“Why can’t I find a job?” says a young man with some secondary education, very few skills and little practical experience in the workplace. “Why can’t I find enough skilled workers to produce my products?” states the owner of a small manufacturing firm. He goes on to say that while he interviews all the applicants that respond to his “help wanted” advertisements in the local newspapers, the applicants he sees applying for his openings simply do not have the technical skills and training required to work in his factory. They are not able to read well, do not understand technical documents, can not do math and can not write well or express themselves. It is all too clear that my “typical young job seeker” and my “typical manufacturer” are both very frustrated.

While the comments of the young job seeker and the manufacturer are fictitious, their positions and opinions regarding the current state of the job market are all too common. The contradiction shown is one that is played out thousands of times a day across the United States. The obvious question is why are all the efforts of so many organizations not answering the questions asked by these individuals?

What are the factors and situations that are creating incredible shortages of even the minimally skilled individuals capable of performing basic factory jobs? Why does the average new job seeker not know through schooling, from parent, from the media and yes, even from the manufacturers themselves, the broad range of interesting and lucrative jobs available to them? How are manufacturing firms going to get the individuals to train for the skilled positions being vacated by an ever-growing number of retirees if there is no meaningful way to connect with the next generation of skilled employees? How will the important research and development (R&D) efforts that have fueled the United States manufacturing and technology sectors of industry and made us world leaders in this vitally important area of world commerce, be support without the new ideas that come with new employees?

The other side of the question is why, in spite of aggressive and comprehensive efforts on the part of the education and training community do we still have students, as well as their parents, educators and guidance counselors not aware of the incredibly interesting, varied and prosperous opportunities available in the manufacturing sector of industry in this country?
Some will debate that a job in manufacturing is not a career that a young person should pursue. They often repeat the same worn and incorrect descriptions of jobs in manufaturing as “dirty, dark and dangerous” to make their case. They argue that by the time the student acquires the appropriate education and training to secure a position in manufacturing they company they were interested in has moved all the jobs offshore.

Another negative impression, mostly incorrect, that is often used to dissuade young people from pursuing manufacturing careers, is that manufacturing workers are always getting laid off. They believe their friends that went on to four-year college and university programs will get more secure, higher paying positions in industry.

Unfortunately the statistics indicate that more than 70% of those students who start four-year programs do not finish their programs, thus costing the parents a significant amount of money and leaving everybody frustrated with the outcome; a young ex-student looking for a job!

What are the real facts and actual statistics regarding the obviously prejudiced and uninformed attitudes that are frequently taken by individuals on both sides of this discussion? The most comprehensive effort undertaken to answer many of these questions and to formulate action plans that raise the awareness of the issues is the Dream It Do It Campaign.

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the largest industrial trade association representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector in this country recognized the problem and developed a multi-pronged approach to provide possible solutions to its membership. In response to the growing concerns of its member manufacturers NAM founded The Manufacturing Institute (TMI).

Based in Washington, DC, the Institute is chartered as NAM’s research arm to gather the facts, analyze the data and quantify the problems facing manufacturers. The Institute also works to develop realistic plans of action that can help solve some of the problems identified. Several millions of dollars and an incredible amount of hard work have confirmed certain irrefutable facts regarding the trends and opinions expressed so simply by our young job seeker and our manufacturer in the beginning of this scenario.

Over the past two years the Institute has developed a definitive plan to begin to solve some of the issues identified. The intent of the “Dream It. Do It. Campaign” is to engage all the involved parties from students, parents, teachers, educational institutions, guidance counselors and advisors, community groups at both the state and local levels, including the local Economic and Workforce Development Councils, the area Chambers of Commerce and the State Education and Workforce Development organizations.

Most importantly, the area manufacturers, the ultimate “customers” of the Campaign’s efforts, must be actively involved in the planning, execution and support of the Campaign. They must identify the skill competencies that potential applicants lack, work with all the various organizations to identify how the education and training can be acquired by job seekers and be prepared at all times to support the applicant’s efforts by hiring candidates that meet the requirements.

Image problems with manufacturing have been identified as a major obstacle for many in selecting careers in manufacturing. The idea behind the Dream It. Do It. Campaign is simple. Whatever young people are passionate about as they attempt to make decisions about their education and possible careers, they can find an interesting and profitable job doing what they love in manufacturing. The Campaign seeks to help, through the Dream It. Do It. web sites in each area, identify how individuals can express their interests, the “Dream It” phase, and how they can learn ways to pursue their dream through a career in manufacturing, the “Do It” phase.

The Campaign uses the computer and the Internet as the key communication tool for individuals at all levels to obtain the information they might require. Campaigns will be licensed by NAM in specific geographical areas. They will be overseen by local non-profit partnerships and directed by a local Steering Committee made up of key individuals from each of the involved organizations. The Campaign’s immediate task is to develop financial support for the overall effort, a necessity if the Campaign is to utilize the expensive commercial medias available through advertising, newspapers, radio and television, educational partnerships, seminars and conferences and the personal contacts that are so very important to raising awareness about the Dream It. Do It. Campaign goals.

Direct management of the daily efforts of the Campaign will be the responsibility of a full-time Campaign Director, employed and directed by the President of the Steering Committee, with the full support of the Committee. In the State of Washington, the Dream It. Do It. Campaign is headed up by Washington Manufacturing Services (WMS), a non-profit manufacturing consulting organization under the direction of Mr. John Vicklund. John is also the President of the Campaign’s Steering Committee. Mr. Ed Halloran is the Campaign Director, reporting directly to John and the Steering Committee.

A formal partnership has been established with Belo Media Group (KING5-TV, KONG-TV and Northwest Cable News-TV) to head up all advertising, web site development, news coverage, releases and programming, radio and television informational pieces and all commercial productions for the Dream It. Do It. Campaign-Washington State.

Shoreline Community College and the Center for Manufacturing Excellence, led by its Project Director, Mr. Phil Savereux, is heading up the Campaign’s efforts throughout the educational sector, including the K through 12 system, the Community and Technical institutions and the four-year colleges and universities.

Five geographical sites are currently identified as targeted areas for a locally directed Dream It. Do It. Campaign. They are Seattle/Puget Sound, the prototype and lead site area, Bellingham and the Northwest area, Vancouver and the Southwest area, Tri-Cities/Yakima area and the Spokane area.

The Dream It. Do It. Campaign – Washington State invites individuals interested in the Campaign, its goals, processes, organization and supporters to access the Campaign’s web site through the national Dream It. Do It. web site at www.dreamit-doit.com. For any additional information, please contact Ed Halloran or John Vicklund at the Dream It. Do It. offices in Mukilteo at (425) 438-2973.