Page 16 - MetalForming May 2011

The Business of Metalforming By Michael Bleau
Earned Success: A Case for Hard Knocks
While visiting last month’s Pro- Mat logistics and transporta- tion-engineering tradeshow in Chicago, I spoke with an executive from a large manufacturing company who shared his frustration in trying to hire qualified, skilled employees—engi-
Michael Bleau has served manufacturing and consumer-related industries since 1986. Prior to forming Industry Scope, a strategic b2b and b2c sales and mar- keting consultancy, in 2002, he held executive positions for several automation and press
manufacturers. Michael regularly consults with manufacturing companies on strategic planning, sales and marketing, brand and product develop- ment, PR and sales-channel development.
Industry Scope | tel. 810/397-1429 mbleau@industry-scope.com | www.industry-scope.com
neers, project managers and skilled tradespeople. Last year, his company’s business boomed and is on track for continued growth in 2011. Yet, it is being held back by a lack of qualified prospects to fill new jobs.
What an astonishing contradiction, at a time when our nation is faced with a jobless rate hovering near nine per- cent. A CBS News broadcast magni- fied this contradiction when it recent- ly reported that, while the number of available manufacturing jobs has dou- bled from last year, many of these jobs are not being filled due to a shortage of skilled workers.
There was a time when one could graduate from high school, enter into an apprenticeship program, work hard, earn a good wage, raise a family and retire, having spent his entire career
with a single company. Those days seem to have left us, as the division between unions and management has grown from a healthy balance to a lop- sided contest blazing toward mutual annihilation. Enter the government to “fix things,” and now we really have the perfect environment to encourage shortsighted, over-managed and underperforming mediocrity.
This is not who we are. I still believe that we are an accomplished nation of innovators with character, who hail from solid work ethics and sober deci- sion-making. We get things done.
The begging question:
Why at a time when so many are out of work is it so hard for businesses to fill jobs and fuel growth in manu- facturing? Why this high unemploy- ment rate while jobs requiring skilled
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14 MetalForming/May 2011
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