Manufacturing Day 2021 – Inspire the Next Generation of Manufacturers

What is MFGDAY?

National Manufacturing Day celebrates modern manufacturing and positively influences the common misconceptions around the manufacturing industry, while inspiring the future generation of manufacturers. Although nationally recognized on the first Friday of October (this year, it is October 1), Illinois celebrates manufacturing the entire month of October. Manufacturers have the opportunity to open their doors to local schools and their communities to give students, educational leaders, and parents the opportunity to learn what manufacturing is and is not.

MFG Day 2021 Resources

Tips for Hosting an Event

MFG Day Host Tool Kit

Why Participate

Manufacturers face a talent shortage and Manufacturing Day provides the opportunity to collaboratively address this issue and other common challenges. By participating in Manufacturing Day/Month, Illinois manufacturers are empowered to connect with the next generation of manufacturers, positively influence the public’s perception of manufacturing, and ensure continued growth of the industry. When you host or participate in a MFG Day event you get to:

Share your company’s story
Dissolve outdated myths about manufacturing (dull, dirty, unsafe, etc.)
Inspire a new generation of manufacturers
Learn about ways to improve your efficiencies, workforce, and profits
Initiate business relationships with other manufacturers or community organizations
Discover what else is being made in your community

How to Participate in MFG Day

Decide on the type of event you will host
- Virtual event
- Plant tours or other in person event
Register your event on Creatorswanted.com
Use the Host Toolkit to plan, partner with local schools, and promote your event
Promote! Promote! Promote!

Get the MFG Day Host Toolkit

Tell Us Why You Choose a Career in Manufacturing

Please take a moment and let us know how a career in manufacturing has impacted you. Help inspire a new generation of workforce to take advantage of the opportunities available in manufacturing!

2021 Manufacturing Day Events

Click here to view the full list of Illinois manufacturers and organizations participating in Manufacturing Day 2021 events throughout October.

Webinars to Help Solve Workforce Challenges

Click the webinar title to watch.

Webinars

EXPAND YOUR SEARCH: Recruitment Marketing in a Digital World Webinar
Watch on demand
This session will highlight tactics that enable your organization to more quickly find and attract the right candidates, increase awareness of your company, and also build your talent pipeline to support recruiting for future roles.

CATCH YOUR BREATH: Improve Team Engagement in Manufacturing Amidst Changes Workshop
Access the resources
Engaged employees - especially in times of constant change - can be the key to maintaining quality and production and reducing turnover. Join us for an interactive webinar where we will showcase ideas that are working around the world to help with burnout, disengagement, and high voluntary turnover.

Building a Sustainable Workforce Through Apprenticeships and the Integration of Advanced Technologies Webinar
October 20 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Illinois manufacturers will share how apprenticeships and the integration of advanced technologies are helping build a sustainable workforce.

Recorded Webinars

FIND AND KEEP: Improve Talent Acquisition and Employee Retention Webinar
Introduces attendees to the elements, focus points, and processes to improve workforce stability with improved talent acquisition and employee retention.

BE THE CHANGE: Corporate Social Responsibility – Doing Good to Do Better
The first of 3 sessions about CSR, introducing why the integration of social concerns into operations is good business for manufacturers.

START OFF STRONG: Onboarding New Employees for Long-Term Success Webinar
Highlights 3 key areas for companies to focus on during new employee onboarding to increase early engagement and long-term retention.

PASS THE TORCH: Where to Begin to Create an Effective Succession Plan Webinar
During this webinar we will highlight the need for succession planning and identify 3 initial, and essential, steps to effectively begin a strategic succession plan. This session is targeted to those in leadership, human resources, and talent acquisition roles.

DEVELOP YOUR TEAM: Building your Solid House of Workforce Development Webinar
In this webinar leaders are introduced to the elements, focus points, and process to improve their House of Workforce.

BUILD BETTER LEADERS: Improve Training and Management to Retain Employees Webinar (English)
This session offers tools and resources to build the 5 essential skills of an effective supervisor, across all levels of your company.

CONSTRUYA MEJORES LÍDERES: Mejore la Formación y la Gestión para Retener a los Empleados Webinar(Spanish)
Esta sesión en español ofrece herramientas y recursos para desarrollar las 5 habilidades esenciales de todo supervisor eficaz.

FILL THE GAP: How Automation and Millennials Will Change Manufacturing Webinar
Join this session for ideas to adapt and integrate Industry 4.0 solutions like digital tools to attract the next generation and workforce.

BUILD YOUR TEAM: The Business Case for Diversity in Manufacturing Webinar
Learn how a focus on building a diverse and inclusive manufacturing workplace can increase innovation, teamwork - and your bottom line. This seminar will share success stories from manufacturing companies that have leveraged diversity to achieve their organizational objectives.

KEEP YOUR TALENT: Retain your Workforce with Stay Interviews Webinar
Highlights how stay interviews reveal what matters to employees, while building trust through meaningful conversations to retain key staff.

EQUIP YOUR TEAMS: How a Training Matrix Can Identify and Address Skill Gaps Webinar
Learn tools and processes to invest in your workforce, developing individual skills and future leaders towards the success of your company.

IMPROVE YOUR CULTURE: Diversity and Inclusion in Workplace Policies Webinar
This webinar will explore how you can make your workplace more diverse and inclusive, with a focus on instituting and implementing effective workplace policies.

FILL THE GAP: Solving the Welder Shortage with Robotic Technology Webinar
Highlights arc welding solutions for manufacturers of all sizes, plus welding options for increased flexibility and improved uptime.

Employee Investment to Increase Engagement and Retention Webinar
People. Process. Products. Learn how job design best practices can increase employee engagement, retention, and operational productivity.

Employee Development: Continuous Improvement of Your Workforce Webinar
This webinar demonstrates some helpful tools and processes to create a learning culture. Creating a reasonable plan and making it visible will help create ownership throughout the organization, so you don’t have to do it all yourself.

Rebuilding Your Workforce Amidst a Global Pandemic Webinar
This webinar will help you evaluate your workforce, policies, and practices so your business can come back strong and weather the challenges that lay ahead.

Prepare Your Workforce to Thrive: Effective Employee Engagement Strategy Webinar
Proactively create an employee engagement strategy that ensures employee needs are being met as your team rebounds to the "new normal."