Impact Dakota Blog is a blog dedicated to supporting North Dakota’s manufacturing community improve People, Purpose, Processes and Performance. Entries provide information on opportunities, new ideas, quick tips, celebrations of success, and well, frankly, anything to help you become a better manufacturer.
How can small firms without in-house expertise help their staff learn new skills? It’s not easy when resources are tight and staff are pulled in a million directions. Manufacturers face worker shortages, skills gaps and other workforce challenges that limit their productivity and growth.
MEP Centers around the country help manufacturers fill those gaps and find unique workforce solutions based on each firm’s needs. A new interactive map, MEP National Network Workforce Programs, Services and Trainings, showcases these efforts across the country. This map complements a recently published list detailing ways that Centers are helping manufacturers overcome workforce challenges. These tools provide information about workforce offerings at MEP Centers in each state and Puerto Rico.
Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) is a nationwide annual event and offers unique opportunities for the public to gain insights into the world of modern manufacturing. Manufacturing has come a long way from the dark, dirty factories of the past. Today, it’s a dynamic industry that blends cutting-edge technology, innovation and sustainability. MFG Day showcases career opportunities and exciting advancements in the field. From 3D printing to robotics, participants get firsthand exposure to the high-tech, automated processes that drive modern manufacturing.
In a world where products from every corner of the globe flood our markets, the allure of locally made items, specifically ‘Made in America,’ is experiencing a resurgence. The charm of homegrown craftsmanship, the reassurance of quality, and the boost to our economy are some compelling reasons to rekindle our love affair with products made on American soil.
Manufacturing Day, or MFG Day, has grown to mean many things since it was officially proclaimed in 2012. Some celebrate on the first Friday in October with an event at a manufacturing facility or a school. Others participate in a regional celebration at an events center. Some areas have a Manufacturing Week, with multiple touch points, while others celebrate Manufacturing Month.
No matter how it’s being celebrated, we can all agree that MFG Day is a great rallying point to change people’s perceptions about manufacturing and promote careers that depend on creativity, problem-solving, teamwork and technology.
Let’s look at a couple ways the MEP National Network has been involved in MFG Day.
Amazing stories of manufacturer resilience is inspiration for us all. Here are two of the many manufacturers that faced the pandemic’s challenges head on – creating new paths and sustainable opportunities for themselves over the past several years.
In 2022, President Biden signed into law the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act – an investment to strengthen U.S. manufacturing, supply chains and our national security. The CHIPS and Science Act provides funding for Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers to deliver services for workforce development, improve the resiliency of domestic supply chains, and adopt advanced technology upgrades at small and medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs).
The workforce strategies of one large shipbuilder have created an amazing culture and substantial growth for the company. From recruitment efforts that include partnerships and apprenticeships to being a second chance employer, small and large manufacturers alike can use these tangible strategies to strengthen their workforces.
By 2028, American manufacturers could be facing a shortage of 2.4 million workers – and because of this the country could be facing potentially nearly half a trillion dollars in lost gross domestic product. Yet, in spite of the growing sense of urgency to engage young workers to feed the talent pipeline, our manufacturing industry has not closed the workforce gap between men and women.
The growth of electric vehicles (EV) poses various degrees of risk to auto suppliers that make parts for internal combustion engines. Big changes are coming for domestic supply chains.
Preparing for evolving domestic supply chains not only fosters innovation at your company, but also provides more secure access to critical materials and components and helps you work with or compete against larger manufacturers.
When it comes to suppliers, manufacturers often are more transactional than strategic, focusing on cost per unit as a default. Every manufacturer should have a framework for their supplier selection. Understanding your suppliers is essential for making good business decisions.