Manufacturing Day, produced by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and The Manufacturing Institute, is an annual, national event that seeks to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. Manufacturers in the United States must fill 4.6 million jobs by 2028, and Bishop-Wisecarver® has been hosting on-site and virtual student experiences since 2011. This Friday, October 4th, we’re excited to open our doors for Manufacturing Day 2024 once again!
Hosting a Manufacturing Day event is more than just showing how products are made. Here’s why it matters and how you can make the most of the day:
1. Inspire Future Talent
Many students don’t realize how much creativity, technology, and innovation goes into manufacturing today. By giving them a behind-the-scenes look, you can help change their perception of the industry and show that it offers high-tech, dynamic, and rewarding career paths. We had a local student attend MFG Day, and just a year later, she returned to BW as our summer engineering intern! Now, she’s pursuing a career in Engineering. Engaging with young minds early on helps build the talent pipeline needed to sustain and grow the industry for years to come.
2. Make it Interactive
A successful MFG Day event isn’t just about showing how things are made—it’s about letting students experience it for themselves. Consider setting up stations where they can get hands-on with materials, see cutting-edge technology in action, or even try out simple tasks that relate to your production process. At Bishop-Wisecarver, our Manufacturing Day includes hands-on activities led by our team, and the students love it!
3. Highlight the Diversity of Roles
Manufacturing isn’t limited to factory floors. It encompasses roles in Sales, Marketing, IT, Finance, and more. When students visit your facility, take the time to explain the various career opportunities available in your company. We love helping students see that manufacturing involves much more than assembly lines and opens exciting careers in areas they may not have considered, and our entire team participates in the event.
4. Connect with Your Community
Whether it’s partnering with local schools, inviting local leaders, or collaborating with educational institutions, MFG Day builds awareness of how your organization is contributing to the local economy and community development. At Bishop-Wisecarver, we’re proud to partner with local schools from Pittsburg, but it’s not just students who get involved—we also welcome guest appearances, like our sponsored team Skorpios from BattleBots, or colleges showcasing their career options.
5. Make It Fun and Engaging
To leave a lasting impression, make the day as engaging as possible. We go all out to make Manufacturing Day fun, and this year, once again, we’re launching our annual Wisecarver Innovation Design Contest, a competition for students that challenges them to come up with innovative solutions. It’s all about learning, collaborating, and sparking ideas that could one day shape the future of manufacturing.
By participating in Manufacturing Day, you’re not just giving students a tour of your facility—you’re showing them a world of possibility. We’re proud to be a part of this important national initiative every year, helping to build the next generation of talent that will continue pushing manufacturing forward.
