Today marks Manufacturing Day (MFG DAY), a nationally recognized celebration for which companies, communities, and professionals across the country prepare a huge range of valuable networking events, showcasing their facilities and opportunities, and reaching out to students, job seekers, and media to spread the word about the many exciting opportunities happening in manufacturing today.
The History of MFG Day
Created in 2012 by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International, MFG DAY aims to dispel some of the common misconceptions still surrounding American manufacturing and industry, highlighting the newest technologies and trends, offering hands-on workshops and demos, and reaching out to the next generation of manufacturing professionals to showcase the diverse range of career paths available.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Manufacturing Institute (MI), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) have all made significant contributions to the formation of this nationwide, annual celebration, and MFG DAY is now run annually by NAM.
What to Expect This Year
This year, scores of manufacturers across the United States will be opening their doors to the public, schools, and job seekers, giving tours of cutting-edge facilities, answering questions about career opportunities and growth, and displaying some seriously cool technologies and innovations.
“Manufacturing has never been better in America than right now,” said Zakery Karnes, production manager of Zakobe LLC. “The only problem is a lack of people interested or knowledgeable about the trades. Manufacturing Day shines the light on our undervalued industry, the core of America.”
For this year’s MFG DAY celebration, Zakobe will be holding both general public and school tours of two Bovey, Minnesota-based companies: Zakobe LLC, a metal stamping manufacturer, and Cast & Color, a custom fishing tackle manufacturing facility. The tours will showcase stamping and machining operations, as well as mold-making, dipping, and powder coating processes, respectively.
John W. Kennedy, CEO of the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), a private, nonprofit organization that aims to support New Jersey manufacturers, echoed this sentiment.
“Manufacturing is at the forefront of the conversation,” he said, “and Manufacturing Day showcases how important the sector is for economic growth and job creation. We are able to show what manufacturing is all about — a high-skilled, technology-driven industry that offers secure, good-paying jobs.”
This year, NJMEP will be hosting their seventh annual “Made in New Jersey” Manufacturing Day in Somerset, New Jersey, bringing together manufacturers, supporters, legislators, students, and industry experts to highlight the various opportunities available and educate people on what’s really happening in American industry.
“Manufacturing Day is an important step in helping to change manufacturing’s image and engaging future talent by giving them firsthand experience with the real world of manufacturing,” Kennedy added.
Those interested in attending MFG DAY events across the country can view a comprehensive list here. To experience MFG DAY remotely, download the Smart MFG comic book appfor a truly engaging augmented reality (AR) experience that lets users explore the possibilities afforded by the Internet of Things (IoT), AR, and additive manufacturing — all of which are changing the face of modern manufacturing as we know it.
Shining a Light on the Future of Manufacturing
Even as the manufacturing sector continues to grow and evolve in recent years, with an abundance of high-paying, exciting job opportunities available, much of the American public still believes the industry is in a state of decline. But as Tony Uphoff, president and CEO of Thomas said, “The state of manufacturing is greater than ever — a trend we can expect to continue with innovation, a strong economy, and increased national awareness.”
MFG DAY aims to make this truth well known, illuminating the multifaceted, high-tech nature of modern manufacturing and the wide range opportunities available to the next generation of leaders and innovators.
Image Credit: Manufacturing Day logo courtesy of National Association of Manufacturers and the Manufacturing Institute
