In celebration of Manufacturing Day on Friday, Oct. 2, Detroit Manufacturing Systems will open its doors to hundreds of students, educators and parents as part of a nationwide effort aimed at changing perceptions about modern manufacturing and bringing focus to rewarding, high-skill manufacturing career opportunities for the next generation of workers.
“Manufacturers will soon face an unprecedented shortage of skilled workers and lots of unfilled jobs,” said Detroit Manufacturing Systems CEO Andra M. Rush. “The manufacturing sector, especially in Michigan, sorely needs highly skilled professionals who can design, program and manage technology. We’ve got to show our young people that a career in manufacturing can be satisfying and rewarding.”
Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan will attend the event at DMS to greet schoolchildren and deliver remarks encouraging them to pursue manufacturing careers. The mayor also is expected to issue a proclamation in observance of Manufacturing Day in Detroit.
DMS will offer registered school groups a tour of the plant on Detroit’s northwest side where 1.2 million vehicle dashboards were produced in 2014. The auto parts supplier also will conduct production demonstrations and random drawings for prizes such as a 32” LED Smart TV and remote- controlled cars. Refreshments will be served. Bus transportation will be provided at no charge for registered student groups attending middle and high schools in Brightmoor and adjacent neighborhoods.
To register a school group for Manufacturing Day at DMS, visit www.DMSNA.com and click on the Manufacturing Day button on the homepage to access the registration page.
Teachers or school administrators must accompany all school groups. A DMS representative will follow up by email to confirm the total number of attendees and bus schedules for registered schools.
Rush also is leading regional planning efforts for Manufacturing Day, including events at anchor sites such as free admission all day on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Ford Rouge Factory Tour for school groups with advance reservations, manufacturing exhibitions at Focus: HOPE, a nonprofit career training facility where programs are offered for free, and 39 hands-on exhibits at the Michigan Science Center that demonstrate how the manufacturing process turns ideas into reality with the aid of computer design, prototypes, simulations, conveyors, robots, statistics and more.
According to projections by the Manufacturing Institute, the average manufacturing worker will be 56 years old by 2020. Five years later, 3.4 million manufacturing jobs will become available in the U.S., but the skilled labor shortage could leave 2 million unfilled.
Manufacturing Day, first established in 2012 and held annually on the first Friday in October, is supported by thousands of U.S. manufacturers with a variety of events designed to showcase modern manufacturing technology and careers. Manufacturing is a technologically advanced industry that makes ample use of automation, 3-D printing, robots and screen technology.
Manufacturing workers earn $77,000 annually, on average — nearly 20 percent more than all other workers. They also enjoy the highest job tenure in the private sector, and 90 percent have medical benefits.
Learn more at www.MfgDay.com.
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