Happy National Manufacturing Day!
Today is the 8th annual celebration of the national holiday created to change perceptions about the American manufacturing sector.
Industrial businesses around the U.S. celebrate today’s holiday by educating their local communities about the impact of industry, the value of manufacturing, and the exciting, diverse opportunities of a modern industrial career.
For students looking for inspiration as they consider their post-graduate futures, the impact of the holiday is significant. In 2018, “275,000 people participated in 3,000 MFG Day events across North America,” the MFG Day team says. “More than 80% of students said they became more convinced that manufacturing provides interesting and rewarding careers after attending these events.”
With almost 1,000 registered events on the MFG Day website, it’s easy to find a local event near you or get inspiration for how to approach hosting one at your own company.
The History of Manufacturing Day
Although National Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) has been celebrated on the first Friday in October since 2012, the date wasn’t deemed an official holiday until 2018 when President Donald Trump released an official proclamation.
Despite its initially unofficial nature, MFG Day has continued to grow since its inception. Intended to bring public attention to career opportunities in the manufacturing industry, the coordinated celebration is produced with the help of corporate sponsors and contributions from the National Institute of Standards & Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Manufacturing Institute.
Manufacturing Businesses Nationwide Open Their Doors to Community Members
New Mexico
In Santa Fe, New Mexico, Sarah Boisvert, founder and CEO of Fab Lab Hub, an additive manufacturer, is excited to show attendees the exciting world of industry at today’s upcoming event.
“The industry’s [modern] image is out of Dickens: dirty, unsafe, dark factories that exploit workers,” Boisvert says. "Today’s smart manufacturing plants for Industry 4.0 are out of science fiction and we need to show both students and parents, as well as guidance counselors, that manufacturing is a great career choice for engaging work that pays well and is, well, fun!”
This year, Fab Lab Hub is holding a hands-on event involving 3D prints parts for prosthetic hands; attendees will assemble the parts themselves before putting their prosthetics to the test by trying to pick up a water bottle.
After hosting MFG Day events over the past five years, Boisvert finds that an interactive activity to be the most engaging, memorable approach."I believe that for kids it’s important to have a hands-on event to impart that feeling of accomplishment when we fabricate something,” she says. "Since 3D printing is a hot topic and kids see it all the time in movies, TV, and video games, we use additive manufacturing to get them interested.”
North Carolina
In Raleigh, North Carolina, custom manufacturer and prototyper Protolabs is hosting an event at their 3D printing facility to celebrate modern manufacturing with students and professors from local colleges.
"It is important for young people, the future of our industry, to see how manufacturing is exciting and high-tech,” CEO and President Vicki Holt says. "We like to say, ‘They don’t make things the way they used to anymore!'”
Like Boisvert, Holt agrees that manufacturing has an inaccurately dark and dirty reputation, but "one look at Protolabs [and] they know this is changing.”
Vermont
In South Burlington, Vermont, global industrial PC and IoT company Logic Supply is hosting its second annual series of factory tours to show local students what it takes to design and build a small form factor industrial computer. Attendees also get the opportunity to meet members of the Logic Supply team who give them an idea of the full scope of skills it takes to create modern technology products.
"MFG Day provides a wonderful opportunity for us to open our doors and welcome members of our local community who might not otherwise even realize we’re doing this kind of work right here in Northern Vermont,” says Ken Davids, vice president of operations at Logic Supply. "Real-world examples help to show that manufacturing takes many forms and that there is a huge range of career paths available in the manufacturing industry.”
Davids also says he has noticed an evolution of the public’s perception of the manufacturing industry, which continues to improve as more manufacturing businesses start celebrating the holiday.
"As technology has enabled more efficiencies, it has also ushered in new specialties for those interested in building and making the products that modern businesses and consumers rely on,” he explains. "What’s great about manufacturing is that the spirit of making new and better products is always there.”
