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What is National Manufacturing Day?

Manufacturing Day is a coordinated occasion during which U.S. manufacturers open their doors to demonstrate the potential of modern manufacturing and foster interest in manufacturing careers. Held annually on the first Friday of October (October 3, 2014), Manufacturing Day was created to correct public perception, which doesn’t do manufacturing justice.

Manufacturing environments, which include highly trained, well-paid employees who work on state-of-the-art equipment, are commonly thought of as antiquated factories designed for low-skilled workers. Manufacturing Day addresses this misperception by giving all manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, exactly what manufacturing is – and what it isn’t. 

This change in perception is the first step in addressing one of the main challenges faced by manufacturers today – a gap in skilled labor. Manufacturing Day is an opportunity to connect directly with job seekers and students to begin to address the skilled labor shortage.

National Manufacturing Day in Quincy

John Wood Community College will host a Manufacturing Expo Friday, October 3 at the College’s Workforce Development Center, located at 4220 Kochs Lane in Quincy. The public is invited to attend from 12 to 3 p.m. free of charge.

More than 17 percent of Adams County employees are in the manufacturing sector, which is full of head-of-household careers for individuals with the right skills.

During the expo, participants will learn about the new technology used in the manufacturing industry through demonstrations and interactive displays. Robots, 3D printers, virtual welding, computer numeric control machines and state-of-the art electrical technology will be featured inside the JWCC Workforce Development Center.

JWCC instructors will demonstrate how a product is taken from concept and computer animation to its 3D prototype and production using new equipment used by regional employers.

Representatives from Midwest Patterns, Gardner Denver, Doyle Manufacturing, Kohl Wholesale, Trinity Containers, Dot Food, Michelmann Steel, MSC Industrial Supply Co., and Manchester Tank will showcase products and models during the expo. Dependable Education Products Company (DEPCO) will offer interactive demonstrations in Motor Controls, engineering, industrial electronics, advanced manufacturing and robotics. The expo will also feature Lincoln Electric’s virtual welder simulator.

Earlier in the day, more than 300 area high school students will visit the expo as part of a regional manufacturing career exploration effort. Students will visit the JWCC Workforce Development Center and tour ten manufacturing sites arranged by the Great River Economic Development Foundation. Students from QHS, Camp Point Central, Liberty, QND, Southeastern, Unity, Pittsfield in Illinois and, Highland in Missouri will tour regional manufacturing companies including Craig Industries, Manchester Tank, Knapheide, Prince Agri Products, ADM, Awerkamp Machinery, GatesAir, Hollister Whitney, Quincy Metal Fabricators, and Gardner Denver.

Information about JWCC career and technical programs, as well as admissions and financial aid will also be available. 

The event is a collaborative effort among JWCC, GREDF, Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois and the West Central Education Regional Education for Employment System #240. 

Click here to view a pdf of the Manufacturing Day Statistics below.