What is Manufacturing Day?
Manufacturing Day℠ (MFG DAY) is an annual celebration of modern manufacturing that serves as a national rallying point for manufacturers to open their doors, share their innovations, and inspire future generations to explore careers in the industry.
While the celebration takes place on the first Friday in October, you can host an event any day of the year to showcase the exciting, high-tech work happening on your shop floor.
More than just a one-day event, MFG DAY is a chance to show, not tell, what modern manufacturing really looks like. From automated production lines to sustainable innovations, it’s time to break down the old stereotypes of manufacturing being dull, outdated, and low-paying.
It’s your opportunity to show students, parents, educators, and your community what a future in manufacturing really looks like: automated, sustainable, and full of growth potential. Simply put—MFG is a BFD (big freakin’ deal)!
Why Your Company Should Get Involved
You’ve seen the headlines: the manufacturing industry is facing a critical skills gap. According to recent studies by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute, the industry could see 2.1 million unfilled jobs by 2030.
Baby boomer retirements, coupled with technological advancements, are driving demand for a new generation of skilled workers. If we don’t actively work to close this gap, U.S. manufacturers may lose their competitive edge on the global stage.
For businesses like yours, participating in MFG DAY is more than just a PR move. It should be an essential strategy for addressing this workforce shortage. We need to attract and retain talent by showing that manufacturing careers are not just viable — they are vibrant, innovative, and well-paid.
By opening your doors on MFG DAY, you’re giving potential workers an inside look at career opportunities they might not have considered otherwise.
Five Ways To Get Involved in MFG Day
1. Attend a Local Event: Hundreds of companies host MFG DAY events every year, showcasing everything from cutting-edge robotics to sustainable production methods. If you’re not ready to host, attending one of these events is a great first step to see how others are engaging their communities. Find a local event on the MFG DAY website.
2. Host Your Own MFG DAY Event with Interactive Experiences: Ready to step up and show what makes your company stand out? Hosting your own MFG DAY event is a great way to showcase your innovations while engaging the public in hands-on, memorable experiences.
Whether you choose to hold an in-person open house or a virtual event, here are some fun ways to make manufacturing come alive:
- Virtual Reality (VR) Tours: Let attendees take a virtual walk through your facility, exploring everything from cutting-edge robotics to sustainable practices.
- 3D Printing Demonstrations: Give visitors the chance to design and print their own creations, showcasing the future of custom manufacturing.
- Robotics and Automation Demos: Set up a station where attendees can control robots or observe automated systems in action, giving them a taste of the tech-driven side of the industry.
- Build and Take Workshops: Offer hands-on activities where participants can assemble simple products or components, showing how the manufacturing process works from start to finish.
- Sustainability Challenges: Engage students by challenging them to come up with eco-friendly solutions for real-world manufacturing problems.
3. Partner with Local Schools and Technical Colleges: Collaborate with educators to design field trips, hands-on workshops, or even internships around MFG DAY. Showing students how skills in robotics, engineering, and even coding apply directly to manufacturing can help spark interest in careers they’ve never imagined.
4. Amplify Your Story: Let your community (and potential employees) see what you’re up to! Share event highlights, photos, and testimonials on social media using the #MFGDAY24 and #CreatorsWanted hashtags. Remember, this is your chance to show, not tell, what makes manufacturing exciting. A large variety of messaging templates can be found online.
5. Use Available Resources: The MFG DAY website is packed with free resources, including event-planning kits and marketing materials to help you get started. They’ve made it easy to get involved—no matter the size of your business.
Why MFG Day Is More Important Than Ever
With automation and digital transformation reshaping manufacturing, the demand for highly skilled workers is skyrocketing. This is our moment to inspire the next generation of talent, foster curiosity, and plant the seeds for future innovation.
As manufacturing leaders, it’s time for us to come together, open our doors, and show the world that manufacturing is anything but boring. We’re at the forefront of innovation, shaping the future of work and the global economy.
So don’t just stand on the sidelines. Get involved in MFG DAY, because MFG is a BFD—and we need to show the next generation why.
