The first Friday in October will celebrate the third annual manufacturing day across the U.S.

Manufacturing Day is an opportunity for manufacturers, educators and manufacturing associations to hold events celebrating and educating people on the current manufacturing environment.

The manufacturing sector used to be the largest sector and one of the most visible in the U.S.  However, the Service sector has quickly become the largest sector in the U.S. and has also attracted a lot of the U.S. labor force. Manufacturing Day is another opportunity for the industry to draw potential workers back to the sector.

The lack of skilled manufacturing workers has become one of the most talked about issues within the manufacturing industry. Other sectors attracted skilled workers and graduates with technology and more generation appealing work environments.  Even though the manufacturing industry was still growing, developing, and utilizing the latest technologies, workers had the overall belief that the manufacturing industry was dead, because of years of off-shoring. The idea of committing to a career in the manufacturing industry seemed risky to many workers, who took the opportunity to train for other careers.

Manufacturing has seen a resurgence in the U.S., and therefore is in need of redefining.  Often when companies want to redefine themselves, they buy companies with the reputation that they are seeking and take their name.  To redefine an industry, it requires more than a buy out, it requires buy in. Turning the perception around takes effort and education. Manufacturing day is just another effort in turning the prevailing perception of the manufacturing sector around. Working in conjunction with the recently established manufacturing hubs, and a series of educational programs on the local and national levels, Manufacturing Day is an opportunity to attract the attention of an up and coming workforce.