Biz Connect: Arvin Sango

Since January, Arvin Sango Inc. of Madison has been aiming to fill up to 15 new hourly positions per month. The resurgence in hiring comes as they are returning to their former level of output. “We are ramping back up to where we were before the recession,” explained Karen Sassen, Director of Human Resources at Arvin Sango.

Although this is good news for the local economy, the Human Resources Department at Arvin Sango is struggling to fill those hourly positions. It seems there is more than one explanation for this disconnect between opportunities and those who are ready to take advantage of them. It may be because many members of today’s up-and-coming workforce are not aware of the job opportunities in their own community. Lack of interest in manufacturing jobs is another possible explanation. Sassen theorized that today’s high school students are of the impression that jobs of the future will feature them working at a computer, and not doing hands-on work. In a global economy, creativity and innovation are valued, but even more so if they are applied to real life problems. Arvin Sango is looking for hands-on learners, who would be excited to operate state-of-the-art equipment, and are interested in learning “how stuff works.”

There is no one-size-fits-all answer for meeting industry needs and interests of the up and coming workforce or the unemployed. Several projects and initiatives are in the works to bridge the gap between regional industries’ growing needs and the interests and capabilities of the workforce.

EcO15 is part of a Lilly Endowment Inc. grant to fund educational programs that help meet the needs of the region’s largest industries, including advanced manufacturing.

Manufacturing is a main focus of the EcO15 initiative, as it is the “major economic cluster,” in our region. Essentially, EcO15 is helping to develop and fund resources for both educators and students to increase manufacturing job readiness skills as well as awareness.

One example is Project Lead the Way. Part of a national educational initiative, PLTW provides curriculum to schools for hands-on, project-based courses. All Jefferson County high schools are participating in Project Lead the Way with the Pathways to Engineering curriculum. Madison High School’s instructor, Mike Turner, explained how the project allows students to get a taste of the “real world of design and engineering.” The four-class pre-engineering curriculum is progressive, with each class building on the last ending with a capstone experience wherein students experience the life cycle of a concept, taking it through the patent research and design process all the way to creating the prototype. “Students coming out of the Project Lead the Way initiative might be a good fit for Arvin Sango’s summer intern program positions,” said Turner.

Turner hopes that the Pathways to Engineering program will be part of a larger “cultural shift” happening in our community that will encourage students to have a realistic view of what it’s like to work toward a career. Through engagement and hands-on application in classes at the high school level, students learn the desirable “soft skills” of discipline and teamwork.

Another hope is that manufacturers will continue to be involved by organizing school visits and plant tours, which take some of the mystery out of the world of manufacturing for students. Turner guesses that many students lack a vision for what it takes to excel in the specialized field of advanced manufacturing. A strong presence from area manufacturers helps manufacturing stay favorably top-of-mind, and students tend to be more interested in careers that are highly visible.

Visibility is one focus of EcO15’s involvement with the “Dream It. Do It.” Campaign, which aims to light the way for people in the region to advance in their careers and education or training level. Cooperation between educators and manufacturers is a key component of this initiative to meet the training and educational needs of the workforce as they prepare for the promising and growing range of opportunities provided by manufacturers in our region.

Current openings at Arvin Sango are a testament to those opportunities. There are possibilities for promotion and career building at a company that has proven its resilience in the often-turbulent climate of the last four years. Potential areas of advancement include maintenance and team leadership roles. Manufacturing is fast paced and important work. This kind of work would be a good fit for energetic, competitive, hands-on learners who take pride in being a part of a great team.

Because manufacturing is so specialized and revolves around automation, it takes some time spent in the environment learning to operate the equipment to see if it is a good fit for both parties. Arvin Sango offers paid trial period for 90-days. Prospective employees then have the option of applying for a permanent position at the end of the period. Once hired, team members are trained on state-of-the-art equipment involving robotics and computer controlled welding.

“Manufacturing is coming back, and there are careers to be built in this field,” Sassen said. Though we are coming out of a recession, opportunities are there for the taking at Arvin Sango.

All signs seem to point to the fact that it is a good time to begin working toward a career in manufacturing. Educational and training opportunities abound, and with regional support from the EcO15 initiative, Southeastern Indiana is of national interest as a promising region for advanced manufacturing. Area industry is returning to its former production level, which means jobs are available for Hoosiers who are ready to join in on investing in the future.