Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/881414
N e w H a m p s h i r e , 2 0 1 7 • S T U F F 3 Welcome to the first issue of Cool Stuff Made in New Hampshire! A s NH Manufacturing Week 2016 wrapped up, a high school student who'd just completed a tour, said, "The field trip was eye-opening in the sense that I could be doing something like this in the future." Another student interviewed said, "The field trip was interesting. It was cool to see the process in the assembly line." And a third student said he learned, "… that in manu- facturing, you can make lots of money." Last year we had 1,850 students from 44 high school and four middle schools visit 55 New Hampshire manufacturing companies during NH Manufacturing Week. As a result of the field trips, 74 percent of student visitors that responded to our survey said they would likely consider a career in manufacturing. That's a good start, but we need to do more. That's why this year we're celebrating NH Manufacturing Month. We hope in a few years from now we will be able to engage all 96 New Hampshire high schools, and involve even more middle schools, as well. Over the last five years, high school and middle school students have begun learning about the products being manufactured right here in New Hampshire, including: parts for jet engines, robots, dental implants of stain- less steel and titanium, elbow implants, glass windows for space vehicles, guided missile lens metrology platforms, infrared jam heads, knee implants, plasma cutters, the Segway® Personal Transporter, and lots of other "cool" stuff. Many of the companies manufacturing this stuff are highlighted in this publication. The manufacturing industry here is changing. It's becoming technology-driven, which means "Last year we had 1,850 students from 44 high school and four middle schools visit 55 New Hampshire manufactur- ing companies during NH Manu- facturing Week. As a result of the field trips, 74 percent of student visitors that responded to our survey said they would likely consider a career in manufacturing." it requires a new set of skills. Smart Manufac- turing/High Technology (SMHT) is the largest contributor to New Hampshire's economy, of- fering high-paying jobs and attractive benefits packages, and in some cases, tuition reim- bursement for advanced learning. In the last few years, much has been done in the private and public sector to promote manufacturing and provide opportunities for the next generation of workers. Programs and incentives have been initiated to assist in promoting career opportunities and develop the skills needed to enter the manufacturing in- dustry. As the current manufacturing work force approaches retirement age, the need for skilled workers will continue to increase. Cool Stuff Made in NH highlights the many and diverse educational and training programs available at community colleges, universities, career and technical schools. I'd like to offer a special thank-you to all those who participated in making this publication possible. Whether you are a student, a parent, a manu- facturer, an educator, a state representative, or a business leader, I hope you will find this first issue not only a great resource, but also a true benefit to you. And most of all, if you are a student, read on and imagine your future! Zenagui Brahim President, NH Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NH MEP)