National MFG DAY®, Oct. 2, to celebrate “Inspiring Tomorrow’s Manufacturer Today”

The most pressing issue for U.S. manufacturers today is the gap in skilled labor that 80 percent cannot seem to fill. It is to this end that Manufacturing Day specifically was created to help raise awareness and address issues. During the day, and throughout October, thousands of manufacturers will host open houses, public tours, career workshops and other events to show just how far manufacturing has progressed.

“Manufacturing is a top driver in Nebraska’s economy, coming in second only to agriculture so October 2, specifically, and the entire month provides an excellent opportunity for manufacturers, educators, students and parents to celebrate here at home what will be observed nationally—MFG DAY,” said Brenda Hicks Sorensen, director of the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED).

Several top manufacturers are planning to celebrate the day in a variety of ways:

• Behlen Manufacturing in Columbus, Neb., along with the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, will conduct tours, and an open house.

• Kawasaki in Lincoln, Neb., will offer tours of both the Consumer Products Division (jet skis mfg., etc.) and the Rail Car Production Division. All Kawasaki products will be displayed at the company’s onsite museum.

• Lincoln Machine, Inc., in Lincoln, Neb., will feature tours and equipment demonstrations.

• Productivity Inc., in LaVista Neb., will feature machine demonstrations.

• TMCO in Lincoln, Neb., will provide tours and equipment demonstrations.

• Zoetis Inc. in Lincoln, Neb., will provide plant tours.

Nebraska manufacturers statewide are encouraged and invited to plan and host their own events as part of MFG DAY or any day in October, enlisting and involving local chambers of commerce, school systems, parents and students, and posting the information on www.mfgday.com where interested parties can learn more about key manufacturing companies in their own communities.

Nebraska’s educators are encouraged to tour local manufacturing facilities open to the public on October 2, or any day in October that they may be able to coordinate private tours for students to see how courses they are teaching and students are enrolled in, are applied through and to manufacturing processes. Students also will gain a better understanding about various courses and/or careers available through today’s manufacturers.

Additionally, partnerships between businesses, industries and educational institutions, and organizations, including the Nebraska Manufacturing Advisory Council, NeMAC, Dream It Do It campaign (blog and Facebook pages) and InternNE program through DED work cooperatively year-round to share and provide student internships, teacher externships, and other valuable information.

CONTACT Kate Ellingson at 1-800-426-6505, 1-402-471-3749 or email kate.ellingson@nebraska.gov