On October 2nd, 2014, President Obama issued a proclamation declaring the first Friday of October as National Manufacturing Day. The proclamation says: “On National Manufacturing Day, more than 1,600 American manufacturers will open their doors and take up the important work of inspiring our young people to pursue careers in manufacturing and engineering. Today’s science, technology, engineering, and math graduates will power the next chapter of American production and innovation, and harnessing their potential is an economic imperative. When our manufacturing base is strong, our entire economy is strong. Today, we continue our work to bolster the industry at the heart of our Nation. With grit and resolve, we can create new jobs and widen the circle of opportunity for more Americans”. This year the annual Manufacturing Day arrives on Friday, October 2, and we’ll be quietly celebrating the achievements of American manufacturers in business for over 65 years by manufacturing some of the finest power electronics in the world. Because of the pandemic, we aren’t openly participating in the activities surrounding Manufacturing Day this year, however we don’t want to dampen the enthusiasm around such a worthy cause. As a manufacturer, we take pride in the work we do and appreciate the hard work that other U.S. manufacturers do.
Begun 2014, National Manufacturing Day was launched to address common misconceptions the public has about manufacturing. “By working together during and after Manufacturing Day, manufacturers will begin to address the skilled labor shortage they face, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry,” the organizers wrote. Sponsors include: the Alliance for American Manufacturing, the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, the Manufacturing Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Institute of Standards & Technology, and the Precision Metalforming Association.
The goal of National Manufacturing Day is to educate the public as to:
- What modern manufacturing facilities are really like these days.
- What companies located in your community make and who they sell to.
- What kinds of jobs are available in manufacturing.
- What skills and education are needed to qualify for today’s manufacturing jobs.
In 2018, 275,000 people participated in 3,000 MFG Day events across North America. This year, we expect this day will be mostly virtual, but nevertheless enthusiastic and informative. And maybe next year, we’ll have the opportunity to join in the celebration fully.