Women and immigrants are unqualified resources. | So Good News

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During a production day visit to Windsor’s Anchor Danly factory, there was no hesitation when Udayasree Kurapatt was invited to operate a metal cutting machine or take out a welder’s torch.

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It looks a bit like a home in India where his family owns a logging business.

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“I know how to operate cutting machinery,” says Kurapatt. “I like productions that try to cut the perfect piece. I’m really pleased that I did this.”

Kurapatt was particularly interested in how the company was using technology across their operations.

Anchor Danly admitted that he was more technically advanced than his family’s business.

“We used to do a lot of things by hand, but everything here is built by computer,” says Kurapatt. “It makes the job more interesting and easier.

“My education is a computer science degree, so I like that.”

Kurapatt was part of a team from Windsor’s Women’s Enterprise Skills Training that toured the facility.

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A target group that will become increasingly important to the local manufacturing sector, where demand for talent will increase rapidly as investment flows into the Windsor region.

“We’re creating reminders for our future generations,” said Janette Emerson, Anchor Danly’s director of human resources.

“We want to make sure they understand that there are many rewarding careers in manufacturing.

“Electric cars are a booming industry. There are entry level opportunities and if you are motivated you can move up the company.

“For example, our president started as a blanchard grinder.

To solve the shortage of skilled workers; More than 700 students and women are expected to attend as part of a day set to engage with the workforce of the future and illustrate what it’s really like to be in the region’s largest sector of the economy.

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According to Statistics Canada, manufacturing in the region has 33,500 jobs, or 20.3% of the 165,300 by August 2022.

Deepthy Prakash, another member of the WEST team, illustrated the depth of talent that must be instilled among women and immigrants.

A recent move to Windsor, Prakash is an electrical and biomedical engineer.

Prakash said, “I really liked the welding part. “I tried it and I was pretty good at it.”

Prakash said she found the plant tour interesting. The many different aspects of manufacturing made her curious enough to consider working in areas related to her training.

Prakash said the family also runs manufacturing with her husband, who now works at Chrysler.

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“I think so,” Prakash said of working in manufacturing. “I’m looking for a job after staying here for six months.”

Cavalier Tool and Manufacturing President Brian Bendig said the stakes are high for local manufacturers when it comes to hiring employees.

Bendig had 300 students on Friday at Cavalier’s expanded Windsor headquarters.

“I think one of the reasons we’re (in the manufacturing sector) out of whack is that no one really knows what we’re doing,” Bendig said.

“Production Day is an opportunity to open their eyes to experiences they may not have seen.

“Can production be sexy? I think it can. They’re doing some really interesting stuff on $1 million equipment.”

Tim Galbraith, Cavalier’s sales manager, said the company had to lay off workers due to a lack of staff. He admits that companies cannot automatically work themselves out of the problem.

“You can build more buildings and buy more automation, but without people, it won’t work,” Galbraith said.

“We need smart people to run this automation.

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