To celebrate National Manufacturing Day, The Raymond Corporation hosted more than 250 students at its headquarters in Greene, New York, on October 5, 2017. Students in grades 10 to 12, from 20 school districts in the Southern Tier of New York state, experienced the future of manufacturing with exposure to the Industry 4.0 concepts Raymond has implemented.

“Manufacturing today is so much more than a manual labor position. It goes beyond physical labor to another side of manufacturing that is based in the digital supply chain,” says Rick Harrington, senior vice president of operations at Raymond. “With the insurgence of Industry 4.0, manufacturing employees are working in a more digital and data-driven environment that includes advanced technologies that will not only change the way something is manufactured but also create a more connected organization.”

Raymond’s Manufacturing Day event featured a manufacturing floor tour, which gave a firsthand look at how Industry 4.0 is evolving manufacturing and engineering. Students also participated in interactive workshops that detailed 3-D printing, Bluetooth robots and virtual reality. One station showcased the Toyota Production System (TPS), educating students on how to take these principles that Raymond utilizes on the manufacturing floor and apply them to their daily lives.

Students heard from Harrington, along with other Raymond associates, who shared insights into their careers at Raymond and the career paths that got them to the company. From managing a welding robot to working with lithium-ion batteries, roles ranged from engineering to manufacturing — and beyond.