated - hired full time by 3M as a maintenance technician at 3M's Cynthiana, Kentucky, plant.

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