COMING UP! Breakfast with DRMA (3/5), DBJ's 2025 Manufacturing Forum in partnership with DRMA (3/20), and Workforce/HR Meet Up (3/25)! Be sure to scroll down to the Events section to find out more.

Are you responsible for your company’s manufacturing operation(s)? Attend our next Operations Meet Up to ask questions, get advice, and share experiences with fellow members on 4/9 at Dayton Phoenix Group. More information here.

Manufacturers: Are you looking for entry-level manufacturing workers? We have a program where we recruit, screen, and train job seekers for these positions through our WorkAdvance Program. We have candidates ready for hire! Contact Susan today!

Don’t miss these upcoming workshops, exclusively for DRMA member companies. Contact Shay for more information and to register.

• Supervisory Excellence - Unlock your employees’ leadership potential with practical insights that are vital for excelling in a supervisory role. $1,500 for 6 in-person sessions and a talent summit. More information here. 
• Lean Manufacturing - Participants learn how to implement lean concepts and techniques to make systematic, lasting improvements within their operations. Presented by the Workforce Division of Sinclair College. $225 per session. More information here. Workshop #1 moved to 3/20 and space is still available!
• GD&T - Learn how to read and interpret engineering drawings and better understand the ASME Y14.5 GD&T standard. Presented by the Workforce Division of Sinclair College. $250 for two 3-hour sessions. More information here.
• NEW for 2025! Problem-Solving Skills - Participants will gain skills and knowledge to effectively solve problems by systematically identifying root causes and applying corrective actions (think “Six Sigma lite”). Presented by the Workforce Division of Sinclair College. $1,100 for 5 in-person sessions. More information here.

Looking to get more engaged with DRMA? Do you want to learn more about all that DRMA does and how your business can benefit? Attend the next DRMA 101 and get an overview on all things DRMA! Contact Shay to learn more and reserve your spot.

Safety Alert! Check out this month's tips from our workers comp program administrator, Sedgwick, and other partners:

• The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation is merging the Drug Free Safety and Substance Use Recovery programs into a new, streamlined program called Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Program (SUPR). Read more on the new program here.
• Don’t miss the 2025 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, a free event with insightful sessions, interactive exhibits and networking opportunities designed to elevate your safety knowledge and practices, 4/16 - 18 in Columbus. Learn more and register today!

Members receive a 20% discount on OSHA training courses! Contact Shay for the discount code. Learn more at midamericaosha.org.

Manufacturers! Are you looking for sources to get your light assembly work done? DRMA is excited to partner with SOCHE and TAC to bring you a new option for kit building and light assembly! They are working together to educate high school students with developmental disabilities on manufacturing careers. Your company can work with SOCHE/TAC to bring light assembly tasks into local high schools to be executed by these students. Your company can tap into a new workforce while local high school students perform your manufacturing work and learn about occupational options for post-graduation. AND SOCHE will pay for at least 50% of the student’s wages! Send SOCHE an email at soche@soche.org to learn more about participating in the Bridging Abilities program.

THANK YOU Kevin Barker, Senior Member! Kevin volunteers at our career events and participates in our Speakers Bureau to talk to students about great careers in manufacturing. DRMA appreciates and thanks Kevin for his commitment to our organization and to the Dayton Region manufacturing industry as a whole.

Member exclusive! WorkAdvance, a proven initiative to supplement your recruitment strategies, will bring you quality candidates to fill your manufacturing entry-level positions. Candidates are ready now to interview! Contact Susan to learn more.

Join us for the Workforce/HR Meet Up on 3/25, 11 - 12 p.m., virtual! Come to this Meet Up to hear an overview from Jobs for the Future on the value of registered apprentice programs. Register here.

Tired of not being able to find talent? Build your pipeline of future workers by hosting student tours. We’re doing MFG Day year-round. . . host tours on any day that works for you and your school partners! Learn more here. If you’ve recently hosted a tour, please let us know so we can promote your outreach to students! Email Amy today.

Your membership can save you $$ while upskilling your workforce! Take advantage of DRMA’s partnership with Tooling U-SME to receive 15% off hundreds of training courses just for being a DRMA member. Interested? Contact Amy.

Want $$ to offset your training cost for tech credentials? Funding is available thru TechCred, a program that reimburses employers for employee training up to $2,000 per industry-recognized credential and up to $30,000 per company each application round! The next application round is open! Contact a DRMA education partner now – they can help you apply! Learn more here.

Offering students part-time paid internships provides you a risk-free way to evaluate potential employees. In fact, 70% of interns convert to permanent employees! DRMA collaborates with SOCHE who will do the heavy lifting and help you get a program in place. NOW is the time to get started so that you have first dibs on students for summer jobs. Contact Amy to get started.

