Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) is sneaking up on us.
Are you prepared to show students, parents, and prospective employees what modern manufacturing is all about at your company? If you haven’t considered celebrating this special day yet, mark your calendar and gather some company leaders to create a plan of action. We have some tips to help, too.
Each year, Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) is held on the first Friday in October in order to educate the public on how modern manufacturing practices are rapidly changing our world. It likely comes as no surprise to you that new advanced manufacturing technologies bring about whole new careers, requiring a skilled workforce interested in pursuing them. The issue? Attracting and retaining quality employees. A survey from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) released in September noted that while U.S. manufacturing activity unexpectedly picked up in August amid strong order growth, a measure of factory employment dropped to a nine-month low, likely as workers remained scarce. The labor shortages led to a building up of the backlog of uncompleted work at factories in August.
This MFG Day, it’s important to stand out so your company can get noticed and attract talent. From bioengineers to data analysts to robotics technicians, and all of the operations in between, there is a place for everyone in manufacturing, but many are lacking the introduction they need to find their place within the field.
Use the hashtag #MFGDay21 or #CreatorsWanted on social media channels like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram to mark the event and tag @MFGDAY in your posts. Encourage current employees to share their career success stories on social channels to give prospective hires insight into your company culture. Together with the National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute, MEP Centers, and federal agency partners, your company can celebrate the manufacturers who make the products that keep us safe, enrich our lives, strengthen our economic and national security, and provide countless opportunities for our communities and workforce. Host or find an event and get involved. You can also check out this helpful resource page to find MFG Day marketing toolkits, surveys, and host information.
How can you stand out?
Develop a unique plan that you know your team will be on board with and follow through on. This means something actionable, that won’t pull resources away from current projects but will attract attention to your brand. To mark MFG Day in the past, some companies and educational institutions have opted to open their doors to students, parents, teachers, and community leaders to showcase modern manufacturing. Perhaps you can highlight how diverse initiatives help your company to stand out. Do you specifically support women, veterans, students or other workers through skills training programs, or community building opportunities? Focus on how your company is advancing manufacturing careers. Looking for statistics to share? The U.S. Census Bureau joined other agencies by posting important manufacturing content on the Manufacturing Day webpage throughout the week.
Use this day to empower your employees, and future hires.
As manufacturers seek to fill 4 million high-skill, high-tech, and high-paying jobs over the next decade, MFG Day empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive. This year, MFG Day also includes a strong emphasis on engaging digital and virtual events throughout the country. With manufacturing careers at the heart of some of the most impactful work being done in response to the pandemic, get excited about shining a spotlight on manufacturing careers.
Gearing up for this MFG Day and beyond, whatever the size of your venture, our dedicated RBT team can help you meet your goals, now and in the future. In addition to an array of financial reporting (Audit and Accounting Services) and tax compliance services (Tax Services), our Manufacturing Group offers personalized, innovative strategies to help clients increase profitability. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your team to thrive for years to come.