October 4 Marks National MFG Day: See How Standards, ANSI Initiatives Support the Industry
9/30/2019
Forming the backbone of the manufacturing industry are: skilled talent to fill millions of jobs, technology to make processes more efficient, and collaboration to make sure all the moving parts are in place. In light of Manufacturing Day 2019 on Friday, October 4, companies across the nation will open their doors to host students, teachers, and parents during conferences, open houses, workshops, and other educational events. The goal of the initiative, produced by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the Manufacturing Institute is to spread awareness about lucrative modern manufacturing careers.
Manufacturing is on the rise in the U.S., making it an appealing career choice for students and young workers looking to enter a field with plentiful opportunities. Recent data indicate that manufacturers contributed $2.38 trillion to the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter of 2018 alone - an increase of 42.5% in less than a decade.
Through Manufacturing Day initiatives, companies can access resources including an app and comic book that show how some of the newest developments in the industry - including augmented reality, the Internet of Things (IoT), and additive manufacturing - are having a lasting impact on manufacturing practices across the country. Organizations interested in planning their own Manufacturing Day are provided with tips and articles on how to make their event successful in drawing the attention of a new generation of workers.
Members of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) play an integral role in Manufacturing Day. Produced annually by NAM , this year the event is sponsored by the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS), ABB, Kronos, Merck, and Siemensamong others, and it is endorsed by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the American Forest & Paper Institute (AF&PA), the National Fluid Power Association (NFPA), the Industrial Fasteners Institute (IFI), NTT Data, and the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA). Access the full list on mfgday.com/sponsors.
Beyond Manufacturing Day, ANSI and its members support manufacturing all year, with initiatives that support new manufacturing technologies and strengthen manufacturing workers' training and credentialing. It's anticipated that 4.6 million manufacturing jobs will be needed over the next decade, and yet 2.4 million may go unfilled due to a skills gap - making credentialing a critical component of continuing the manufacturing industry's success in the coming years. Workcred is a nonprofit affiliate of ANSI that connects and educates stakeholders to bolster the workforce credentialing system. In a first-of-its kind national research study, Workcred examined the manufacturing sector in its 2018 report, Examining the Quality, Market Value, and Effectiveness of Manufacturing Credentials in the United States. The report, funded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), revealed how credentials are used in hiring and retention practices, and how credentialing can be improved to advance the manufacturing industry.
Building off the 2018 report, NIST MEP awarded Workcred a grant for a two-year research study to examine the return on investment (ROI) of credentials in the manufacturing industry. The research will provide manufacturers with a better understanding of how credentials can serve as an important resource in identifying skilled workers.
ANSI also supports manufacturing through the America Makes and ANSI Additive Manufacturing Standardization Collaborative (AMSC), a cross-sector coordinating body whose objective is to accelerate the development of industry-wide additive manufacturing standards and specifications consistent with stakeholder needs. In 2018, the AMSC developed the Standardization Roadmap for Additive Manufacturing (Version 2.0), a roadmap detailing the current and desired future additive manufacturing standardization landscape. Today, the AMSC continues to track progress by standards developing organizations and others to address gaps where no published standard exists.
Additionally number of ANSI's accredited standards developers are committed to producing and maintaining standards that support manufacturing in a wide variety of industries, from wood machinery to portable generators to rubber products, and many more. This October 4 and all year long, ANSI is proud to support the progress of U.S. manufacturers and their workforce.
