connecting manufacturers with
innovative workforce solutions.

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header MFGWorks home page

connecting manufacturers with innovative workforce solutions.

See how MFG Works!

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How can we create a world-class, competitive, and profitable manufacturing company?|How do I attract the right people for the right positions?|How can I stay ahead of the hiring curve?|How can we establish a diverse culture where equity and inclusion are central?|How can we retain the employees in which we invest?|How can we adjust our work environment to create the best atmosphere for our employees?|What are employees seeking out of employment, beyond a paycheck?

How can we create a world-class, competitive, and profitable manufacturing company?|How do I attract the right people for the right positions?|How can I stay ahead of the hiring curve?|How can we establish a diverse culture where equity and inclusion are central?|How can we retain the employees in which we invest?|How can we adjust our work environment to create the best atmosphere for our employees?|What are employees seeking out of employment, beyond a paycheck?

A strong workforce is essential for the success of manufacturing as it forms the backbone of the industry. A skilled and dedicated workforce ensures that production processes run smoothly, leading to increased efficiency and productivity. According to data from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, in 2019, there were over 70,000 job openings in the manufacturing industry, but only about 30,000 job seekers. This significant shortage of workers has resulted in increased competition for available talent and has led many manufacturers to struggle to find and retain the skilled workers they need.

For these reasons, Catalyst Connection along with other regional stakeholders has developed the MFG Works Summit to elevate promising practices and resources for attendees with workforce responsibilities.

We invite regional manufacturers, educators, and partners to join us in this highly engaged program to understand these challenges and much more. Together, we can nurture a stronger manufacturing industry that is founded in a strong workforce.

See How MFG Works!

looking back

2024 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: CHRIS CZARNIK

winning the war for talent.

Chris Czarnik (Zarr-Nick) has spent the last 20 years figuring out why people go to and leave organizations. As one of the most accomplished career coaches in the country, he has helped thousands of job seekers figure out how to identify organizations and jobs that are a great fit for them. As one CEO said, “If you are fishing for talent…he just spent the last 17 years with the fish!”

LOOKING BACK

2024 Keynote Speaker: Chris Czarnik

Chris Czarnik (Zarr-Nick) has spent the last 20 years figuring out why people go to and leave organizations. As one of the most accomplished career coaches in the country, he has helped thousands of job seekers figure out how to identify organizations and jobs that are a great fit for them. As one CEO said, “If you are fishing for talent…he just spent the last 17 years with the fish!”

Learn more.

topics include…

Apprenticeships and Pre-Apprenticeships | Candidate Experience and On-boarding Best Practices | Changes in Workplace Environment | Post-Secondary Education | DEIA | Employer Branding | Hiring Best Practices | Hiring Those with Barriers | K-12 Programs | Innovative Learning and Coaching Strategies | New Training Approaches

what they’re
saying

The summit really put a focus on what we are trying to as educators...create the pipeline of talent to be successful in the workforce. This event allowed me to reflect on what we are offering our students and how to align them with the ways to obtain the necessary skills to be successful in this region. The event was well planned out and allowed for everything to learn from one another. Keep up the great work!|Listening to all speakers to begin to broaden our horizons as we develop a dynamic workforce! Great work by all involved!!|We appreciated the quality of networking and speakers at the event.|Overall it was a great experience for me not knowing what it should be I was very happy with everything|Excellent event. You would never know this was the inaugural summit, it was so well planned and executed. I'm looking forward to seeing how the work the US Navy has asked my company to do in the Western PA region can learn from and support the amazing work that is being done through Catalyst Connection.|Great lineup of speakers, the media was spot on no issues around that. The conference was run very efficiently so people stayed engaged. I thought it was really well done from the speaker/attendee point of you. I think the piece I was disappointed in was that at lunchtime we weren’t sitting at large round tables so that you could at least exchange cards and information with 8 to 12 people from the conference. It’s always challenging to just try to mill around and find people especially without an attendee list ahead of time.|Great opportunity for in-person networking|Let’s do this more often than once per year!|Love it - one of best conferences I have attended.|This was terrific! Would love to bring this to Fayette County or virtually to reach more employers.|The content was great, very useful information. Really liked the panel discussion.|I liked the number of speakers and ability to learn about all of the opportunities. Thanks for allowing us at LifesWork to participate.

2024 supporters