Students Tour Franklin Manufacturing Facility

Centennial and Nolensville High School students visited APCOM to explore careers in manufacturing.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Secondary Education

Bold vector editorial illustration of a modern robotic assembly arm in a clean manufacturing environment, symbolizing career exploration in industry. — Students from Centennial and Nolensville High Schools visited the APCOM manufacturing facility in Franklin to gain insights into industrial career paths. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Students from Centennial High School and Nolensville High School toured the APCOM facility in Franklin to learn about careers in the manufacturing sector. The visit provided firsthand insight into the production of water heating and appliance components.

Why it matters

The event aimed to highlight the significance of the manufacturing industry and encourage local youth to pursue professional paths in the field. By connecting students with current employees, the program sought to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industrial skills.

APCOM operates a 200,000-square-foot production site in Franklin that serves customers in the HVAC, foodservice, and medical industries. A group of 24 students from Nolensville High School attended the tour.

The players

APCOM

This company is a manufacturer of components for the water heating, HVAC, foodservice and medical industries.

Nolensville High School

This is a public secondary school located in Williamson County that participated in the career tour.

Centennial High School

This is a secondary educational institution whose students attended the facility tour.

Elvia Klym

She is an educator who facilitated the visit for the group of 24 students from Nolensville High School.

The details

During the tour, students received an overview of the manufacturing and distribution processes involved in creating water heating and appliance components. Participants also spoke directly with employees to learn about necessary technical skills and potential career trajectories within the industry.

Manufacturing Day occurred in October 2026.

Culture Shift

This event reflects the ongoing national effort to revitalize interest in industrial careers through the Manufacturing Day initiative. It signals a shift toward practical, experiential learning designed to counter aging workforce demographics in the skilled trades.

Local students gained direct exposure to industrial career paths, which may influence future vocational training choices and elective course selections. These tours help residents understand the role of local manufacturing hubs in the regional economy.

The takeaway

Hands-on experiences provide students with a clearer picture of how classroom subjects apply to real-world industrial production. Engaging with professionals in the field remains an effective method for helping students identify potential career interests early.