9/19/2014
Move over Halloween. There’s another holiday in town during October, and Michigan’s finest are gearing up to celebrate. We’re talking about National Manufacturing Day, which is set for Friday, October 3rd!
Established in 2012, National Manufacturing Day was created to raise awareness about U.S. manufacturing. Now in its third year, the goal of the celebration is to change the nation’s perception of manufacturing careers and increase the public’s knowledge about the industry’s value to the U.S. economy.
Manufacturing Day is so important because the general public is unaware of how vital manufacturing is to our country. Manufacturing supports more than 17.4 million U.S. jobs and comprises 12.5% of our GDP. In fact, U.S. manufacturing is the eighth largest economy in the world! You can click here to learn more stats in an infographic from the National Institute of Standards & Technology.
While sharing statistics about our industry is helpful, Manufacturing Day’s goal is to make a long-lasting impact on local communities through live experiences. That’s why manufacturers, educational institutions and associations host open houses and events for the public on October 3rd. Typically, this involves inviting students and educators, community leaders, local businesses, media members and federal and state legislative representatives to view their facilities and learn about their operations and processes.
These types of open houses and events give outsiders, who typically aren't exposed to manufacturing, a chance to experience the diverse career opportunities available in the field and see how local products are created. Open houses are particularly helpful in shaping the younger generation’s perception of manufacturing, which is critical to addressing our nation’s skills gap. They get the opportunity to see that manufacturing has a wide range of job possibilities such as welders, electricians, fabricators, sales & marketing, human resources, researchers and more!
Many Michigan manufacturers are signed up to host events starting as early as September 29th. You can click here to visit the National Manufacturing Day website and see a list of the local manufacturers who are participating. As of the time of this posting, there are more than 40 events scheduled to occur around the state!
If you are interested in learning more about National Manufacturing Day, we encourage you to visit www.mfgday.com. And it’s not too late to sign up to host an open house or event! In addition to supporting the mission of National Manufacturing Day, you can gain also gain great exposure for your company. The national website has a media kit and numerous resources to help you maximize the effectiveness of your event. You can also support Manufacturing Day on social media or share some of the great videos from their annual video contest!
Finally, while we love U.S. manufacturing, we really really really love Michigan manufacturing. We’ll be more than happy to help you host your own event, just contact us at inquiry@mmtc.org and let us know what you need. This is also a great reminder to participate in our Proud to Manufacture in Michigan program! Click here to learn more.
So mark your calendars for Friday, October 3rd and share the news that manufacturing matters!
Since 1991, MMTC has assisted Michigan’s small and medium-sized businesses compete and grow. Through personalized services fitted to meet the needs of clients, we develop more effective business leaders, drive product and process innovation, promote company-wide operational excellence and foster creative strategies for business growth and greater profitability. Find us at www.mmtc.org.
Categories: Manufacturing Day