Approximately 150 high school students and adult learners visited AWFS member company DBS (Drawer Box Specialties) in Orange, California on Thursday, November 4 for their MFG Day (Manufacturing Day) event. The students came from nearby high schools in the Anaheim Union High School District and from the Buena Park High School “Advanced Robotics and Mechatronics” program.
Students build a mini dovetailed drawer box at the DBS MFG Day event.
DBS led tours for the students through their manufacturing facility where they saw drawer box and cabinet component construction. This incorporated many types of industrial-level machinery and equipment, including various CNC machines, edge-banders, the finishing room, and a new robotic material handling system. “This was a great opportunity for our students to see a manufacturing facility in action,” said Maroun Nehme, lead instructor for the robotics and mechatronics program. “When they are able to see what the manufacturing process looks like in the real world and the related career options, it significantly enhances what they learn in the classroom.”
DBS also provided an interactive project: the students assembled a small CNC’d dovetail drawer box that they were able to take home. Adam Kessler and Amy Bartz from AWFS/SWM and Karl Frey from Colonial Saw supported the DBS staff in facilitating the project.
AWFS staff distributed hats and other items to the students at the DBS MFG Day event.
Meanwhile, local industry vendors talked with students in a designated “expo” area, including John Paine from Blum, Martin Gibbens and Rey Salas from Peterman Lumber, Mike Lind from Complete Cutting Solutions, and staff from AWFS. Students received goodies from the vendors including t-shirts, hats, pens, highlighters, tape measures, and notebooks. DBS also had a booth with employment information and several students picked up applications after their tour. A gourmet food truck lunch of burgers and fries was generously provided by DBS for all attendees. “We are so excited to offer a MFG Day event and very pleased with the outcome,” said Jim Irving, General Manager at DBS. “These types of events are critical for our industry to showcase companies and career opportunities for students.”
To learn more about SWM education events and how to get involved, please contact Adam Kessler adam@awfs.org