Manufacturing Day and Promoting Our Industry
Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) is an opportunity for us to proudly showcase our important role in the U.S. supply chain and economy.
Manufacturing Day, held annually on the first Friday of October, highlights the significance of the manufacturing industry and the continued need for developing and encouraging jobs within the manufacturing sector. This event provides a dedicated platform for industries to showcase their achievements, innovations, and career opportunities, fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of manufacturing processes among the public and potential future workforce.
For the metals industry, Manufacturing Day serves as a vital opportunity to address misconceptions and promote the sector’s advancements in technology and sustainability. By opening doors to factories, workshops, and production facilities, industry leaders can demonstrate the sophisticated techniques and cutting-edge machinery involved in metal production, from the extraction of raw materials to the final product. This transparency helps demystify the manufacturing process, making it more accessible and engaging to students, educators, and community members.
Manufacturing Day helps to bridge the skills gap by attracting young talent into the metals industry. With an ongoing demand for skilled workers and the evolving nature of manufacturing technologies, it is more important than ever to inspire and educate the next generation. By providing hands-on experiences and career insights, MFG Day encourages young people to consider careers in manufacturing, ensuring a future workforce equipped to handle the industry’s challenges.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Olympic Steel continues to support MFG Day in Cleveland, Ohio by partnering with the Great Lakes Science Center’s Annual Manufacturing Day event that offers a discussion panel and activities with area manufacturers to local middle school and high school students.
This year, our McCullough Industries location is having a big event that includes a proclamation by the mayor and tours for three busloads of high school students! It’s exciting to share our enthusiasm about manufacturing with the next generation. Be sure to watch our Olympic Steel and McCullough Industries social pages for more details and – of course – photos from the events!
While organized events are a great way to pique the interest of the next generation, there are ways to celebrate our industry and promote the opportunities available – on MFG Day and every other day of the year:
- Talk about it! Share your positive manufacturing industry experiences with your friends and family members – in person or online. All of our brands have social pages and share content regularly, so you don’t even need to come up with the content. Tag our pages in your posts or like and share the posts we make on any of our pages.
- Refer someone to an open job. We offer a referral bonus for eligible hires. Learn more at IamOlympicSteel.com or reach out to your HR Manager. And remember to share open jobs to social media – the reach of the share could just be the next great hire!
- Host an intern – for the summer or during the school year. Many college students are eager to learn more about a particular industry and haven’t yet decided where they’ll begin their careers. Create a plan for a meaningful extension of their college education by providing an internship. Reach out to Amanda.Lessey@olysteel.com to learn more or to get the process started.
- Speak at a nearby school’s Career Day. Most elementary schools offer a career day event for their students to learn about different jobs or industries. Reach out to your school district’s main office to find out if there’s an event like that in your area.
To learn more about National Manufacturing Day, visit either of the following websites:
