Over 400 students from 14 area schools received a behind the scenes look at local manufacturers and the many opportunities offered within the companies during Manufacturing Day.
"I think it is extremely important for students to see what great opportunities the manufacturing sector has to offer," Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter said. "If we want our local manufacturers to succeed we must get them a pipeline of qualified individuals."
Starting USA Plant Manager Charlie Fortner explained to a group of Poplar Bluff seniors the history of the company and how students can move up within the factory.
"When I was growing up I said I never wanted to work fast food or in a factory," Fortner said. "Factory work has been very good to me and I worked my way up to plant manager."
Starting USA is a joint venture with Starting Industrial Inc., of Japan and Briggs & Stratton, which began in 1994, according to Fortner.
Between full-time and Express Employment, 140 people are work at Starting USA and a $3.7 million payroll is processed each year.
Since operations began "we have made over 200,000,000 recoils and 35,000,000 mufflers," Fortner said.
Fortner went on to explain the many different jobs offered within a manufacturing company such as Starting USA, which include engineers, technicians, welders, designers, human resources, assemblers and more.
Starting USA Engineering Manager Brent Wlodarcik, who has been with the company for 15 years, stressed the importance of having a good attitude in the workforce.
"With the right attitude, ambition, goals and hard work you can start as the low man on the totem pole and move up," Wlodarcik said. "It happened to me and anyone with drive can move up."
One area of fascination at Starting USA that caught the eye of many students was the "one-handed knot tying" area.
Tool Crib Assistant Helen White explained workers were tying a knot in the recoil rope, which is located inside the machines, with one hand. This was all done left-handed as well.
"Getting your speed up is the main thing," White said for being successful on the line.
According to White, the knots are tied within three seconds and about 800 parts are produced an hour.
Poplar Bluff senior Blake Freeman said he found the tour of Starting USA interesting.
"The tour changed my attitude towards factory work in general," Freeman said. "I thought it was just a lot of sitting and repetition work. I didn't realize all the math involved."
The second annual Manufacturing Day was presented by The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, Three Rivers College and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with participating manufacturers Starting USA, Gates Corporation, Revere Plastics, Mid Continent Steel & Wire and Briggs & Stratton.
Manufacturing Day is a part of the "Dream It Do It" program, which works to change the perception of the industry and inspire next generation workers to pursue manufacturing careers.
"(The day) went extremely well," Halter said. "I appreciate Dave Creg, Michelle Shelton and all of the wonderful Dream It Do It team members for what they did."