There is a boat on a trailer on U.S. 1 this morning. Good odds it was built in Edgewater, and the person who built it lives in Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach or Oak Hill.
Since the inaugural event, Manufacturing Day has continued to grow and evolve into a month of celebrating manufacturers and the role they play in our communities and in careers. Manufacturers throughout the country open their doors to introduce everyone to the work and benefits of manufacturing.
Here in Southeast Volusia, the Southeast Volusia Manufacturing and Technology Coalition works to connect local manufacturers with the people who will build their future workforce.
What manufacturing careers are available in Southeast Volusia?
Today, Southeast Volusia is home to hundreds of plants and shops for manufacturers such as Boston Whaler, Everglades Boats, Dougherty Manufacturing, American Aero Services and Custom Tube Products. The Coalition counts more than 400 and growing manufacturers across marine and boating, healthcare, aviation and aerospace, automotive, and laboratory and testing. From those plants, you can expect to find a variety of jobs including composite technicians, welders, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinists, aircraft mechanics, electricians, quality inspectors and maintenance technicians.
In 2023, more than 500 of the region’s manufacturing companies were counted in Volusia and Flagler counties; the industry employed over 12,000 people and contributed over $1.3 billion to the economy of the two counties. The average wage was $61,354, an industry average across all experience levels rather than a starting wage.
Three ways in
Most of these jobs do not require a four-year degree. There are plenty of paths you can take to learn how to build things, ranging from no-commitment plant tours to full-fledged certificate programs. If you’re interested in manufacturing work, consider these three to get you on your way.
Boatbuilding, straight from the plant
Boatbuilding is what they do best in Edgewater. The builders there train composite and assembly workers on the job, and some entry-level positions come with training and no experience requirement. While getting certified isn’t necessary for every plant job, you owe it to yourself to learn about the equipment, procedures, and techniques that make for a safe workday. Start at the career pages for Boston Whaler, Everglades and Edgewater Power Boats.
Welding and machining, through Daytona State
Daytona State College’s Advanced Technology College offers a variety of certificate programs, welding and CNC machining among them. Welding courses will often provide the equipment you need to learn. The certificates offer a full-time schedule with program lengths ranging from two semesters for CNC to about 51 weeks for welding. There are also several certificate tracks that you can attend as well as Florida’s first chapter of Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME), where students split the week between classes and paid work at a sponsoring manufacturer. If you’re planning on starting a certificate in the near future, use the next couple of weeks to decide what you want in a career and what your options are.
Aircraft mechanic, through Epic
At Epic Flight Academy’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved aircraft mechanic school in New Smyrna Beach, the hours of instruction are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with an hour for lunch. Epic puts the rest this way: “Each course is approximately 3 to 4 months in length, so the entire aircraft mechanic program takes approximately 15 months to complete.” Graduates prepare for the FAA airframe and powerplant exams, then can pursue openings at shops like American Aero Services or in the Space Coast supplier base a half hour south.
Developing a relationship with a counselor at CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia is a great way to make sure you’ll get the most out of your training. Procedures and qualifications vary, but typically, all job seekers need to do to start is visit a career center and complete some paperwork (often available online).
What to do this month
Students and parents
Ask your school whether a plant visit or a guest speaker from a local manufacturer is planned for next year.
Job seekers
Find out if you’re eligible. Pick one of the three pathways above, then call CareerSource about funding for approved programs, which is not guaranteed.
Employers
October is a great time to open the doors, reflect on the year and look toward the future. It’s also one of the best times to give back to the community. If your plant has not hosted students this month, the Southeast Volusia Manufacturing and Technology Coalition can connect you with a school; a two-hour tour costs an afternoon and can return a hire who grew up ten minutes away.
Why ten minutes matters
In October 2018, Boston Whaler sent two executives to talk with students at Burns Science and Technology Charter School in Oak Hill. “Giving back to students in our area, showing the importance of proper measurement and career opportunities at Boston Whaler, and that Boston Whaler Boats are made less than 10 minutes from their school, was a great message to share with our potential workforce of the future,” said Nate Abdalian, who grew up in Volusia County.
With a job close to home, you also can develop a relationship with the plant and the people in it that will last you for years. A welder at a boat plant can move to an aviation shop, with the right training, without moving house. “We have the space, workforce, and city and county governments that understand and are pro-industry and pro-manufacturing,” says Bliss Jamison, president of the Southeast Volusia Manufacturing and Technology Coalition.
Visit a plant this month and you’ll be glad you did, and you will be helping build the workforce that keeps these plants here. For more helpful information, visit sevolusia.com.