Cutting into the Workforce Shortage

On Manufacturing Day, which was October 2 this year, students from Williamson County, Tennessee, toured multiple manufacturing facilities to obtain a firsthand look at local career opportunities. These 46 young men and women from middle school to high school will soon enter the workforce and are preparing for the jump by taking courses in mechatronics. The courses cover disciplines in electrical engineering, pneumatics, mechanics and robotics, which are skills required in today’s high-tech manufacturing industry.

The final tour of the day was held at Horn USA Inc. in Franklin, Tennessee, where Operations Manager David Fabry began the tour with an overview of the carbide cutting tool industry. 

“Many questions were raised and their caliber led the team at Horn USA to believe that these students are on the right track,” says Jason Farthing, responsible for technical sales and marketing.

Following the brief overview, the 46 students, their chaperones, local media reporters, members of the local chamber of commerce and board of education were given a behind the scenes tour or Horn USA that included the demonstration center, logistics and production areas. The demonstration center interested everyone as chips collided with the protective enclosures while a variety of metals were being machined on a CNC mill and a CNC lathe with Y axis. The recent installation of an automated inventory control system was of primary interest to the students learning robotics while Horn USA’s production area was impressive to all. The clean, climate controlled production area with fully enclosed CNC grinding machines allowed attendees to get up close in order to view the fully automated equipment in action.

“It was a pleasure to host these young men and women who are excited about their mechatronics program, and we hope to see them in the workforce as one of our customers or co-workers,” Mr. Farthing says.