Cardinal Manufacturing

About Cardinal Manufacturing

Cardinal Manufacturing is a year-long, two-credit program at Eleva-Strum High School that provides students with real-world experience in manufacturing, business operations, and professional careers. Students gain hands-on skills by manufacturing parts, managing customer orders, performing quality inspections, and handling business responsibilities. Through teamwork, problem-solving, and industry experience, students prepare for future careers while earning a profit-sharing check based on their contributions at the end of the school year.

What differentiates you from the competition?

What differentiates Cardinal Manufacturing is that we are a student-run manufacturing business that focuses on providing customized products and solutions rather than high-volume, bulk production. This allows us to work closely with customers, adapt to their specific needs, and give students hands-on experience with real-world projects.

What is the biggest marketing challenge that you will face in the upcoming year?

Our biggest marketing challenge isn’t necessarily getting more business, but rather getting our program better known and helping people understand our structure, our purpose, and our impact. We want to share what makes Cardinal Manufacturing unique and show how our student-run model prepares students for real-world careers and helps build the future manufacturing workforce.

What is the biggest operational challenge that you will face in the upcoming year? Our biggest challenge is time. We have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to take on more opportunities, but balancing production, customer needs, and the demands of running a student-led business can be challenging. We want to continue growing and providing meaningful experiences for our students, but having enough time to manage everything effectively is our biggest limitation.