October - Celebrating Manufacturing
Every year, America’s manufacturing sector opens its doors to celebrate Manufacturing Day on the first Friday of October, falling on October 6 this year. For those interested in making things with mind and machines, it is a day that begins a month of inspirational experiences. This year also, America’s manufacturing sector is gearing up to celebrate the manufacturing sector’s contribution to the United States’ economic power.
HISTORY OF MANUFACTURING DAY
In 2011, the Fabricators and Manufacturers’ Association (FMA) of the United States hit upon making the manufacturing sector more accessible to the general public, especially America’s students, their parents, and the policymakers, by opening its doors through events, exhibitions, and so forth. The key members in the association believed that it would enable people to understand more about modern manufacturing and appreciate its value for modern living.
The FMA organized the first-ever Manufacturing Day in October 2012 to serve as a starting point for over 200 events to be conducted in the Midwest during that month. It was a successful initiative and received active participation and appreciation from high school students, educators, parents, and other community members. In the subsequent years, the concept became popular, with thousands of people participating in events across the country.
Each year, starting from the first Friday throughout the month, the manufacturing sector organizes job fairs, exhibitions, shop floor walkthroughs, seminars, and so forth., for students, educators, parents, and community influencers. The day kick-starts a month-long exhibition of America’s manufacturing prowess.
Subsequently, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), along with The Manufacturing Institute and various federal partners, including the U.S. Census Bureau, are driving the endeavor.
National Manufacturing Day has caught the imagination of America’s tech and machine learners, who now throng the over 2,000 events organized every year throughout October. Over 14,000 manufacturers across America now participate in country-wide celebrations. For those interested in technology, including bioengineers, machine technicians, data analysts, and robotic machinists, this day marks the beginning of a series of magical experiences that unfold throughout the month.
A sincere thanks to all the manufacturers opening their doors this October to local students; BlueScope, Deceuninck North America, Lahlouh, Magellan Aerospace, Phillips Tube, Pilot Chemical, Shape Corp., and Worthington Industries. Thanks for all the educators adjusting their schedules to expose their students to the many careers that manufacturing offers.
Credit to National Today for a portion of the article -