Ed Dernulc. He is the Foundation Director of something called Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs (or “NBT,” for short). It's the foundation arm of the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA). He joined The Savvy Entrepreneur recently to talk about future manufacturing talent, including entrepreneurs.
NBT's mission is to connect that next generation of entrepreneurs and manufacturers to consider careers in the manufacturing industry.
Ed says that the number one thing that keeps him up at night, along with NBT's and FMA's members, is not supply chain, it's not the cost of raw materials, and it's not finding parts. It's is human resources.
The U.S. today has about a 2-million-person manufacturing skills gap — meaning there are 2 million jobs in manufacturing that employers can't fill. And it's only growing, so the need is definitely there.
Truly, Ed says, one of the biggest things that Nuts Bolts & Thingamajigs tries to tackle is to change perceptions about manufacturing. Manufacturing has changed dramatically over the past few years. It is no longer the dark and dangerous place people might envision. There are also misperceptions about salary, and skills needed, as well as expected salaries and career paths (hint: the growing labor shortfall has driven up salaries, and by quite a lot for certain skillsets).
To help address those gaps, Nuts Bolts & Thingamajigs offers scholarships, education, and outreach. But it's probably best known for the week-long camps that it hosts to expose 12-16 year-olds to the world of manufacturing.
In 2022, NBT has grown to 165 camps in 25 states and Canada. The camps are structured building some kind of project, and also around local industry sponsors, who give students insights into what it's like to work in manufacturing.
NBT also offers Glow & Gadget camps for young women. Today, women represent only about 12% of manufacturing employment.
The overall goal of both camps is to spark curiosity and open students' minds to the possibility of careers in manufacturing, including many different types of entrepreneurial opportunities.
Learn more about the important work of the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation in fostering future manufacturing talent by clicking the arrow. You can also read a transcript of the interview here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download