October is National Manufacturing Month in the United States. Like many companies, FlexTrades jumps at opportunities to advocate for our industry, and for those who work in the skilled trades. Let’s take a look at when National Manufacturing Month started, and why it should matter to all manufacturers.
History
National Manufacturing Day is the first Friday of October, and was first celebrated in 2012. This first instance was a collaboration between the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association (FMA) and the National Institute for Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
In 2014, former President Barack Obama made the first presidential proclamation declaring the First Friday of October as National Manufacturing Day. Former President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump have made similar proclamations celebrating this day as well.
As interest in this day grew, the whole month of October became National Manufacturing Month.
The Purpose
There is a steady need for skilled professionals in manufacturing and many sectors face regular labor shortages. It is important for the industry to make a unified effort to find ways to fill those gaps.
National Manufacturing Month is intended to showcase modern American manufacturing to the masses. It is an opportunity to expose the next generations to the excellent career opportunities that are available. Companies and educational institutions open their doors to give a glimpse into the training programs and careers that could be the future for many young people just getting started.
In Action
One of the most popular computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software companies, Mastercam, has celebrated National Manufacturing Month for years. One of their programs allows students to see the design process that happens in their CAM software and follows that process to the CNC machine that executes those designs.
Last year, the University of Nevada, Reno hosted Northern Nevada Manufacturing Day. The day was full of events, starting with employer panels from local manufacturers including Tesla. Later, they hosted a networking event for students to meet the panelists and other employers.
What Can You Do?
If you’re a manufacturer, host a tour of your facility, show how your products are made, or represent your company at local Manufacturing Month events.
If you’re an educator, plan on-campus events for your community to attend so they can see how various trades are taught. Invite alumni back to campus to speak to students about their real experiences in the trades.
If you’re looking for more information about careers, or you’re just fascinated by manufacturing, look for local events to attend!
Lastly, keep an eye on our blogs, and our YouTube channel. We are all about advocating for the trades.
Happy National Manufacturing Month everyone!
