Page 57 - FDI Alliance International Magazine, July 2019 Interactive Issue_Neat

for Ohio, 2 percent for the U.S). Ohio added more jobs Midwest, an educational center that offers a wide range Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Ohio include
during this period than any of its regional competitors of industrial training programs. Cardinal Health, Nationwide, Marathon Petroleum,
and grew at the second highest pace of 8 percent Macy’s, Procter & Gamble and Kroger.
behind only Michigan at 9 percent. Recognizing the region’s need for highly skilled workers,
Festo Didactic, part of the Festo Group, partnered with According to Mark Crawford, Contributing Editor to
Ohio schools granted 67 percent more annual degrees Sinclair Community College (SCC), TechSolve and five Area Development’s The Top Site Selection Factors
and certificates for chemistry, petroleum engineering, companies – ART Metals Group, Clippard Instruments, of 2016, “energy availability and costs are important
chemical engineering, and similar programs from 2010- Festo Corp., MQ Automation and Nestlé – to create for every project, but especially critical for industries
17, second in the region. an apprenticeship program in mechatronics, a field that consume large amounts of energy, such as
More and more companies are adopting advanced that combines mechanical, electrical and computer manufacturing, distribution, and data centers.”
manufacturing technologies, such as 3-D printing, CNC control skills.
automation and nanotechnology. But these technologies For years, Ohio has been a hub of aerospace and
require specialized skills that many manufacturing The resulting Mechatronics Apprenticeship Program aviation industry activity. Aerospace companies in the
workers simply don’t have, leaving a gap between the Partnership (MAP2), introduced in the fall of 2016, state can integrate into a leading supply chain and
talent that’s available and the talent that’s necessary. is designed to help individuals learn advanced grow extensively through a thriving business climate.
manufacturing skills and earn an associate degree In Ohio, key advancements supported by over $12
An Ohio company has taken a unique approach to in mechatronics at the same time. MAP2 uses the billion in science and engineering research and
addressing this problem. Festo, a worldwide leader German apprenticeship model of dual education, where development spending unlock opportunities across
in automation technology, started a one-of-a-kind apprentices learn in a classroom but gain experience the entire aerospace and aviation industry.
apprenticeship program that trains its workers – and at work. Students in Festo’s apprentice program take
workers from other companies – in the skills they need classes at SCC, get hands-on training at Festo’s learning Ohio is prepared for the future of aerospace and
for careers in advanced manufacturing. center and receive actual experience at their respective aviation. When it comes to launching your business,
Based in Germany, Festo launched its U.S. operations employers. there’s no better place than Ohio to let your ideas
in Mason, about 30 miles north of Cincinnati, in 2016 Ohio’s manufacturing industry leads the country in take flight.
with the grand opening of its Regional Service Center, production of plastics and rubber, fabricated metals
a state-of-the-art assembly and distribution center. The and electrical equipment and appliances. The state Ohio’s talent pipeline meets the demands of today and
facility also houses Festo Didactic’s Learning Center is also a leading producer of trucks, autos and steel. is prepared for the needs of the future.

FDI ALLIANCE | JULY ISSUE 2019 57