Why We Celebrate Manufacturing Day 

MFG? 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! While many celebrate the PSL (pumpkin spice latte) and the various acronyms of college football, we are celebrating MFG Day on October 6th. 

Wondering what MFG (short for Manufacturing) Day is? We share some facts about the manufacturing industry, why it gets its own day, why we celebrate that day, and why these businesses across the country are so important. 

What is Manufacturing Day? 

During a meeting at the Fabricators and Manufacturers’ Association (FMA) in the Fall of 2011, it was suggested that manufacturers open their doors to their communities, allowing people to see first-hand the value of the industry and how far it had come. The country was bouncing back from the 2008-2009 recession, and while the huge economic downturn slowed the industry, thanks to capital investments into technologies and assets, many manufacturers observed higher revenue growth during the recovery.  

Manufacturing was changing thanks to innovative technologies; however, public perception hadn’t advanced with it. This perception contributed to the skills gap and labor shortages that would worsen in years ahead. To test the idea, the first Manufacturing Day was celebrated on the first Friday of October 2012 via 240 events all over the Midwest.  

The test was a success and just two years later, President Barack Obama made it a nationally recognized event to be celebrated annually on the first Friday of every October. 

“When our manufacturing base is strong, our entire economy is strong. Today, we continue our work to bolster the industry at the heart of our Nation. With grit and resolve, we can create new jobs and widen the circle of opportunity for more Americans.” 

From the 2014 Presidential Proclamation 

In 2016, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and The Manufacturing Institute began the Manufacturing Day Initiative with events now held across all 50 states and Puerto Rico. As the industry looks to fill 4 million high-skill, high-tech, and high-paying jobs over the next decade, MFG Day is a big opportunity to change industry perceptions and showcase modern manufacturing to educators, students, and the community at large.  

The Manufacturing Institute provides resources to help businesses plan and execute MFG Day events and manages a nationwide database of events registered each year. Businesses large and small can participate and help inspire the next generation. 

Why The Nation Celebrates 

A country’s manufacturing industry is a key component of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) and essential to economic progress, and thereby, social progress. A big part of a country’s secondary sector, it provides jobs while contributing to the modernization of primary sector industries like agriculture. To be a global player, a country with a higher export of manufactured goods stimulates commerce at a higher level than those with lower exports. In 2022, the manufacturing sector contributed 2.55 trillion dollars to the GDP.

The U.S. Department of Defense, which greatly relies on the industry, noted every dollar spent in manufacturing results in an additional $2.79 added to the economy, making it the highest multiplier of any sector. Here are some other statistics illustrating the impact of the industry. 

Despite being so crucial to the economy and offering comfortable employment opportunities, 4 million manufacturing jobs will be needed over the next decade, with 2.1 million expected to go unfilled. The cost of this labor shortage to the country could total $1 trillion in 2030 alone. Environmental and sustainability efforts needed to save the planet are also affected by this talent shortage.    

The more you learn about manufacturing, the more you notice its impact on your day-to-day. From the computer or phone you are reading this article on to the food you eat, manufacturing played a part in delivering many of the daily items we rely on. TopSpotters like to note that manufacturing makes the world go round. 

Why We Celebrate 

TopSpot started with a Client in the manufacturing industry 20 years ago, and since then has specialized in internet marketing and website development for manufacturers, OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), suppliers, distributors, and other service providers in the industrial space. With over 800 Clients today, 85% are industrial businesses. 

The difference between industrial marketing and marketing for other industries is that these businesses are highly specialized and technical, often offering customizable solutions that can complicate discovery via SEO and PPC efforts. This sector needs in-depth content that includes specifications, requirements, and processes to rank better in search and support additional site visits during longer sales cycles.  

To create this content, TopSpotters have to go beyond digital marketing and gain industry knowledge to serve these businesses. Training includes industrial-specific sessions and facility visits, so our Team Members with degrees in a variety of areas outside the industrial space can then learn and utilize information on manufacturing materials and processes every day to inform content and keyword strategies. This means every day is MFG Day at TopSpot.

To learn more about the industry, visit our Industrial Insights blog with interviews with industry experts. To learn more about our industrial-centric agency, contact us.