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Local students investigate manufacturing careers

BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. in Hoffman Estates hosted a manufacturing open house for high school students and their parents Wednesday so that they could explore careers in manufacturing.

Visitors had the opportunity to interact with engineers, designers, and executives currently working in the local manufacturing industry; witness live machining and manufacturing in action; speak with representatives from Harper College and Northern Illinois University; and learn about the state of manufacturing and the shortage of qualified labor.

“Unfortunately in today’s society I think that the parents don’t really understand what manufacturing is,” said Wheeling High School teacher Michael Geist, who encouraged his students to attend.

Gary Skoog, director of economic development for Hoffman Estates, agreed and said the intent of the open house was to open people’s minds about modern manufacturing.

“We’re trying to wipe away some of the myths about manufacturing,” he said.

Chris Kaiser, president of BIG Kaiser, said the demand for people who are skilled in operating machinery is increasing.

“You’re going to have a whole slew of baby boomers that are going to go into retirement and there’s nothing really behind it to fill that void,” he said, adding that more jobs are being created in the field in recent years because manufacturing work is moving back to the United States.

JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.comMachinist Eddie Ayala demonstrates the use of cutters in a machine tool during Wednesday’s open house at BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. in Hoffman Estates. The event was to encourage students to consider manufacturing careers.
  Schaumburg High School junior Dan Brede, right, listens to company vice president Jack Burley while participating in Wednesday’s open house at BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. in Hoffman Estates. With Brede are his parents, Fawn and Andrew. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
  Anthony Bylina, left, shows a tool presetter to Dave Guilford, a College of Lake County student from Lake Zurich, and his dad, Mike, during Wednesday’s open house at BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. in Hoffman Estates. JOE LEWNARD/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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