Carey Manufacturing Opens Doors for NEBA Students

Cromwell-based Carey Manufacturing opened its doors Nov. 1 to five students from New England Business Associates, an organization that provides employment opportunities to people with disabilities.

The tour, in collaboration with CBIA affiliate CONNSTEP and the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Program, showed various aspects of manufacturing ranging from quality assurance, to product refinement, and even a hands-on demonstration of metal bending.

The tour was the second with NEBA students, and one of many Carey Manufacturing has done for college and high school students, director of quality and external relations Alison Carey-Lynch said.

Carey Manufacturing company hosts at least one tour a month for students, and Carey-Lynch said the company will “say yes to everything.”

She added that the tours are meant for “anybody who is interested in learning more about manufacturing or would like the opportunity to see what manufacturers really do.”

Carey-Lynch also said the tour is about giving students the opportunity to see all aspects of working in manufacturing, not just print design.

“People can come through and touch, and bend, and get a real sense of it,” she said. “We can do it, so why not?”

Reimagining Manufacturing

Carey-Lynch said there is a stigma about manufacturing as being dark, dirty, and boring, which drives people away.

But through these tours, she wants to show it is actually “so creative, energetic, clean, and the people are great.”

“Manufacturing doesn’t have to be a dirty word,” added vice president of operations Jim Peck.

The tours highlight that manufacturing is “so creative, energetic, clean, and the people are great.”

The tours also show students there are other paths than going to college.

“Education is great. Education in any form you get it is great,” Carey-Lynch said. 

“But people shouldn’t feel less than because they can’t or don’t have the means to go to college.”

Peck said it is not bad to have a degree, but “you don’t need to spend $80,000 to learn to become a machinist.”

Culture

The tour also showed students how strong the culture is at manufacturing facilities.

Peck said being flexible with employees builds loyalty and commitment to the company.

“We’re not a 9-5 shop, and we’re flexible when you’re not a 9-5 person,” he said.

“We’re not a 9-5 shop, and we’re flexible when you’re not a 9-5 person.”

Carey Manufacturing’s Jim Peck

“There’s a lot of people that have kids, have other commitments, have a life that needs to be led out of here.”

Carey-Lynch said the mission is to treat employees like people and friends.

“That’s why it’s so important to have these people in—to share our culture,” she said.

“Not many people have the lack of turnover that we do, so it’s kind of a special place.”