Advanced Manufacturing

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Defined by practical innovation. Created to quietly make your daily life better, safer, and more reliable.

What we make in Hancock County is built to be used, trusted, and depended on. Our products are found nationally and internationally, meeting the needs of businesses and everyday life. As a community of employers, we take pride in practical innovation—designing solutions before challenges become problems. From homes and restaurants to vehicles and offices, our work shows up where reliability matters most. We know expectations are high, and we build to meet them—every time.

We Build & Move
A county-level map of Ohio with a large orange location marker denoting Hancock County.

Hancock County Makes Cool Things.

  • Ever wonder what keeps you safe and comfortable while driving? Behind every smooth stop and silent ride are some of Hancock County’s automotive products.

  • How do you make a paper tray that cooks (but doesn’t burn) your microwavable meal? Good engineering and material science keep your hunger away.

  • The plastic wrap keeping your food fresh and water bottles contained? Yep, we blow bubbles 80 feet into the air to get that right.

  • Can you imagine scrubbing your dishes every day without the help of your kitchen friend — the dishwasher? One of our manufacturers turns a messy chore into an energy- and time-saver.

The Career Options

Engineering

Create and improve how products are made and help design new ones.

A gloved hand holding a pile of small blue and white plastic resin.
Person using a digital multimeter to test electrical wires in an electrical panel.
Inside a manufacturing or industrial facility with robotic machinery, wires, and equipment. The environment is bright and busy, with metal platforms and yellow safety barriers.
Computer screen displaying a detailed 3D model of a mechanical component.
Robotic arms working on an assembly line in an industrial factory. The factory is large and equipped with multiple robotic machines performing automated tasks.

Northwest Ohio’s Top In-Demand Careers:

  • Industrial Engineer

  • Mechanical Engineer

  • Electrical Engineer

  • Chemical Engineer

  • Engineering Technologist

View Full List of Careers

Industrial Machinery

A man in blue work overalls operating CNC industrial machinery.

Set up, use, and keep high-tech equipment working well.

Northwest Ohio’s Top In-Demand Careers:

  • Machinist

  • Metal & Plastic Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

  • Industrial Machinery Mechanic

  • Computer Numerically Controlled Tool (CNC) Operator

  • Mechanical Engineering Technologist and Technician

View Full List of Careers

Production & Automation

Close-up of a metalworking process with a worker using a tool to shape or cut a metal piece. Sparks are flying from the contact point.
Close-up of a rolled black rubber sheet in a factory.
Close-up of food in black plastic containers, with one containing mashed potatoes and turkey topped with cranberries, and the other with yellow potatoes garnished with green herbs.
Industrial machine used in plastic manufacturing, with a large cylindrical component and conveyor system.
A conveyor belt machine producing chocolates in a factory.
A person removing foam packaging from a rectangular foam block with cutouts.

Manage good production, check product quality, and guide assembly.

Northwest Ohio’s Top In-Demand Careers:

  • Assembler & Fabricator

  • Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher

  • First-Line Supervisor of Production and Operating Workers

  • Metal & Plastic Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders

  • Machinist

View Full List of Careers
View Full List of Careers

Robotics

Yellow industrial robotic arm in a manufacturing facility.

Use robotics and advanced technology to make production better.

Northwest Ohio’s Top In-Demand Careers:

  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologist and Technician

  • Robot Technician

View Full List of Careers
View Full List of Careers
A person holding a digital caliper measuring a shiny metal cylindrical object in a industrial setting.

Safety & Quality Assurance

Inspect products to make sure they are safe, high quality, and made the right way.

Northwest Ohio’s In-Demand Careers:

  • Inspector, Tester, Sorter, Sampler, and Weigher

View Full List of Careers
An infographic titled "Local & Regional Career Outlook" by Raise the Bar, Hancock County, presents data on the career prospects in Hancock County for 2025. It includes statistics about students' aptitude and interest in various occupations, top employment categories with the number of jobs, and predicted growth occupations in Ohio. The infographic has sections with icons and statistics, highlighting wages, job openings, and job growth trends in manufacturing, engineering, and high-tech fields.

