Manufacturing Month Connects Greater San Antonio Students with Local Careers

During Manufacturing Month, 85 students from across Greater San Antonio stepped inside local manufacturing facilities to see how the industry works, meet the people behind it and explore career opportunities they may not have considered before.

Through employer visits, students connected with companies across the region, including Cox Manufacturing, Toyota, International Motors, Avanzar and Toyotetsu San Antonio.

Organized through SA WORX, greater:SATX's workforce development program, the activities brought students and employers together for firsthand career exploration. With support from Junior Achievement of South Texas, the effort helped connect classroom learning with the skills, people and opportunities found in local industries.

Introducing students to manufacturing careers at Toyota Texas

A highlight of the month was Toyota Texas hosting two job shadow experiences for local students.

The visits gave students an opportunity to explore advanced manufacturing through activities designed to make career pathways more tangible. Students learned about Toyota's career opportunities and employment pathways, took part in interactive manufacturing and STEM activities, and heard directly from Toyota Texas professionals during a Lunch & Learn about their career journeys and advice.

The experiences also introduced students to the expectations of a manufacturing workplace through a safety briefing before a guided tour of the Toyota Texas plant. There, students observed advanced manufacturing processes and learned more about the people and skills involved in modern production environments.

By opening its doors and bringing employees into the conversation, the Toyota Texas team members helped students see the range of opportunities available in manufacturing and how interests in science, technology, engineering and problem-solving can translate into careers.

Seeing the work behind manufacturing

The Toyota Texas job shadows were part of a broader series of employer experiences throughout October. At Toyotetsu Texas, for example, students from Edgewood ISD's John F. Kennedy High School toured the facility, explored career opportunities and participated in a hands-on manufacturing simulation.

During the simulation, students worked in teams to build and manage paper-airplane assembly lines, taking on responsibilities in leadership, design, production and quality control. The activity put communication, teamwork, problem-solving and continuous improvement into practice while giving students a practical look at how different roles contribute to a manufacturing operation.

“Job shadowing experiences like these give students an opportunity to step outside the classroom, see advanced manufacturing in action and discover career possibilities they may have never considered,” said Leslie Cantu, vice president of administration at Toyotetsu Texas, Inc. “We hope students leave with a better understanding of the high-skilled, rewarding careers available right here in our community.”

Across the employer experiences, students had opportunities to learn about careers spanning production, engineering, quality assurance, logistics, operations and other areas of business. These experiences help broaden students' understanding of manufacturing beyond the production floor and show the variety of paths available within the industry.

Building connections between students and employers

The value of these experiences extends beyond a single visit. Connecting students with local employers early gives them a better understanding of the opportunities available in Greater San Antonio and the education and skills that can help them get there.

“Building a strong workforce starts with helping students see what's possible right here in Greater San Antonio. When we connect students with local employers and give them firsthand exposure to careers in industries like advanced manufacturing, they can begin to understand the skills, education and opportunities that can shape their futures. Those connections also help employers build awareness of the next generation of talent right here in our region,” said Joshua Scott, senior vice president of talent and workforce at greater:SATX.

That connection between today's students and tomorrow's workforce is central to SA WORX's work bringing employers, educators and students together.

October's workforce activities also included a focus on cybersecurity. During Cybersecurity Awareness Month, CAST Tech hosted a career panel featuring professionals from UTSA, Accenture Federal Services and General Dynamics.

The workforce team also contributed to the Future Ready Youth Summit, hosted in collaboration with the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology (SAMSAT) and the Intercultural Development Research Association (IDRA). greater:SATX delivered a career readiness session for an audience of approximately 1,000 middle and high school students. The session gave students an opportunity to explore career possibilities and consider the skills and preparation needed for their futures.

Together, these October activities expanded students' exposure to career opportunities across manufacturing, cybersecurity and other fields, with the workforce team directly engaging up to 120 students through its manufacturing and cybersecurity activities.

Through partnerships with employers, schools and organizations like Junior Achievement of South Texas, greater:SATX is helping students see the career possibilities available across Greater San Antonio and giving them more opportunities to explore the paths that can lead there.