Allegion Aims to Bridge Manufacturing Skills Gap

Over the next decade, some 4.6 million manufacturing jobs will likely be needed. About 2.4 million of those are expected to go unfilled due to the skills gap, based on a study by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute in Washington D.C. Ireland-based Allegion plc, which has operations in the Indianapolis area, says it is working to inspire the next generation of manufacturing workers. 

In Indianapolis, Allegion employs about 650 people who produce exit devices and security hardware for the commercial and residential markets.

Manufacturing companies use the month of October to highlight the industry, particularly to young people to show the benefits of manufacturing careers. Allegion Vice President of Global Operations and Integrated Supply Chain Cindy Farrer says the Manufacturing Day events in October is part of an effort to be on the forefront to inspire new manufacturing employees and close the skills gap.

“I can tell you across our U.S. operations and even our global operations, it’s difficult to find enough employees to find our roles,” said Farrer. “As I speak to my peer companies and supply base, they’re facing the same thing. The issue is that there’s more job growth in manufacturing than there are new entries into the manufacturing field.”

Farrer says the manufacturing industry isn’t just important to the economy, especially in Indiana, but also for national security.

“This is a good time to highlight that because it’s really front and center with what we’ve all gone through and are going through with the global pandemic. I think we’ve all heard the news reports of manufacturing operations converting their operations very quickly to be able to produce urgent PPE, urgent supplies.”

Farrer cites Allegion’s facility in Cincinnati, which expedited the production of steel doors and frames for COVID test labs, as well as the General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) facility in Kokomo, which pivoted to making critical care ventilators.