UWCHLAN >> A township maker of seats for public transportation and the military is taking the lead this week in trying to attract millennials in the region into the manufacturing field. USSC Group will open its doors to the public on Friday and hopes to convince some visitors that manufacturing has changed for the better - and is a viable career option.
It is part of “Manufacturing Day” — an annual national event observed at thousands of manufacturers hoping to show potential workers a sleek, technology-driven industry.
“Manufacturing technology is the most exciting sector in the next generation’s workforce,” said Frank Rzeznikiewicz, chief operating officer at USSC. “The demand for skilled labor, engineers, programmers, and operations management is in high demand and all forecasts indicate phenomenal growth. Salaries within these areas are also predicted to outpace all other career paths. Joining the new industrial revolution is a guarantee to a successful future.”
Rzeznikiewicz started at USSC in February and is in the process of transitioning the operation from a traditional factory to one where lean manufacturing is practiced.
“You can’t get kids to come into a dirty manufacturing plant,” said the manufacturing booster who has worked in the industry for 42 years. “This will be totally lean and clean” when the transition is complete next year.
Privately held, USSC Group is headquartered on Gordon Drive, has 112 employees working there and has 12 locations throughout the world. It has four lines: public transit seating, in which it designs and makes heavy duty passenger seats for city bus, motor coach and rail markets; operator seating, in which it provides seating for the extreme and heavy-duty transportation markets; military seating, in which it develops and manufactures high technology, high strength military seating and restraint systems; and FMNA, which makes environmentally friendly water mist fire suppression systems for engine compartments and enclosed spaces.