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This concept helped to drive development of the OrthoWorx Technical Careers and Beyond Program. The program’s goal is to demonstrate pathways for students to enter manufacturing careers. This will, in turn, help to address the advanced manufacturing talent gap in the medical device industry.
“Based on a survey completed at the end of the event, most of the 50 attendees of this program estimated in the near future there will be more than 1,000 technical career openings in orthopedic manufacturing,” states Tim Meyer, OrthoWorx Operations Workforce Development Committee Chair. “The committee developed this program in partnership with the local orthopedic industry, Grace College, Ivy Tech Orthopedic and Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (OAMTC), Trine University and Warsaw Area Career Center. We want to ensure students are aware of the opportunities that exist here for them in advanced manufacturing.”
Various careers were highlighted during tours of medical device companies Precision Medical Technologies, Inc. and Biomet. Also, educational programs to prepare the students for these careers were highlights of tours at the Warsaw Area Career Center and Ivy Tech OAMTC.
Roundtable discussions at the conclusion of the program provided an opportunity for program participants to engage with others and provide program input. “General consensus from participants rated this a highly valued, informative program,” says Brad Bishop, OrthoWorx Executive Director. “We look forward to expanding the program in 2015 to include student participants and also to include other school districts in the region.”
