Virtual Marketplaces For and By Manufacturers

Websites are an important tool in every manufacturer’s tool kit. Given their strategic role in reaching a widespread audience, other NSF ATE Centers like the National Center for Manufacturing Education (NCME) and Weld-Ed ATE are using it as a platform for industry professionals, educators, and students to exchange ideas and information.

The Careers in welding website (http://www.careersinwelding.com/) for example is a new website that represents a partnership between the American Welding Society (AWS) and the National Center for Welding Education and Training (Weld-Ed). The site is a Bible of sorts for welders showcasing videos and profiles of companies and industry professionals, updates on upcoming events, industry-related news and fun facts about welding. The student page contains information on scholarships, has links to social networking tools, and has an AWS welding school locator. Current and incumbent workers can also build their resume and look for jobs using the built-in resume builder and the AWS JobFind link.

METEC Online (www.meteconline.org) is yet another site that highlights information on state-of-the-art technologies in advanced manufacturing. The site is a rich store house of information that serves as a searchable database of materials submitted by educators from around the world. Notable topics include classroom content, best practice modules, and information on STEM-related initiatives in the K-16 levels. The site provides links to several regional centers of excellence in manufacturing, and information on national STEM-related initiatives. New materials are added continually, and visitors can share resources and links using popular social networking tools.

CareerME.org (www.careerme.org) is another site geared to educate students in grades 11-13, their parents, and teachers about careers in manufacturing. The site gives an insider’s perspective on the nuts and bolts of modern manufacturing. Other neat aspects of the site are videos of manufactured products and personal accounts of what it takes to become a next generation, high-tech manufacturer.

Finally, FLATE’s family of websites and social media outlets offer numerous resources on high-tech manufacturing, technical education and careers specifically for students, educators, industry representatives, and current/incumbent workers in Florida. You can check out these resources at http://www.fl-ate.org/, http://www.madeinflorida.org/, MIF Blogspot, PBWIKI and on FB page.

Sample video posted on CareerME Website