Manufacturing Day 2024 Key Takeaways

Hundreds of students got a behind-the-scenes experience at Indiana advanced manufacturing facilities during the month of October. Manufacturing Day, an initiative of the Manufacturing Institute, is celebrated each year on the first Friday of October with activities sponsored for youth throughout the month. It’s an opportunity for students to explore careers and for employers to demystify Indiana’s largest industry sector.

Conexus Indiana tracked the Manufacturing Day events in Indiana. And for one Conexus Indiana staffer, Manufacturing Day was a chance to see for himself the impact hands-on experiences can have on a student’s career trajectory.

Here are 4 key takeaways from Patrick O’Neill, project manager at Conexus Indiana, who attended two Manufacturing Day events earlier this month.

Students are eager to learn about careers. Data supports the fact that students who explore careers as early as middle school are best prepared to make meaningful decisions about their education and careers. O’Neill said the students he met on Manufacturing Day were “curious, mature, asking smart questions and hungry to be in the advanced manufacturing environment.” In fact, O’Neill said, the questions students asked were “very adult. Is the pay steady? What are the hours? Do you offer tuition reimbursement? What is the work/life balance? “

When given hands-on experiences – such working on a display transmission at a large engine manufacturing facility – students engaged intently and focused on dissecting the inner workings of the transmission.

Students aren’t the only beneficiaries of career exploration. Hosting students onsite can be an effective talent development tool for companies, O’Neill said. Some employers used the opportunity to talk about their company’s culture, an important attribute young talent seek to understand, and to raise awareness of the vital role manufacturers play in their lives – from the transmissions that power buses to the door latches we use every day to enter and exit a building. Students also learned about

the multiple pathways to a manufacturing career and the growth opportunities once employed. They heard from CNC operators, assemblers, plant managers and more. “It’s important for employers to build relationships with local schools so students know the company, understand the culture and see how they impact the world,” O’Neill said.

The more students see, the more they appreciate the exciting opportunities in manufacturing. Manufacturers have long struggled to build excitement around manufacturing careers due to outdated perceptions. When students “experience manufacturing they can see for themselves that it’s high-tech, innovative, rewarding, interesting and challenging,” O’Neill said. Additionally, when students hear from employees who have made manufacturing their careers, they understand the breadth of roles available and opportunities for advancement.

Teachers win, too. O’Neill talked to several educators who joined their students on company visits. They are passionate about providing students exposure to careers and want to help them make informed decisions. They also want to grow their network in the community and build relationships with local companies. Manufacturing Day is just one more way to do all of that.