Forward Observations: Seeing Is Believing

It may seem disingenuous to pluck a single day from the many in which you toil and deem it “Manufacturing Day.” But there is, in fact, a so-named day that since 2012 has successfully helped publicize manufacturing as a career.

Manufacturing Day is the first Friday in October (Oct. 3 this year, which was officially recognized by President Obama). Because of its full schedule—a many-industries offering of open-houses and other activities in plants and schools in the U.S. and Canada—the “day” typically continues late into fall. So even though Manufacturing Day 2014 has passed, its producers believe the day’s intent, impact and importance place it in a separate league from conventional “recognition” days we may honor, then forget until next year.

“The whole idea was that people believe what they experience for themselves,” says Pat Lee, Director of Marketing for the Rockford, IL-based Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA), where the event originated. “Manufacturing Day evolved from an idea of FMA’s President Ed Youdell. His thought was that if we could get people who knew nothing about manufacturing to go into modern manufacturing facilities in their communities, they would realize how clean, safe, high-tech and desirable these places are. He wanted to help dispel the myth that manufacturing either doesn’t exist in this country, or when it does, that it’s located in dangerous, dirty places where no one wants to work.”

With support from other entities (the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Institute and the Science Channel), Youdell and his FMA staff developed Manufacturing Day into a successful way to promote manufacturing careers to those who need to hear it the most. And manufacturers have responded. In 2012, for example, the first Manufacturing Day included 240 events and hosted 10,000 attendees. In 2013, 832 events attracted 35,000. This year “1667 events were scheduled,” says Lee, “and we know that 50,000 have attended.” With 2014 events scheduled into December, she is confident this year’s attendance will top 100,000.

The impressive response has come mostly from students enrolled in high schools, community colleges and vocational schools, with some middle-school participants just this year. And while the typical event is a factory open house, manufacturers have gotten creative in a short time. “Some bring in other types of companies to display with them, and some create hands-on activities where students make something they can take home,” says Lee. “The more comfortable and experienced a company becomes, the more elaborate their plans.” Equipment manufacturer Caterpillar, for example, started with three in-plant events in 2013 and this year hosted 76. Among the hundreds of other companies hosting 2014 events were ABB, Alcoa, Danfoss, General Electric, General Motors, Rockwell Automation, Siemens, SKF and Toyota.

Community colleges are active participants, too. “The schools show attendees where they can learn and what their training facilities are like” says Lee. This year, some provided lunch for attendees as well as open houses where local manufacturers could set up tables with information about their operations and career opportunities.

The student attendees are curious. “How much money can I make?” is their top concern, followed by questions about how long it takes to move beyond starting salaries, and what training is required along the way. “They’re very savvy,” says Lee. “They see a lot of gray hair on these tours, and ask if that means they could get one of their jobs pretty soon.” The answer, of course, is that they very well could.

Learn how you can tap into this wealth of interest at mfgday.com. It could be a great way to help the next generation as you help yourself.