The Wayne County Executive’s Office is partnering with the Workforce Intelligence Network for Southeast Michigan (WIN) to help connect Wayne County employers, educators, and students for National Manufacturing Day (MFG Day). Leading up to MFG Day –Friday, October 6, 2017 – the Executive’s office and WIN will educate local stakeholders on in-demand manufacturing jobs in greater Detroit and the need for talent in these jobs to inspire the next generation of advanced manufacturing professionals.
MFG Day is a nationwide event that celebrates modern manufacturing by addressing common misconceptions about what manufacturing jobs are like while helping to address the skilled labor shortage that exists regionally for manufacturing. MFG Day efforts across the country ensure the ongoing prosperity of the industry as a whole. The goal of the event is to provide students with the opportunity to visit area manufacturing facilities and engage in hands-on learning experiences to help them understand what manufacturing is and what it is not.
“Many young people aren’t aware of the exciting careers offered by manufacturers in today’s high-tech, global economy and we’ve got to change that,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans.
MFG Day is especially important for Wayne County residents and local investors. Wayne County and the greater Southeast Michigan region have a nationally recognized manufacturing workforce that is currently experiencing an increased demand for manufacturing occupations as the Motor City reasserts itself as the auto capital of the world.
“As demand for these jobs is projected to grow in the coming years, it is imperative we educate our talent pipeline on the viable career options that exist in the manufacturing industry,” said Lisa Katz, executive director, WIN.
To date, more than 2,000 Detroit-area students are planning to participate in Wayne County MFG Day efforts, while Detroit Chassis and Futuramic Tool & Engineering are among the initial companies that are on board with MFG Day efforts.
The Wayne County Executive’s Office is seeking manufacturing employers to host these students, provide facility tours, and help inform students about the exciting options that are projected in the future of manufacturing.
“We’re asking Wayne County employers to step up and open their doors on Manufacturing Day,” Evans said. “Seeing the manufacturing process firsthand as well as gleaning insight from the ‘real-world’ experiences of the workers can inspire our youth to pursue any of the well-paying and in-demand careers available.”
In 2016, more than 30 Wayne County-based companies hosted nearly 2,300 students from Wayne County schools.
Companies looking to become involved in Manufacturing Day 2017 are asked to contact Patricia LeBlanc at patricia.leblanc@semca.org by Friday, June 30, 2017 to become a host site or to get more information on other ways to be involved. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
For more information, visit: http://waynecounty.com/news/mfgday.htm.