It's a high tech, highly skilled work environment - but you might not think so.
Manufacturing industry leaders say, that's one of the biggest misconceptions about this growing field.
It's places like ADEX Machining Technologies in Greenville that are changing the image of manufacturing. ADEX is an aerospace manufacturer, supplying parts to Boeing.
"Advanced manufacturing is a real high tech environment," explained Jason Premo of ADEX. "It almost looks like a laboratory and people are treated liked surgeons, actually using the latest multimillion dollar equipment to make high tech products."
Thursday, hundreds of industry and business leaders gathered in Greenville at a Salute to Manufacturing event, sponsored by the Silver Crescent Foundation.
Jack Jones, Vice President and General Manager of Boeing South Carolina was the featured speaker.
He talked with 7 On Your Side about the importance of the industry in the state.
"When you come to a state like this, and you say is manufacturing important? Absolutely. You start looking at the BMW's, the Michelins and start to realize, this state is truly there to attract and to support manufacturing."
The National Association of Manufacturers reports the industry provides 17.2 million jobs in the U.S.
In 2011, they reported that the average manufacturing worker earned about $77 thousand dollars.
"Most people don't know that in high tech industries, you can make 50, 60, 70, 100 thousand dollars a year with a 2 year technical college degree," Premo explained.
Upstate industry leaders say there are training and job opportunities out there - you just have to be willing to look.
