Carney, panelists discuss efficiency, training, and opportunities for growth
GEORGETOWN, Del. — Congressman John Carney (D-DE) and Delaware manufacturers gathered at Delaware Tech’s Theodore C. Freeman Powerplant Education Building on the grounds of the Sussex County Airport this morning to discuss opportunities for growth in the state, the skills needed by today’s manufacturing workforce, and the federal role in revitalizing U.S. manufacturing. To read Congressman Carney’s Make it in Delaware plan, click here.
“Meeting with Delaware manufacturers is an ideal way to wrap up our events this week. The owners and managers of these companies are tremendously valuable to our community because, without jobs, we don’t have very much,” said Congressman Carney. “What I’ve heard all week is that U. S. manufacturers need to be as efficient as possible to compete in the global marketplace, and that includes having highly-skilled, trained workers. It’s a competitive advantage that we can’t afford to give up.”
Participants in today’s roundtable included Liza Bartle, Gas Phase Manufacturing Manager, Agilent Technologies; Chris Clifton, Tooling Manager, Atlantis Industries; Chris Moody, Director of Corporate and Community Training, Delaware Tech Owens Campus; Neal Nicastro, Plant Manager, PPG Industries; Rob Rider, President & CEO, O.A. Newton; Andrew Satorius, Plant Manager, Baltimore Aircoil; Tom Spencer, Vice President of Manufacturing, PATS Aircraft; and Jeff Tricarico, Plant Manager, Grayling Industries.
“Our employees in Delaware have the best gross margins in the world. That’s why we’re able to keep the jobs here,” said Liza Bartle of Aglient Technologies. “But corporate tax rates are a big issue. It needs to make sense for companies to bring operations back. It’s also critical to have new talent feeding into the workforce. We need workers with electrical and computer skills, as well as inventory control and logistics training.”
Tom Spencer with PATS Aircraft added, “Programs at the state and local level should be geared towards attracting and retaining a skilled workforce. We should have creative programs and internships for college students and young workers. The talent is out there; we need them to come to Delaware.”
Over the last few years, signs show that jobs in the manufacturing sector are beginning to grow. Companies like Apple, General Electric, and Caterpillar that had moved production overseas, are now bringing jobs back.
Atlantis Industries in Milton recently added 10-12 positions. In 2013, ILC purchased Grayling Industries, a manufacturer of industrial packaging products, and moved the facility from Juarez, Mexico to Seaford. Grayling is in the process of hiring 115 employees, and full-scale operations will begin in July.
Rob Rider with O.A. Newton brought the conversation back to efficiency. “Think of all the advantages we’ll have as a nation if we can create a generation of lean thinking employees.”
Today’s discussion concluded a series of events Congressman Carney hosted this week to gather ideas for legislative proposals that would support and bolster U.S. and Delaware manufacturing. Earlier this week, the Congressman hosted a roundtable discussion with representatives from the manufacturing workforce, held a teletown hall with Delawareans to discuss manufacturing needs, visited manufacturing facilities in each county to learn more about their operations, and toured Hodgson Vo-Tech to hear from students that will make up the nation’s future manufacturing workforce.
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