Ideal Technologies to Seek Qualified Candidates for Manufacturing Jobs

Ray Krakowski and Chris Krystek made it through the recession with new insight and experience into what it takes to make a successful manufacturing business. Now, they're hoping to build upon their success with new hires.

Ideal Technologies of Shelby Township, which is primarily a supplier of models and fixtures for the automotive industry, hosted Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel as part of a planned tour to spread the message of manufacturing successes on Friday morning.

Krystek, the chief operating officer, said that at one time soon after the recession hit, the corporation relied upon tax breaks as part of the state's Renaissance Zones program to stay afloat. Now, Ideal Technologies is expanding to break into the aerospace industry. He said that he will seek new hires later this year and into next.

"It’s been all uphill for the past 3-4 years. We’ve reinvested back into additional capital equipment, we’re working with the banks again and now, we’re almost at a point where we need to find employees and business," Krystek said.

Krakowski said that he was glad to see Hackel, in order to highlight the importance of publicizing manufacturing jobs as a viable career alternative to college. According to the county, the average hourly wage of the top-25 most common manufacturing positions are $22.69.

However, finding qualified candidates can be challenging. Although Ideal Technologies does offer some on-the-job training, Krakowski said, much of the available talent pool has either left the state or retired in recent years. Skilled trades education at the high school and college level is vital to keeping local manufacturing companies afloat, he added.

"In the high schools, it seems like they really push college out of high school. A lot of people aren’t college material. There a lot of good jobs here. It’s good paying, it’s local, and we do it well. Everyone here has houses and families," Krakowski said.

Hackel was optimistic, as he planned to tour several firms on Friday and saw firsthand how technological advances have changed products, productivity and the ability to be competitive within manufacturing. Hackel mentioned a grant recently received by Macomb Community College in order to train for manufacturing jobs as an example of the county working to educate prospective employees.

"Many people have an antiquated view of what it is like to work inside a manufacturing facility," Hackel said. "I can tell you firsthand that these are clean, safe and modern facilities where people take a lot of pride in making things."