SCHAUMBURG – Last week, nineteen students from Seoul, South Korea visited the Technology & Manufacturing Association’s training facilities in Schaumburg to learn more about the career options manufacturing offers.
The DaeGwang High School students were visiting the U.S. in January as part of a 2016 understanding with Maine Township High School District 207.
Before visiting the TMA center, the students stopped by the local American Legion Post 36 in Des Plaines to honor and converse with Korean War veterans.
The purpose of the high schoolers’ visit was to learn more about the American culture and cultivate relationships with American students, District 207 Board Member Jin Lee told TMANews after seeing the TMA training center.
“We had a wonderful tour, and this is an experience for the young leader students from Korea for their career building possibilities into this technical career opportunity,” Lee said.
TMA’s Training & Education Director Leigh McConnell introduced the young Korean visitors to the importance of manufacturing’s future to global industries such as aerospace, aviation, medical and automation.
McConnell shared insights into TMA’s system of training and cooperation with local manufacturers. She communicated through Jin Lee, who acted as the tour guide and interpreter.
“Hopefully we inspired some of the students to consider careers in the manufacturing industry today,” McConnell said. “The opportunities are there – from financing to marketing to engineering to machining. And the opportunities are limitless into the future.”
The Association’s training offers a variety of courses in demand among manufacturers, from executive level courses to entry level skilled positions. The industry, like many others, is working hard to stir interest in the manufacturing field among creative young minds.
State Senator Laura Murphy (D-Schaumburg) and her office played a key part in organizing the TMA tour. Having visited TMA’s training facility previously and seeing the need to encourage future generations to grasp the importance of manufacturing, Senator Murphy sought the tour for the visitors.
“This has been a great opportunity for these students to see the possibilities the states have to offer,” Senator Murphy said. “So many people don’t recognize the huge role manufacturing plays in our society. When they ask me what job they can have in the United States, we can say to them, ‘Anything you want.’”
The DaeGwang High students were given a tour of TMA computer- and machine-filled classrooms, introduced to basic machinery used in creating manufacturing tools, dies and molds, as well as TMA’s newer manufacturing machines.
The students were especially delighted to see a Korean-made Doosan machine among others in TMA’s training center.
The Technology & Manufacturing Association is a network of small and midsized manufacturers, first established in 1925. For decades, TMA’s training – privately funded by TMA members – has been branded “the gold standard” in tool and die, mold making and CNC machining skills instruction.
For more information, see www.tmaillinois.org
