Dec-O-Art hosts students for Manufacturing Days tour

Dec-O-Art welcomed eighth graders from West Side Middle School as part of Elkhart County Manufacturing Days, giving students a hands-on look at careers in manufacturing. The visit aimed to connect classroom learning with local job paths and show how engineering, production and business roles work together.

Why it matters: - The visit gave eighth-grade students a direct look at manufacturing careers available in Elkhart County. - Dec-O-Art used the event to show that modern manufacturing includes engineering, technology, sales, marketing and operations roles, not just factory work. - The program is part of a broader effort to build awareness of local career opportunities and support the region's future workforce.

What happened: - Dec-O-Art opened its doors to eighth-grade students from West Side Middle School for a morning visit tied to Elkhart County Manufacturing Days. - The company took part for the first time in the annual program. - Students rotated through stations representing Sales and Marketing, Project Engineering, Business Operations and Production. - Team members led hands-on activities and friendly competitions at each station. - Dec-O-Art President Nathan Dosmann led a plant tour for the students.

The details: - A telephone game showed students how communication, listening and attention to detail affect each step of a process. - IT Bingo introduced students to technologies that support modern manufacturing. - A card-matching competition showed the value of teamwork and continuous improvement. - Students first worked without defined roles, then discussed what could improve before trying again with assigned responsibilities. - Students heard a customer describe a design, then tried to draw it by asking questions to understand the request. - Students also took on a challenge to see how many times they could fit a single shape onto one sheet of paper. - The plant tour showed the scale and complexity of label manufacturing. - Students saw machinery and skilled operators used to produce custom graphic overlays, regulatory labels and other specialized labeling products. - Students learned how engineering, precision printing and production processes turn raw materials into finished products. - Nathan Dosmann said Dec-O-Art wanted students to see that manufacturing is not a single career path. - Dosmann said Dec-O-Art has been part of the community for more than 55 years. - Dosmann said investing in local students is part of being a community member. - Jeni Anderson, customer success manager at Horizon Education Alliance, said the visit helps eighth graders connect classroom learning to real careers in their community. - Anderson said local employer visits help students picture a future in Elkhart County.

Between the lines: - The event paired career exposure with problem-solving exercises, which suggests Dec-O-Art wanted students to experience both the technical and collaborative sides of manufacturing. - The focus on local careers reflects a workforce strategy aimed at keeping young talent connected to employers in the county. - Dec-O-Art's first-year participation signals an expansion of the local employer network supporting Manufacturing Days.

What's next: - Horizon Education Alliance will continue coordinating Elkhart County Manufacturing Days with local schools and manufacturers. - More eighth graders are expected to tour area manufacturers each fall as part of the program. - Dec-O-Art is likely to remain part of the county's broader effort to introduce students to local career pathways.

The bottom line: - Dec-O-Art's Manufacturing Days visit turned a plant tour into a career preview, aiming to help students see manufacturing as a local, multi-path option for the future.