Manufacturing Day 2015 Changed Perception of Industry

A survey of more than 2,500 manufacturing hosts across the United States to gather national data from teachers, students and parents found after attending Manufacturing Day events, 81% percent of student respondents are more convinced manufacturing provides careers that are both interesting and rewarding and seventy-one percent are more likely to tell friends, family, parents or colleagues about manufacturing.

MH&L Staff

Dec. 3, 2015

3 min read

For MFG Day 2015, which was held on October 1, a total of 2,620 events were held across North America including all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.

MFG Day addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is — and what it isn’t.

More than 225,000 students and 55,000 parents, teachers and other attendees participated in these live events. Twelve virtual events helped even more people participate, with the Discovery Education and Alcoa online program reporting the largest participation of any single event, with more than 120,000 students. This brings the total number of participants in MFG Day 2015 activities to more than 400,000.

These events had an impact on their intended audience as a survey showed that 81% percent of student respondents are more convinced manufacturing provides careers that are both interesting and rewarding and 71% are more likely to tell friends, family, parents or colleagues about manufacturing.

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“This survey further demonstrates the changing perception of manufacturing across the country, particularly among young people, and we have events like Manufacturing Day to thank in large part for this positive trend,” said National Association of Manufacturers CEO Jay Timmons. “We appreciate the continued efforts of thousands of manufacturers from across the country to educate students, parents and their communities about the many career opportunities through our industry.”

The national event addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is — and what it isn’t. By working together during and after MFG Day, manufacturers 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.

“Our goal, when we created Manufacturing Day just three years ago, was to bring manufacturing into the mainstream,” said Ed Youdell, CEO of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA), one of the co-producing organizations “We wanted to showcase this important sector of the American economy and introduce young people to the career options and exciting work environments manufacturing offers.”

Educators’ responses to the survey also illustrated the positive impact Manufacturing Day has on public perception. Ninety percent indicated they are more likely to encourage students to pursue a career in manufacturing and ninety one percent found the activities/tours to be interesting and engaging.

Manufacturing Day 2015 was supported by more than 20 sponsoring companies and organizations. The sponsor list was headed by Platinum sponsor Shell Lubricants and Gold sponsors Alliance for American Manufacturing and SME. In addition, more than 170 organizations endorsed Manufacturing Day and served as the conduit through which information about the event was disseminated.