OMAX Corporation was the site for three live television broadcasts on CNBC that were then combined into a full length feature story on the NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams. All four segments, which aired on March 8, 2012, focused on the booming U.S. manufacturing industry and how manufacturers like OMAX are challenged to find sufficiently trained workers to meet increased production demands.
CNBC reporter Phil LeBeau broadcasted live from the OMAX demo lab and from the company’s manufacturing area where it produces its abrasive waterjet cutting systems. LeBeau’s first report was during the CNBC program Squawk Box, his second on Squawk on the Street and his third on Street Signs. LeBeau then prepared and presented the full-length story titled “Help Wanted” on NBC Nightly News.
Each of the three CNBC segments and the NBC report included footage of OMAX machines and of interviews with OMAX employees, including OMAX CEO Dr. John Cheung. Dr. Cheung discussed the company’s increased sales and exporting of machines, as well as the additions to its workforce made over the past years and the current open positions at OMAX. He also mentioned that today’s young people should definitely consider a career in manufacturing and that manufacturing has progressed into a very high-tech and lucrative field.