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Manufacturing the next generation: The future of the industry seen through the eyes of a 10-year-old
By Sydney Brownlee
When my Dad asked me to write an article about my thoughts on manufacturing, I had no idea where to start. And I didn’t even know what the word manufacturing meant.
I know my Dad wanted me to do this so I could learn about manufacturing, because whenever I ask my Dad what he does, he says that he helps manufacturing companies save and make more money.
When I searched Google for pictures of manufacturing, a lot of gears and big factories came up. I asked my Dad if this is what manufacturing was and he said, “Not really, today.”
So I asked him to define manufacturing for me and he said that it’s coming up with an idea, making a product and selling it around the world — like on that television show How It’s Made. I find that show interesting because you get to see how things are made from the beginning.
I wanted to learn more about manufacturing, so I started to look at the labels on products at stores. I found out that most of the products in Canada are actually made in China.
“Why is that?” I asked my Dad.
“Because it is cheaper to manufacture products in China,” he replied.
I found this made sense because I think the products manufactured in Canada are better quality and therefore, they will cost more.
Like when my parents bought me a bike that was made in China, but it broke the year I got it. I remember my Dad in the garage trying to fix it and then he couldn’t buy the parts he needed. In the end, we had to recycle the bike.
Then my Dad bought me a bike that was manufactured in Canada, a Raleigh. I know it was made in Canada because it had a label on it with a Canadian flag. It’s lasted a couple of years and there hasn’t been one single problem with it.
I think that more products should be manufactured in Canada and that manufacturers should understand that kids like me will buy the products because they are made in our own country and will last longer.
Manufacturing is really important. Without it, we wouldn’t have food, cars, houses, clothes (and not even yarn to make clothes – I love to knit).
I was talking about the future of manufacturing with my Dad recently and he told me to draw something. So I drew a nice picture of a flower and he took it to work with him the next day.
When he came home that night, he had an actual plastic artificial flower from my drawing in his hands!
“How did you do that?” I asked.
“With a 3D printer,” he replied.
He explained to me that a 3D printer was a new machine (like the printer on my computer only more powerful) that is used to make things. He put my drawing of the flower in the printer and it printed out a real 3D object!
“There you are Sydney, you are a manufacturer now,” my Dad said as he handed me the flower.
“Awesome,” I replied.
I can’t wait to manufacture more things! I’m going to make lots more things for my room, my Mom and my Dad and my friends.
I want to design and manufacture a boat for my Dad. One that has a flat-screen television, big motors, is easy to dock and can go on the ocean. I’m going to start drawing it right away and I will ask my Dad if he can print it for me.
