Christie Administration Kicks Off ManufactureNJ Week

On Sep 29, 2015

The Christie Administration kicked off ManufactureNJ Week yesterday at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), underscoring the importance of the manufacturing industry to the state’s economy and highlighting contributions New Jersey manufacturers make in the Garden State, nationally and globally.

“Manufacturing has evolved far beyond the days of the production lines,” said state Labor Commissioner Harold J. Wirths. “Advanced manufacturing jobs require skilled and highly-trained workers. I am proud of my department’s partnership with NJIT and the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Network that helps prepare job-seekers for these lucrative and in-demand jobs.”

Catherine Starghill, executive director of Workforce Operations and Business Services spoke at the kick-off event and presented proclamations from New Jersey Governor Chris Christie declaring September 28 through October 2, 2015 as ManufactureNJ Week in New Jersey. She presented the framed proclamations to Dr. Joel Bloom and Dr. Gale Tenen Spak of NJIT and Ray Vaccari of the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Network.

Manufacturing accounts for approximately 240,100 jobs in New Jersey with about 54 percent of those jobs classified as advanced manufacturing. The Advanced Manufacturing Talent Network, which was created and funded by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development and headed by NJIT, is one of seven Talent Networks designed to focus on seven key industry clusters in the Garden State that employ more than two-thirds of New Jersey workers and pay more than two-thirds of the wages annually.

The Talent Networks engage industry employers to pinpoint relevant skills job-seekers need to get jobs in those major industry clusters with educational institutions, employee training providers, state officials and job-seekers. In turn, the properly trained employees can help New Jersey businesses become more competitive and productive, which benefits the state’s overall economy.

The New Jersey Talent Networks have been created around the following industry clusters: Advanced Manufacturing, Life Sciences; Transportation, Logistics and Distribution; Health Care; Financial Services; Technology and Entrepreneurship, and Retail, Hospitality and Tourism.

Organized by New Jersey’s Advanced Manufacturing Talent Network and other partners, ManufactureNJ Week coincides with the nationally observed Manufacturing Day on October 2.

ManufactureNJ Week focuses on advanced manufacturing – a leaner, more efficient system of manufacturing operations employing innovative technology to improve products and processes.

Today’s kick off showcased the Garden State’s advanced manufacturing industry via panel discussions featuring manufacturing company executives, educational leaders and manufacturing associations.

ManufactureNJ Week, now in its fourth year, will hold multiple events throughout the state this week. Throughout the week, Sandvik Coromant will host tours at their Fair Lawn location where participants will be able to interact with machining specialists and engineers to learn more about advanced manufacturing. Other events include:

September 29: Manufacturing Roundtable, Essex County College, Newark

September 30: Career Fair, NJIT, Newark; Manufacturing Employer Summit, Ocean County College, Toms River

October 2: Made in New Jersey event, The Palace at Somerset Park, Somerset; American Oil & Supply International Facility Tour, Eatontown; Lamatek Facility Tour, West Deptford

October 3: Boy Scouts of America STEM Jamboree, Liberty State Park, Jersey City

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