Getting an inside look at the manufacturing industry
By Sarah Shoaf, Staff Writer
Some Governors State University (GovState) students recently participated in manufacturing industry tours at Akers Packaging and National Tube Supply.
The tours were offered through the School of Extended Learning (SXL), which is committed to providing customized corporate and small business training to boost performance, close skill gaps, and prepare teams for leadership.
The students who attended the tour enjoyed the inside look at what careers in manufacturing look like. Candis Sullivan appreciated the behind the scenes look and getting to learn about different career paths.
“I really enjoyed the field trip and would definitely recommend opportunities like this to my friends in the future,” said Candis. “My favorite stop was Akers Packaging because we got to meet and talk with people from different departments, including trainees! Which gave me a better understanding of how all parts of the company work together, and where I might want to end up in my future.”
Jeremiah Joseph also had a positive experience and would do a tour again in the future.
“One of my favorite things that happened on the tour is that we got to gain experience folding a box, even if it was just one,” said Jeremiah. “The National Tube Supply is definitely a good place that we toured. I was able to ask questions and even get to see the warehouse that provided all of our metal tubes for certain things.”
The National Tube Supply experience left an impression on Francisco Soriano Montilla.
“The experience at National Tube Supply was excellent, interacting directly with a member of the Human Resources team, who explained the company's operations, key departments, and the 
qualities they look for when hiring new employees, and showed us the entire warehousing, manufacturing, and shipping process,” said Francisco.
Seeing the inner workings of various departments and how the people worked together was a highlight for Jonathan Meter.
“The facilities tours gave us a chance to see and ask questions about the business in a way that is not otherwise possible,” said Jonathan. “From my experience attending job fairs, one never gets to spend so much time in an intimate setting with HR Generalists.”
Explore the other options that the School of Extended Learning offers to businesses here.