The Manufacturing industry is very much misunderstood thanks to age old stereotypes and Chinese whispers. Opinions that are as old as me have been floating around for so long that they are now treated as gospel. So what myths are out there and what is the truth?
Let’s start with a very common misconception. Manufacturing is a dirty business for the less academic people out there. This is wrong on so many levels, yes, some elements of manufacturing can be a dirty business, especially on the production floor. This opinion seems to derive from days gone by when the workshop was a generally filthy place to be. This is a far cry from the modern manufacturing environments we see today. Health & Safety laws as well as Environmental laws help to ensure that workers are protected from the ‘filth’. Also, not all aspects of manufacturing are constrained to the production floor, many roles are office based which, as with any office, is generally a clean place to work.
The second point of this myth believes that only the less academic people partake in a manufacturing career. This has possibly been perpetuated by teachers telling kids they’ll end up in a factory if they don’t buckle down and study or from the general image of factory workers on low paid wages doing low skilled jobs.
People get into manufacturing in different ways, some study, some become apprentices and some do a bit of both. Many people in the Manufacturing and Engineering industries are actually highly skilled, qualified individuals. Many of the more menial, low skilled jobs from which this myth was born have become automated, or will more than likely be automated in the future. With advances in automation and technology in general, this industry has an increasing need for highly-skilled individuals.
Linking in with this misconception is the pay aspect of the industry. Many people believe it is a poorly paid job and again, I believe this stems from the belief that it is a low skilled job and as such, wouldn’t be paid well. The reality however is much different. Engineering graduates now earn around £5,000 a year more than other UK graduates. Average wages also sit higher than the national UK average too meaning that a job in this industry actually pays well.
Another myth that is slowly being shaken off is that Manufacturing & Engineering is just for ‘the boys’. This is completely untrue as equal opportunities are provided by employers for both men and women alike. Many companies are now actively encouraging women into the sector. Admittedly the sector is very male dominated at the moment but the balance is shifting year on year and the old school attitude of ‘This is a job for real men’ is dying out. Part of the problem here is a distinct lack of female role models but that’s not to say there aren’t any, they just don’t get the publicity that their male counterparts do. Another issue that perpetuates this myth is the way the industry is presented and perceived by people. Many steps are now being taken to help remind everyone that it doesn’t matter what sex you are, both men and women can make an equal contribution to the industry.
The last general myth we’re going to look at is that Manufacturing is a dying industry and not that important to the economy. This is wrong. The Manufacturing Industry directly employs approximately 3 million people and accounts for about 45% of our exports. We are the ninth biggest industrial nation and manufacturing makes up about 10% of our GVA. All in all, the UK Manufacturing industry contributes about £6.7 trillion to the global economy.
So there you have it, the rumours and misinformation that has been floating around all these years is just that…. Rumours. The reality is that the manufacturing industry is as important today as it was in its 1970’s heyday. The areas in which manufacturing has branched into and now covers is exciting, fast paced and world leading. We might not be one of the biggest industrial nation but we are, without a doubt, one of the world’s best.
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