November 2022 Volume 4

OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT

Workforce Development in the Forging Industry

You can host trade demonstrations or informative and entertaining lectures at your facility. Another great way is to make sure you are known in your community - go to the students and give a presentation at a school, participate in community events, fairs and other programs. You can also get great results from attending career days or job fairs at local schools or inviting students to tour your facility. When sharing information about your company be sure to disclose the benefits. For example, many manufacturing careers come with competitive compensation, healthcare, and retirement plans that are in line with many entry-level office/professional jobs. And always encourage your employees to be industry ambassadors by having The FIA Next Gen Committee is comprised of individuals (approximate age 20-35) who are young business andmanufacturing employees working in the forging industry. The Next Gen Committee will provide an opportunity to collaborate with peers, share experiences, and discuss the challenges facing the forging industry. The Next Gen Committee's mission is to increase awareness and attractiveness of the industry, as well as help to create the next wave of leadership. Members have the opportunity to enjoy plant tours, receive continuing education and training hours through the elearning Forging University Platform, network, and attend meetings and events to stay up to date with ideas and issues from all over the industry. FIAWorkforce Development Committee The FIAhas created a workforce development committee, comprised of industry HR professionals. This group will focus on coming up with strategies and programming to help engage, attract and retain talent within the forging industry. them host or be a mentor in an apprenticeship program. HowDo FIA& FIERF Support Workforce Development? Next Gen Committee

Facing the Challenges There is a challenge faced by a majority of forging producers and suppliers to replace retiring workers with individuals who have technical adaptability and a skill set required for complex manufacturing processes of the future. Many of our skilled manufacturing workers are retiring, and the numbers of workers necessary to fill the empty positions have not kept up. Workforce shortages and supply chain instability are reducing operational efficiency and margins. Job openings— at more than twice the gap to reach pre-pandemic employment levels—hover near all-time highs at more than 800,000, according to a recent study by Deloitte [1]. Deloitte’s report also estimates that 2.1 million manufacturing jobs will go unfilled by 2030 due to the skills gap.This gap is widening due to the lack ofmillennials andGenerationZgoing intomanufacturing. Changing Opinions, Getting Attention It is up to us as an industry, but also individually as forgers, suppliers, association representatives, and technical educators to make careers within the forging more attractive to future generations. There are many ways that you can help change perceptions about the industry and inspire interest.

FIA MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2022 64