12 For Life Plant Tour - Carrollton

Southwire 12 for Life Plant Tour – Carrollton, Georgia

What if one of manufacturing’s biggest workforce challenges could be addressed before young people ever enter the full-time workforce?

Join the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance for a special inside look at Southwire’s 12 for Life® facility in Carrollton, Georgia — a working manufacturing operation built around an innovative partnership between industry and education. Instead of simply talking about the workforce pipeline, Southwire created an environment where students can earn a paycheck, earn academic credit, develop real manufacturing experience and build the work and life skills needed after graduation.

As 12 for Life approaches its 20th anniversary in 2027, this tour provides manufacturing leaders a rare opportunity to see a workforce-development model that has been operating since 2007 and has been replicated beyond West Georgia.

About 12 for Life

12 for Life began in 2007 as a partnership between Southwire and Carroll County Schools in response to a serious community challenge: Carroll County’s high school graduation rate was approximately 64 percent before the program began.

The model combines traditional classroom instruction with paid employment inside a modified Southwire manufacturing environment. Students receive classroom instruction, on-the-job training, mentoring, essential work and life skills, and employment experience while working toward graduation.

Today, the Carrollton program serves students from multiple area school systems. The program includes five core components: Work-Based Learning, a Manufacturing Pathway, Industry Readiness Classes, STEM School and Summer School.

In May 2026, Southwire celebrated 46 Carrollton-area graduates, and Southwire reports that more than **3,300 students in Georgia and Alabama have received diplomas with support from the program since its inception.

Three Key Highlights

1. A Real Manufacturing Plant Built Around Student Employees

This isn't a simulated classroom or manufacturing lab. Students work inside an actual Southwire manufacturing facility specifically modified to create an age-appropriate working environment. See how Southwire has adapted equipment, material movement and safety systems so students can gain legitimate plant-floor experience while developing the habits expected in industry.

2. Manufacturing + Education Under One Model

See how classroom learning, Work-Based Learning and paid manufacturing employment operate together rather than as separate programs. Students develop technical knowledge while simultaneously learning the fundamentals manufacturers consistently need from new employees — attendance, communication, teamwork, responsibility, safety and work ethic.

3. Building Pathways Into Skilled Careers

Learn how the program has evolved beyond basic work experience. 12 for Life added an Industrial Maintenance Lab with Carroll County Schools to give students an opportunity to develop skills in a trade Southwire identified as being in high demand across industry. The program also helps graduating students move toward one of three outcomes: employed, enrolled or enlisted.

Workforce Development Takeaways

• How a manufacturer and local school systems can build a workforce pipeline together instead of waiting for qualified applicants to appear
• How real manufacturing experience can develop work readiness before students graduate
• Ways to combine academic education, technical skills and essential workplace behaviors into one development model
• How manufacturing environments can be adapted to safely introduce younger workers to industrial careers
• The role of mentoring, supervisors and plant-floor experience in building confidence, accountability and work ethic
• How manufacturers can begin thinking differently about partnerships with local schools, technical colleges and workforce organizations

Who Should Attend

This tour is especially valuable for:

• Manufacturing CEOs, Presidents and General Managers
• Plant and Operations Leaders
• HR and Workforce Development Leaders
• Learning & Development and Talent Leaders
• Manufacturing and Skilled-Trades Training Leaders
• Technical College and Workforce Development Professionals
• Manufacturing leaders struggling to recruit and develop their next generation of employees

If your company is asking “Where are our next employees going to come from?”, this is a facility you need to see.

This tour isn't about another workforce study or another discussion about the skills gap. It's an opportunity to examine a model where manufacturing, education and employment have been working together for nearly two decades.

Tour Agenda

1:30 – 2:00 pm Registration, Networking, GMA Welcome

2:00 – 2:30 pm 12 for Life Presentation and Workforce Development Overview

2:30 – 3:45 pm 12 for Life Plant Tour

3:45 – 4:00 pm Wrap up, Key Takeaways and Discussion

TOUR REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance is limited:

1 Ticket for non-manufacturing companies

2 Tickets for manufacturing companies

CLOSED-TOED/FLAT-BOTTOM SHOES ARE MANDATORY. No High Heels!

No photos are allowed.

LOCATION

Southwire – 12 for Life
390 Old Bremen Road
Carrollton, GA 30117