The manufacturing industry is vitally important to both Springdale and the United States . Manufacturers take raw material and convert it to a finished product . The raw material can be almost anything - sheet metal , copper pipe , aluminum bars or even flour . Manufacturers in Springdale produce a wide range of goods , making everything from air conditioner parts to cookies to windows .
In Northwest Arkansas , more 8,000 people are employed in precision production jobs with another 2,700 expected to be needed over the next 10 years . The manufacturing process has changed dramatically over the past decades . No longer are manufacturing plants the dark and dirty factories seen in old photos . They are clean , bright and often high-tech .
Most manufacturers now use robotic systems and computer-controlled machines to produce the products we use in our everyday lives . Those technological advancements led to a national decline in the overall number of manufacturing jobs , but created a growing need for skilled employees as more processes have become computer-controlled .
More than 100 manufacturers have facilities in Springdale , ranging from large plants with hundreds of employees to small shops . Wages can run from $ 10 per hour for entry level workers to over $ 34 per hour for certain plant operators . Skilled trade workers including machinists , welders , and computercontrolled machine operators can earn an average of $ 15 to $ 22 per hour .
43