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52 www.CNC-West.com CNC WEST August/September 2019 Manufacturers across the country are preparing for Manufacturing Day® 2019, or MFG Day. Ar- riving October 4 this year, MFG Day is designed to inspire and recruit the next generation of manu- facturers. The annual event began in 2012, and was created to dispel the notion that all manufacturing jobs are “dark, dirty, and dangerous,” and to show students, businesspeople, politicians, and the media that manufacturing offers some of the most exciting and innovative work environments around. This is vital for recruitment, which is of importance as many manufacturing facilities lose seasoned work- ers to retirement. Last year’s MFG Day event was a resounding success, with nearly 2,800 events held across the country. In California, which boasts the nation’s largest manufacturing sector, over 250 sites reg- istered as event hosts and more than 330 manu- facturers and support organizations—including schools, stakeholders, and other organizations— participated in or sponsored events throughout the month of October. Deloitte, an MFG Day sponsor since 2015, has been tracking reception toward the event, and the results are very encouraging. Focusing on students who have engaged in MFG Day, the numbers are overwhelmingly positive: • 88% found MFG Day events interesting and engaging • 89% became more aware of manufacturing jobs in their community • 87% were convinced that manufacturing jobs were safe, clean, and high tech • 84% believed that manufacturing jobs of- fered good pay • 84% thought that manufacturing careers could be exciting and rewarding • 71% planned to tell friends, family, or col- leagues about careers in manufacturing MFG Day also has those in the industry excited for the future. “We need to get kids excited about manufacturing,” says Gary Johnson, vice president of Ace Clearwater Enterprises, headquartered in Torrance, California. “That's really what National Manufacturing Day is all about, to fertilize their curiosity.” Max Lizarrago, an Industrial Design and Engi- neering Professor with Mt. SanAntonio College in Walnut, California, also likes seeing what’s going on in the industry in order to help his students. “I get all my students jobs,” says Lizarrago. “In order to get them jobs, I need to know what's out there.” Most MFG Day events are plant tours in which manufacturers open up their doors to an eager audi- ence. However, those located within an industrial park and near other manufacturers may work to- gether to offer a “mini expo” of the manufacturing community. Even if you’re not in the industry, you can still get involved. Many technical colleges hold educational fairs for their students and invite local manufacturers to set up booths or speak about their operations. Manufacturing Day will be officially observed on Friday, October 4, but manufacturers can celebrate throughout the month based on their schedules. You can at www.cmtc.com . Your participation may con- sist of a tour of your manufacturing facility, office, innovation center, or other sites; holding a creative activity at a manufacturing or manufacturing-sup- porting site (e.g., design office, software company, etc.); attending a school event about manufactur- ing; taking part in a manufacturing-related jobs fair, manufacturing-related career day event, or manufacturing product expo. Manufacturing Day Arrives October 4: How to Host or Participate in an Event by Steven Brand California Manufacturing Technology Council