Lifelong Advantages of a Career in Manufacturing

By Dan O’Brien, Plant Lead, Clyde Operations, Whirlpool Corporation

Another great National Manufacturing Month is nearly behind us, and as Whirlpool Corporation wraps up a month-long celebration of our manufacturing communities and our next generation of manufacturers, I think about how manufacturing has transformed since I began working in the industry 27 years ago.

The speed at which manufacturing technology, people development and community stewardship has advanced is amazing. And now more than ever, manufacturing offers more career growth for anyone looking to succeed.

“Once a best-kept secret, manufacturing careers are now highly sought after and offer career advantages not easily found elsewhere.”

When I graduated from the University of Illinois in 1992 with a degree in Industrial Engineering, a manufacturing career seemed like a natural fit. My dad was a pipefitter and my soon-to-be father-in-law was an electrician — so I had a healthy respect for the trades. I’m sure there were people who questioned my career decision then — those were challenging times in American manufacturing — and, a lot of my friends were going for trendy jobs in big cities. But,for me, there was something about manufacturing’s drive toward excellence that hooked me. Looking back, it must’ve been the rigor. As a college wrestler, I felt most at home with challenge, intensity, a winning mindset and teamwork — all things manufacturing offered then and offers to an even greater extent now. 

Once a best-kept secret, manufacturing careers are now highly sought after and offer career advantages not easily found elsewhere. There are as many opportunities as you’re willing to explore. It’s true, manufacturing offers top positions for top talent.

You might start your career working on an assembly line or through a skilled trades apprenticeship or after you finish your college degree. Whichever path you choose, know that you can advance through manufacturing leadership, STEM, business, human resources and training, and more. Your career advantage? Whirlpool invests in our people through tuition reimbursement.

“You’ll work in a bright, state-of-the-art environments located in thriving, connected communities.”

You’ll work every day with teams that value empowering a highly-trained, diverse workforce. You’ll work in a bright, state-of-the-art environments located in thriving, connected communities — in short, a culture that invests in our people, our facilities and our communities. Focused methodologies tap into creative talents and unique perspectives to troubleshoot and suggest better ways of doing things. Your career advantage? Whirlpool invests in continuous improvement.

“My career choice in manufacturing is one I’ve never had to wrestle with.”

I couldn’t have known all of this when I began my own career. But I do know I had one thing right — manufacturing provides me the advantage of the challenge, intensity, winning mindset and teamwork I was looking for. My career choice in manufacturing is one I’ve never had to wrestle with. So, as our month-long celebration comes to an official end — manufacturers and those who choose to join us will continue to celebrate these unmatched opportunities each and every day ahead.