Manufacturing Month is just around the corner. Starting with Manufacturing Day, celebrated on the first Friday of October, the goal of Manufacturing Month is to reach and inspire the next generation of the manufacturing workforce.
Throughout the month, manufacturers demonstrate the value and benefits of a career in manufacturing and educate the public about the important role manufacturing plays in our daily lives.
History of Manufacturing Day
Manufacturing Day was created by the Manufacturing Institute, in an effort to grow and support the manufacturing industry’s skilled workers and concentrate on the advancement of the industry. As the workforce development and education partner of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Institute’s initiative specifically supports women, veterans and students working through skilled training programs.
Every first Friday in October is a designated day for manufacturers to demonstrate the benefits of working in modern manufacturing careers.
Companies open their doors to students, parents, teachers, community leaders and provide tours and hands-on demonstrations. The goal is to build awareness of the steady, reliable, rewarding and challenging career opportunities in manufacturing, bolster the talent pool, and keep manufacturing businesses viable for generations to come.
Despite old perceptions that have kept young people from exploring a career in the skilled trades, manufacturing environments have modernized, and continue to become safer, more efficient, and more technologically advanced.
Manufacturing Month in Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers once again proclaimed October as Manufacturing Month. Manufacturing is absolutely vital to the wellbeing of Wisconsin residents. Manufacturing is the number one contributor to Wisconsin’s economy, producing $63 billion in total output in 2018 – 19 percent of Wisconsin’s total Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Additionally, the state of Wisconsin alone has more than 9,000 manufacturers and as an industry employed over 475,000 people in 2018.
“Our state’s rich manufacturing heritage is well-known throughout the world, but it is the industry’s future that is now sparking international attention,” said Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) President & CEO Kurt R. Bauer. “Thirty years ago, the industry was viewed as dumb, dirty and dangerous. Today, it is high-tech, high-skill and high pay.”
“Thirty years ago, the industry was viewed as dumb, dirty and dangerous. Today, it is high-tech, high-skill and high-pay.”
President & CEO, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce
The Strategy House team works with Wisconsin manufacturers every day. We are grateful that through our work, we witness the dedication, challenge and great reward of working in manufacturing. We are working alongside manufacturers to encourage the next generation of workers to grow their career in the skilled trades. During Manufacturing Month, we celebrate the work of our clients and honor the role all manufacturers play in our communities and our day to day lives.
Celebratory Events in the Midwest
In most years, Manufacturing Month is kicked off by hundreds of celebratory events and tours on Manufacturing Day, held annually on the first Friday of October. Manufacturers across the country put together panels, host hands-on learning events and talk to young students about the benefits of working in challenging yet imaginative positions in the world of manufacturing.
This year, while regular Manufacturing Day festivities are postponed, there is a big opportunity for teachers and parents who are doing virtual learning to tap into the information provided by world class manufacturers across the country. For students interested in developing their skilled crafts, Manufacturing Day is a great time for them to learn about the industry as a whole, and its impact on our country.
Major manufacturers like Allegion, Boeing, and ABB have events set up for virtual learning and tours. These educational opportunities can provide students with insight into what a day in the life of a manufacturer is like, right from the manufacturers themselves. Parents and educators can also search for a local event through an event search on Creators Wanted.
Impact of Manufacturing Month
The United States is home to world class manufacturers who make a global impact every single day. Careers in manufacturing are diverse, challenging, imaginative and rewarding. While Manufacturing Month programming may look different from past years, there are still plenty of opportunities that will spark curiosity and interest into the esteemed world of manufacturing.
