One of the reasons manufacturers must work harder to influence schools is the perception of the sector among youngsters.
Paul Sacker, MD Crimson Industrial Vision, said: "Too much of manufacturing in the media is still portrayed as either mechanics fixing things with oily rags, dull drones working on noisy production floors (with a token robot making sparks for effect in the background), or lab-coated geeks with safety specs.
"The reality is far from both... If the students of today are to be encouraged into the manufacturing sector, it's all about explaining how a product gets created, costed, designed, manufactured, packaged, delivered and marketed."
Peter Benet, MD, Groveley Precision Engineering, added: "Young people need a real view of engineering so they are more able to make balanced and realistic career choices."
The WM poll revealed that an overwhelming 86% of manufacturing managers believed that today's youth viewed manufacturing not very positively or negatively.
Around a third said work experience was the best single initiative to promote links. A quarter (24%) said factory visits were the best initiative with 22.6% choosing curriculum-based projects, 8.4% work shadowing, 5.5% teacher placements, 2.6% donations and sponsorships and 1.8% school governorships.
