McWane Ductile part of Manufacturing Day for students

McWane Ductile hosted about 150 students from area high schools March 23 as part of a Manufacturing Day event. The activity was designed to educate students regarding career choices.

The students went on a tour of McWane’s facility and foundry so they can see what the process is from beginning to end.

“They will go through a presentation with human resources where we talk about the company, the business, benefits and opportunities here at McWane," said Kayla Mizer, inside sales rep. "The students are going to different manufacturing sites, but ours is kind of unique with it being a foundry. They will get to see the hot molten iron, which is 2,700 degrees, and there will be some sparks. They will get to see the casting machines, which cast the pipe. They will get to see lots of pipe being made. They will see it go into the oven and see the finished product."

Jolinda Kistler, human resources director at McWane, said, "We are hiring, and if students are interested in working here, we would like to give them an opportunity. We are one of the highest paid factories, and there are a lot of opportunities to work their way up from hourly to salary. We have skilled positions open as well. If there are students in the electrical program from the career center, we need skilled labor. There are a lot of opportunities."

Sydney Hadley also is with human resources at McWane.

"We are hiring and promoting McWane to these young students,” she said. “We saw some new recruits, and some of them have family that work here already.”

"It is definitely intimidating but definitely interesting," Ridgewood High School student Taven Dotson said. "We got to see how it all functions and how everything goes about. When you look at pipes, you don't really know how they are created. Seeing all these different processes is very interesting. I want to go to college and become an electrical engineer and get my degree, so a place like this is one of the No. 1 opportunities that I endeavor, especially like internship-wise and summers from college.

"I would definitely be interested in doing internships and even a lifelong career at a place like this. At McWane everyone was smiling. We would go into different sections. There was the painting section; they were working and yelling at each other and laughing. So even in all the heat in this environment, people still find a way to enjoy their work, and that was something I noticed."

Mobius Williams, who attends the Coshocton County Career Center, said, "I think it looks like a lot to do, but once you get the hang of it, I could do the job. I think it's a good job, and it pays very well, and I want to get a job ASAP. I want to be a park ranger or, if not, a veterinarian."

Halle Wright is a student at the career center.

"I thought it was pretty cool, and I think it is really hard work, but if it's something you are able to do — I don't think it's for everybody, definitely not for me, though — it is a good-paying job. I want to be a vet-tech after school," Wright said.