Becky Degendorfer
Department: Workforce
Tell us about your background.
I’ve spent the last 20+ years in Human Resources working in the manufacturing and technology sectors, leading, and supporting union, non-union, and international organizations
Share about your work at Mustad.
Mustad is the largest manufacturer and seller of hoof care products and has been in business over 190 years. It is higher tech than one might imagine. Products are manufactured using robots with skilled operators and a crew of machinists, engineers, and maintenance techs, with an accomplished distribution crew using sophisticated inventory software to keep track of it all. My work at Mustad has centered around elevating and empowering our employees, digital transformation that provides better transparency, autonomy, and efficiency, implementing learning and development initiatives, and improving communication. These initiatives are on both a local and global scale.
What are some of the biggest workforce challenges facing employers in the manufacturing industry at this time?
I think one of the biggest challenges, aside from low unemployment that all employers face, is the perception that working in manufacturing is “less-than” and doesn’t pay well, provide good benefits, or holiday pay. First, every job performed at excellence is worthy of respect, and manufacturing absolutely pays well, provides good benefits and holiday pay! In the metro region, according to DEED, the average annual wage for jobs in Manufacturing is 13.1% higher than the average annual wage for the total of all industries. Almost everything we use in everyday life is manufactured. Our computers, our cars, the medical instruments used when we go to the doctor's office, to the utensils we cook with, and even that retainer that your teenager keeps losing! Without manufacturing, we don’t have medical devices or technology. We need to work together to change the narrative and elevate both the people and the industry that provide all of us so much.
Where do you see the most opportunities for individuals looking to start a career in manufacturing?
Opportunities abound! Many manufacturers will train people for the job and no previous experience is needed, just the willingness to learn! Often, the roles have the word “operator” or “assembler” in them and a quick search of Indeed will bring up quite a variety of opportunities. If an individual was interested obtaining a technical degree, there are several great avenues. I’ve seen demand continue to grow over the last decade for CNC Machinists and/or Programmers, as well as Industrial Mechanics & Maintenance Technologists. Finally, manufacturers also need the full spectrum of business professionals from sales, finance and HR to customer service, planners and more.
