The PMI@Work blog explores efforts to develop the manufacturing workforce for the future, particularly among Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) members. If you’d like to submit a post for consideration, send a brief synopsis of what you’d like to write about to Ray Valek, email.
It’s a question millions of high school seniors face every year: which career should I pursue? Most often, they’re presented with one option: get a four-year degree that carries a potentially high price tag, said Mike Rowe, creator of the TV show “Dirty Jobs.” However, many aren’t aware of another strong choice – a career in the skilled trades – which provides excellent salaries and plenty of opportunities.
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs have become more important to plumbing manufacturers and businesses – not just because they’re the right thing to do, but because they produce better business results.
The ever-changing demographic makeup of America has manufacturers realizing the importance of building diversity and inclusion into their workforces. This diversity encompasses not only gender and race but diversity in age, ability, ethnicity and sexual orientation.
Disciplined. Resourceful. Goal-oriented. Those are only a few of the many traits military veterans possess that can help plumbing manufacturers succeed.
Another important reason for manufacturers to tap the military for talent? With a shortage of skilled workers projected to confront manufacturing companies in the next several years, the competition for skilled labor will increase.
Building a diverse workforce and recruiting more women during the pandemic could help plumbing manufacturers enhance their performance. New research shows that companies maintaining their diversity and inclusion efforts now will be rewarded later with new levels of resilience, revitalization and inspiration – all necessary to recover from the economic and operational challenges caused by COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic has placed many internship programs on hold or turned them into remote programs. In any case, plumbing manufacturers will ramp up internship programs again as workplace issues related to COVID-19 become resolved.
National Intern Day is on July 30. NationalInternDay.com includes a variety of resources for companies looking to increase content and visibility for their internship programs. The website was created and promoted by WayUp, a company that helps early-career candidates to discover and be discovered by employers.
As more states ease restrictions related to COVID-19, businesses are following local, state and federal guidelines to safely reopen. While companies are taking steps to keep workers healthy, they also need to address the safety of plumbing systems that were idle during the shutdown.
Plumbing manufacturers continue to support the country during the COVID-19 crisis, creating many crucial products, such as faucets, toilets and emergency showers needed by first responders. Identified as essential by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), plumbing manufacturing workers are producing these products while heeding protective measures outlined by federal, state and local guidelines to keep their workers as healthy and safe as possible.
We all know this moment well: you’ve turned on the shower, but there’s no way you’re getting in it just yet. The water must reach the perfect temperature. So you start your pre-shower routine, listening to your favorite playlist and grabbing your towel and shampoo while waiting for the water to heat up. Most showers spray 2 to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm), and while you wait to get in, you’re wasting water that is probably already hot.
Manufacturing has become more than humans working with machines. Software, technological breakthroughs and new facilities continue to evolve manufacturing in ways that create new possibilities for companies that make things.