Help grow your future workforce by purchasing a sponsorship for student giveaways! We are preparing for our spring career outreach events, and we need your help. Your sponsorship of $500 will help us cover the costs of things like lanyards, stickers, dog tags, and wood gliders (all items that students love to get!) and will include your organization’s name. Contact Kara for more info.

DRMA members can now receive a 10% discount on first-time program attendance for OSU’s Total Productive Maintenance Certification program. The discount also extends to other topic-based programs. Enter code DRMA10 to receive the discount. Questions? Visit their website or schedule a quick call with a member of their team.

Supplement your recruiting strategy by attending the following career fairs and events:

• Junior Achievement Inspire to Hire event at Dayton Convention Center, 3/18. Register here.
• Career Fair at West Carrolton High School, 3/18. Contact Melissa Fields for details.
• Reverse Career Fair at The Youth Resource Center (Dayton) 3/26. Contact Sylvie.Stewart@caresource.com for details.
• Hiring Fair at Greene County Career Center, 4/2. Contact rmack@greeneccc.com for details.
• Job Fair at Kettering Fairmont High School, 4/3. Register here.

3/5, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Breakfast with DRMA: Exploring the 2025 Economy with the Fed, MLA Companies, Springboro. Presented by MLA Companies, join us as the Fed pinpoints the facts and provides insights into the dynamics that may affect you, your employees, and your business in 2025! Event is SOLD OUT! To be added to the wait list, please contact Susan. 

3/20, 7:30 - 9:30 a.m., DBJ's 2025 Manufacturing Forum in partnership with DRMA, Sinclair College, Dayton. DRMA members are encouraged to attend this new event featuring insightful presentations and a panel discussion of subject matter experts. DRMA members receive a discounted price to attend! Click here to register, and use promo code dbjDRMAflashsale to receive $15 off the ticket price.

4/10, 5 - 7 p.m., Business and Bourbon, Moraine Country Club, Kettering. Presented by Lincoln Electric, this classy networking event benefits the DRMA Foundation. Register here. Spots filling up quickly!

5/6, 4 - 6 p.m., Shoptalk: Celebrating Workforce Successes, United Grinding North America, Miamisburg. Registration open! Join us in celebration of DRMA’s workforce initiatives! Networking and drinks will follow a short presentation and member awards. Elevate your support with a sponsorship – contact Amy for more information. Register here!

6/2, 12:30 - 7 p.m., DRMA Summer Golf Outing, Troy Country Club, Troy. Presented by Greenpoint Metals, the format is play your own ball with a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. 92 spots available. Proceeds go to the DRMA Foundation and its efforts to develop and retain a skilled workforce for the region’s manufacturing industry. Registration opens soon! Watch your email for registration forms coming on 3/31! More details here.



Meet-Ups - FREE and for members only. Join the conversation!

• 3/25, 11 - 12 p.m., Workforce/HR, virtual. Register here.
• 4/9, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Manufacturing Operations, Dayton-Phoenix Group, Dayton. Register here.

DRMA 101 - Whether you are a new member or a seasoned member, kickstart your membership ROI and learn what DRMA does to help you strengthen your business. Contact Shay to sign up!

• 3/27, 4 - 5 p.m., Back to Business I.T., Beavercreek (drinks/snacks provided).
• 4/23, 12:30 - 1:30 p.m., Waibel Energy Solutions, Vandalia (lunch provided).

For more information on any of our events, visit our website.

Save the Date - Upcoming DRMA Events

8/20 Economic Update - Sinclair Conference Center

9/29 Fall Golf Outing - Miami Valley Country Club

10/16 Trap Shoot - Wright Patt Rod and Golf Club

12/3 Annual Meeting - NCR Country Club

Community Events

• 3/5, 8:45 a.m. - 5:45 p.m., Technology First's Ohio Information Security Conference, Dayton. More information/registration here.
• 3/20, 8 - 9 a.m., Miami Valley Safety Council Breakfast, Dayton. More information/registration here. 
• 4/16-18, Ohio Bureau of Worker's Compensation, 2025 Ohio Safety Congress & Expo, Columbus. More information/registration here. 

Struggling to fill open positions? Consider participating in the WorkAdvance program, which is designed to recruit, screen, and train people from our untapped workforce to fill entry-level manufacturing positions. We have candidates ready to interview right now! Email me to learn more. 

Want to support DRMA and get your name out in front of other members? Become a sponsor at our Summer Golf Outing on 6/2! Contact Susan to learn about our various sponsorship opportunities! 

Attention Manufacturer members: Click here to see manufacturing-pertinent resumes I have received.

Congratulations to DRMA Member, Morris Bean & Company for being featured on the cover of Casting Source magazine for their largest turbine casting to date.

Welcome new DRMA members:

• Buckeye Metal Finishing
• Digilube Systems
• ProCareRx
• Thaler Machine Company, LLC