Meet Some of Our Locals

The opportunities in this career field aren’t somewhere else—they’re already here. From local employers doing meaningful work to education and training programs preparing the next generation, Hancock County (and the greater Northwest Ohio region) offers real ways to explore, learn, and get started.

Choose your direction.

Get Trained
Get Employed
Plastics Manufacturing program at Northwest State Community College. Prepares individuals to set up and maintain injection molding processes, conduct plastics testing, and ensure quality control. Image shows industrial machine with plastic roll.
Dana Mechatronics Controls program at Owens Community College combines hands-on training in mechanical systems, electronics, robotics, and automation. Image shows a yellow FANUC robotic arm and a woman using a handheld remote controller for robotic a
Manufacturing Engineering Technology program at Rhodes State College prepares students for "technician-level employment in the fields of robotics, automated systems, and flexible manufacturing systems." The right side shows an image of two people in
Engineering Technology program at Bowling Green State University is a hands-on degree program preparing graduates to "design, build, and optimize mechanical systems and products." Image on right shows a student wearing a Bowling Green State Universit
Manufacturing Technology program at Ohio Northern University concentrates on either robotics or management. Both programs include robotics, manufacturing, computers, science, and math. Program emphasizes hands-on learning, spending time designing, ex
Mechanical Engineering program at Ohio Northern University equipping students to "design the next-generation automobile and build a robotic system for a manufacturer." Image shows Ohio Northern male student working on the school's drag racing car num
Robotics and Automation Technology program at the University of Northwestern Ohio ensures graduates are "ready to repair, program, and maintain robotic systems and quickly troubleshoot problems to maintain production flow." UNOH image shows male stud
Chemical engineering program at the University of Toledo strives for graduates to learn to "design green manufacturing processes; engineer processes for pharmaceuticals and foods; and produce renewable fuels, cosmetics, and polymers." Image from Univ
Modern building with large glass windows and a green accent on the roof, labeled 'ADS Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.' with landscaped bushes and wooden benches in the foreground.

Advanced Drainage Systems

Creates plastic pipes (for use in leach‑field chambers, septic tanks, storm‑water chambers, drainage parts, and water filters and separators) to move water and protect the environment, homes, and communities.

Findlay-Area Operations: Recycling and Production

Learn More About ADS

Exterior of the Rowmark building with blue facade, large windows, and flags.

The Rowmark Group

World's leading manufacturer of engravable sheet plastic for the awards, engraving, and signage markets. Carries a complete line of products for sublimation and digital printing.

Findlay-Area Operations: Global Headquarters, Production, Warehousing

Learn More About Rowmark

Additional Resources

  • Local Career Exploration

    Raise the Bar created this one-pager to help K-12 students and adult career seekers explore the manufacturing sector across northwest Ohio. Resources include grants, internships, training, and camps.

    View Opportunities

  • Advanced Manufacturing One-Pager

    Advance CTE gives a snapshot into the current and emerging careers for this cluster.

    View Image

  • Advanced Manufacturing Profile

    Advance CTE condenses important information down into a profile for this industry. Information presented is based on a national model.

    View Profile

  • Making Ohio

    Want to know more about manufacturing across Ohio? Use this website to learn about manufacturing and where to get started.

    Look at Website

  • Creators Wanted

    An initiative of The Manufacturing Institute, this website provides videos, stories, and details on this growing industry.

    Be a Creator

  • Manufacturing Counts

    The Ohio Manufacturers’ Associations provides this report on the impact of manufacturing for the State of Ohio.

    Read Report

  • Hear Her Story

    The Women in Manufacturing Association offers this podcast series of women in the profession sharing their expertise, experiences, industry perspectives, and advice for those navigating similar paths.

    Listen to Stories