Crunching the numbers to see what Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory would cost IRL

One of under-appreciated joys of being a denizen of a STEM field: you get to apply your knowledge to investigate real-world answers to questions as fantastical as you can dream up.

Ever wanted to know what Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory would cost if you had to power it, pay your Oompa Loompas, and install a flying glass elevators? You probably haven't. But the point is that, with a little curiosity, you can figure it out.

From the infographic creator, Jeremy Wright of Advanced Technology Services: The motivation to create this infographic was based on the 48 year anniversary of the film being made (1971).  As a team, we brainstormed creative infographic ideas that related to manufacturing, STEM and education, and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory was the clear winner. We wanted to create a fun, engaging take on manufacturing in that movie vs real life today that would peak students interest and provide a little factual knowledge to share with their family and friends. Today, the Wonka plant can still be a helpful illustration of the true cost of the industry.

Courtesy of Advanced Technology Services

About the author: Jeremy Wright is the Director of Product Management at Advanced Technology Services and is a recognized expert in the field of industrial machinery lubrication management and reliability. He is a proven technical educator and consultant – leading the development of consulting programs and methodologies for many of the world’s top manufacturing sites. He is also active in numerous professional organizations, including standards organizations, with the purpose of driving reliability to the forefront of many industries.