Celebrate MFG Day

That time of year has arrived once again – crisp mornings, football dominating TV screens, the return of everyone’s favorite pumpkin-flavored drinks, and a very important day is fast approaching which will be celebrated across our country. How are you planning to celebrate? Probably not with jack-o’-lanterns and costumes (unless you plan on touring Rubie’s Costume Co.’s manufacturing plant, one of the largest manufacturers of Halloween items in the world). Whatever your other fall traditions include, I hope you can find time to celebrate Manufacturing Day, or “MFG Day”, on October 4, 2024.

For each of the past 13 years, the first Friday in October has been marked as MFG Day. MFG Day is an initiative of the Manufacturing Institute, an affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers. According to the Manufacturing Institute, MFG Day “empowers manufacturers to come together and address their collective challenges and build excitement about manufacturing careers to help their communities and future generations thrive.” Of course it doesn’t stop there. Now MFG Day has spilled into the rest of October as thousands of manufacturers participate in events all month long. What started out as a concept piloted in the Midwest has grown into a national grassroots movement which involves thousands of manufacturers.

MFG Day Importance

With so many seemingly useless holidays being marked on calendars these days, such as National Chocolate Milk Day (July 28), or Talk Like a Pirate Day (September 19), it may be easy to overlook the importance of MFG Day. However, there is good reason to elevate MFG Day as one of true significance. As we’ve reported over the past few years (here, here, and here), the current skilled labor gap in manufacturing is expected to be exacerbated in the coming years due to the expected rate of retirements outpacing the rate of younger generations entering the labor force in the manufacturing sector. According to the MFG Day 2024 Host Toolkit, MFG Day intends to dispel some of the myths that hold people back from accepting a career in manufacturing by focusing on the following messages:

• Modern manufacturing is creating the future, and creators positively impact their community and the world.
• Careers in modern manufacturing are well-paying, high-tech and highly skilled.
• Modern manufacturing careers encompass every interest and skillset – from science, research, design and development to production and the trades, to marketing, logistics, sales and accounting. There is a place for everyone in manufacturing.
• America will always need creators.

Hosting An Event

Manufacturers can register to be a host through mfgday.com, which can include opening the doors to your facility and giving plant tours to students, parents, and educators. If your manufacturing plant has safety concerns or is unable to host students under a certain age at your facilities, another option is to take manufacturing to the students directly by coming to their classrooms to share about modern manufacturing. Being a host provides a number of benefits, such as:

• Providing your company with an opportunity to showcase modern manufacturing technologies,
• Helping students, parents, and educators visualize what a career in manufacturing can look like, and
• Highlighting the significant role that manufacturing plays in our local economy and our nation.

Regardless of how you get involved, it’s clear that the messages resonating across the country on MFG Day are important for the next generation to hear.

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