October: National Manufacturing Month

October: National Manufacturing Month

By Todd Bingham, President, Utah Manufacturer’s Association

It seems like every day now, there’s some nationally recognized day- “National White Poodle Day” or “National Locksmith’s Day” or something similar.

October is National Manufacturing Month and has been for decades. Not only a day but a month to recognize the contributions, impact, and effects of modern manufacturing on today’s world.

I have often liked to say that if you like and enjoy your quality of life, thank a manufacturer. As we look around us during our daily routine, we see the impacts of manufacturing all around us.

Manufacturing has changed over the last century in more ways than we can even count. Technological advances have had a significant impact on what we see as manufacturing today. These modern technologies continue to develop, grow, and innovate how we create and make the things that make our state and country better.

Today's younger generation has never known a life without this type of technology, and we need their abilities, innovation, and creativity more than ever. This month, as we celebrate Manufacturing Month, we continue to work to develop and introduce today’s generation to the wonderful world of manufacturing. We need a highly advanced, technological, and innovative workforce more than ever. The ability to attract, retain, and introduce today’s generation to manufacturing has never been more vital and imperative.

Some have said that automation will be the solution to our workforce challenges. This may help in some areas, however, as the population continues to grow, demand is outpacing the ability to produce. Even with automation, today’s workforce must have a significantly higher skill set and training in order to operate the equipment that’s being utilized in manufacturing on a daily basis. This provides significant opportunities for today’s generation do utilize the technology they’ve been raised with.

As the older generation retires at a rate of 10,000 workers per day in the United States, many industries continue to struggle with filling those vacancies as well as upskilling and training existing employees to take leadership roles being vacated by those retiring. It’s imperative that we as an industry continue to invest and innovate in attracting, developing, and introducing talent into the manufacturing workforce pipeline. Partnerships play a large role in this. Utah Manufacturers Association, in our education foundation, continue to work tirelessly with state agencies, technical colleges, and industry partners and companies to develop strategies and methods to grow the talent pipeline.

We encourage you, the manufacturer, to become more and more involved in creating a system that is the rising tide that lifts all boats.