More Than A Tour

There is little, if any, debate that there is a disconnect between the image of manufacturing held by many outside the field and the reality that those of us in the field experience every day. That disconnect is especially acute in academia.

As an industry, we need to seize any opportunity to help ourselves perpetuate the recruitment of high quality talent to manufacturing. Like most lessons, seeing is believing, and seeing manufacturing as it is rather than clinging to archaic misconceptions is a good thing.

This fall at IMTS, there is an opportunity to educate students and teachers about the reality of manufacturing today. It’s an opportunity to dispel misconceptions and incorrect views of career opportunities in the modern shop.

While IMTS has welcomed students and faculty for many years, the experience was limited primarily to a tour of the show. That all changed at the 1998 edition of IMTS with the introduction of the Student Summit.

The Student Summit focuses on exposing students and faculty to career opportunities, orientation on the current state and the future of manufacturing technology, and giving them the opportunity to interface with industry veterans. It is also a networking opportunity for students to meet other students who may already be on a career path toward manufacturing.

It is in the best interest of all exhibitors at IMTS to participate in the Student Summit. The least intrusive way to become involved in the Student Summit is to declare your company a Student-Friendly Exhibitor. In this role, you will welcome students into your booth at IMTS and be willing to talk with them about your technology and the generic opportunities you see for young people in the industry. AMT has forms online to sign up as a Student-Friendly Exhibitor.

IMTS is by far the best opportunity for our manufacturing industry to put its best foot forward. Participating in The Student Summit is an opportunity to help set the record straight about manufacturing to an audience that needs to see and hear the message.