MFG Day is TOMORROW- October 7, 2022 (the first Friday in October, by presidential decree). MFG Day (short for “manufacturing”) is an important way to introduce students, educators, and the general public to your company and careers within the wood Manufacturing industry. While it may be too late to organize and host an event for 2022, you can offer an event any time of the year or start planning for 2023!
AWFS and SWM (Society of Wood Manufacturing) will participate in two local events on MFG Day: At Reborn Cabinets’ Anaheim, CA facility and at member company Drawer Box Specialties (DBS) in Orange, CA. We will help with tours and student projects, and provide literature and “goodies” to students about careers in manufacturing. Even if you’re not hosting an event, consider attending one or encouraging others to attend events in your area. You can also post on social media about careers in manufacturing.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the Manufacturing Institute (MI) launched MFG Day in 2012 to promote careers in manufacturing. The Creators Wanted/MFG Day website features a searchable database of events taking place across the country. Each company host can publish their event on the MFG Day website (it’s free and easy!) and students and educators can search for in-person events in their area (and virtual events). According to the MFG Day website, in order for an event to qualify and be published on the site, it:
— Must consist of a tour of a manufacturing facility, office, innovation center or other site; other creative student-invite type of event at a manufacturing or manufacturing-supporting site (e.g., design office, software company); school event about manufacturing; manufacturing-related jobs fair; manufacturing-related career day event; or manufacturing product expo or similar event
— Must be open to students, parents and/or educators
There is a significant skills gap in the manufacturing industry, and over 4 million jobs will need to be filled within the U.S. over the next decade (Manufacturing Institute). In the wood industry, this includes jobs like CNC machinist, operator, and technician, CAD designer, and production workers. Onsite events such as plant tours have proven to be one of the most effective and impactful ways to inform people about career opportunities.
According to Julia Asoni, Senior Director of Student Engagement at the Manufacturing Institute:
While Friday, October 7 is the official 2022 MFG Day, an event can take place ANY day in October or throughout the year! As you begin planning your event, first reach out to your local school (middle school, high school and post secondary) to determine their schedule and whether students are able to attend in person events this year. (In some areas, a virtual tour might be a better option if field trips and activities are not yet permitted.)
The Manufacturing Institute has developed a comprehensive resource site to help companies through the process of developing, planning and hosting an event. In 2022, the Manufacturing Institute produced a series of five webinars about different and important aspects of event hosting. Watch the recordings of the webinars here.
Check out these articles to learn about some MFG Day events that companies have hosted in the past:
— Local Students Attend DBS MFG Day Event
— Industry offers MFG Day Event at Las Vegas High School
— Reborn Cabinets Holds MFG Day and Expo at Anaheim Plant
— See a VIRTUAL MFG Day resources and session
If you have a relationship with a local manufacturer and don’t see an event listed, reach out to them and encourage them to consider hosting one!