KRQE speaks with New Mexico MEP’s Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Sinsabaugh and Old Wood Chief Operating Officer Shiloh Old about this year’s Manufacturing Day.

A behind-the-scenes look at pinball mod manufacturer Mezel Mods and their successful collaboration with New Mexico Manufacturing Extension Partnership.

From left: Sinsabaugh, Allison, Beeke and Mayberry
discuss the future of manufacturing in New Mexico.

Albuquerque Business First and New Mexico MEP sat down with two New Mexico companies and explored future opportunities for manufacturing in New Mexico.

What is the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

Industry 4.0 involves a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital, and biological worlds.

According to a recent report by the Manufacturing Institute, 35 percent of students engaged in career and technical education (CTE) have no contact with potential future employers. And only 12 percent have had the opportunity to walk through a manufacturing facility.

Mfg Day 2017 students touring Old Wood in Las Vegas, New Mexico

Manufacturing Day aims to increase those statistics. The month-long celebration of manufacturing focuses on introducing students to careers in manufacturing by encouraging them to tour facilities where manufacturing takes place. When manufacturing companies invite students to tour their facilities, students see CAD designs develop, materials transformed by skilled technicians operating modern equipment, and finished products packaged for delivery.

Manufacturing Day is meant to inspire and recruit the next generation of manufacturers. If we’re going to address manufacturers’ growing need for a new generation of skilled workers, parents, teachers and future employers must all come together to engage students and give them first-hand exposure to modern manufacturing.

So what are you waiting for? If you’re a manufacturer in search of talent, commit to hosting a Mfg Day event. If you’re a teacher or school administrator, plan to take your students on a tour.

We can help. Contact us so that together we can increase jobs, talent and manufacturing in New Mexico.

Marpac Custom – one of many tours this year!

See a variety of textile products being cut and sewn with a state-of-the art computer fabric-cutting machine, computerized sewing machines, as well as industrial hand-operated sewing.

Sisneros Bros. Manufacturing was doing a great job filling orders for the custom duct work that goes in large commercial buildings and Navy ships. But when the next generation of family members joined the leadership team, they asked New Mexico MEP to help them plan for the future. MEP helped the company perform Value Stream Mapping, which indicated some parts were moving up to 6 miles on the floor during the fabrication process. The video explains.

Register at newmexicomep.org/mfgday.

Glass Rite, OGB Architectural Millwork, Unirac, Urban Fresh Cosmetics, Insight Lighting, Aquila, Valencia Flour Mill, Jack’s Plastic Welding, Pesco, Mesa Photonics, Solaro Energy and Santa Fe Business Incubator companies were among the 33 businesses that hosted Manufacturing Day tours in New Mexico.