Manufacturing Day was created in 2012 by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association to give those in the industry the opportunity to address the skills gap, connect with future generations, update the public perception of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of industry.
This is a nation-wide event, but Michigan, in particular, has grown its Manufacturing Day events as our state focuses on developing our workforce and eliminating the skilled trades gap.
Michigan’s Focus on Manufacturing
To showcase diverse career opportunities available in the manufacturing industry, The Manufacturing Institute, the education and workforce partner of the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) are joining forces to engage, inspire, and encourage youth to become the next generation of manufacturers through Manufacturing Day.
“The next frontier of manufacturing in the United States is upon us, and now, more than ever, we need the next generation of creators to join our workforce. We thank our generous sponsors, like the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, for working alongside us to showcase what modern manufacturing looks like in their own eyes through a MFG Day experience,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons, who also serves as board chairman of The Manufacturing Institute.
MFG Day is the nation’s largest one-day celebration of manufacturing, with manufacturers across the country opening their doors for students, parents, and teachers to highlight the diverse career opportunities in manufacturing for Michigan’s next generation.
“Michigan’s manufacturing industry has shaped the state’s economy and identity for decades and currently provides jobs to more than 632,000 Michiganders,” said LEO Workforce Development Director Stephanie Beckhorn. “We are always looking to attract and retain great talent in Michigan and are proud to sponsor initiatives like Manufacturing Day to bring awareness to the high-demand, good-paying careers in manufacturing.”
“MFG Day has become the collective rallying cry of manufacturers preparing for the future by engaging with the workforce of tomorrow today,” said Manufacturing Institute Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “Our industry faces a workforce crisis, with manufacturers needing to fill 4.6 million jobs over the next decade.”
Lenawee Leans In on Manufacturing
On October 3, hundreds of students participated in the 4th annual Lenawee County MFG Day, touring facilities throughout the County. Each group of students toured two different sites, learning more about innovation and the opportunities available for careers in our communities.
“We’ve learned that many students and parents have misconceptions about manufacturing and skilled trades. We want this day to begin to change those perceptions and for students to truly understand the great career opportunities that are waiting right here in Lenawee County,” explained Tim Robinson, Director of Operations at Lenawee Now. “They can see that the manufacturing facilities of today are nothing like the ones their grandparents described. Manufacturing has evolved and now employers need skilled workers that can operate advanced machinery, including robots.”
Students had the opportunity to interact with employers and employees as they toured and learned about the skills required to gain employment as well as see demonstrations of highly technical processes.
“Many students are surprised to learn that they do not need a four-year liberal arts degree to obtain a well-paying job,” said Randy Yagiela, Align Lenawee Talent Consortium Director at Lenawee Now. “Also, many of our employers here in Lenawee offer internships and apprenticeships so it’s possible for students to obtain valuable skills without accumulating thousands of dollars of student debt.”
Lenawee Now’s commitment to workforce development does not stop when MFG Day is complete.
“Manufacturing Day is just one part of our talent system,” said Jim Van Doren, Executive Director of Lenawee Now. “Our Align Lenawee Talent Consortium is a group of educators, employers, and economic developers that are collectively working on developing programs, events, and opportunities for parents and students to learn more about all of the career opportunities right here in Lenawee County.”
For more information about the Align Lenawee Talent Consortium, visit Align.org. For more information about Lenawee Now and the economic development efforts in Lenawee County, visit lenaweenow.org.
Portions of this article reprinted with permission from the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Development Workforce Division.
The Manufacturing Institute is the education and workforce partner of the National Association of Manufacturers. It drives programs and research to promote modern manufacturing and jumpstart new approaches to growing manufacturing talent. For more information, please visit www.themanufacturinginstitute.org.
The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Development Workforce Development division promotes a flexible, innovative, and effective workforce system within the State of Michigan. Workforce Development supports a demand driven workforce system, assists the structurally unemployed with financial independence, advocates for the integration of workforce development into the K-12 school system, and supports the alignment of workforce development with economic development efforts. Visit www.michigan.gov/wda to learn more.