Each October, factories across Missouri open their doors to students as a way to showcase careers in the manufacturing industry. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry is taking this annual tradition online with a statewide virtual Manufacturing Day event on Oct. 2.
The virtual event will feature detailed video tours inside factories across Missouri. Students can see how products are made in Missouri and learn about high-tech, good-paying manufacturing jobs that are available today.
Missouri’s virtual Manufacturing Day will take place from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 2. The event is presented by BKD.
“Manufacturing has been the bedrock of Missouri’s economic growth,” said John Mather, National Industry Partner, BKD Manufacturing & Distribution Group. “As the largest public accounting firm, headquartered in the State of Missouri, BKD has supported the manufacturing sector for more than 95 years. Our firm is excited to be the presenting sponsor of Manufacturing Day as we recognize the impact manufacturing has on our state and work with and engage the next generation of manufacturing leaders.”
The Manufacturing Day event will be streamed live via Zoom and the Missouri Chamber’s Facebook page. Classes, students and members of the public are welcome to join at any time during the event and stay connected for as long as they like. The program will be broken into segments featuring a different manufacturer every 20 minutes.
The virtual event will also include the opportunity for students to interact with manufacturing leaders and ask questions. Featured manufacturers include Boeing, Emerson, Kawasaki, Koller Craft, Pfizer, Polytainers, Toyota, and many more.
“Emerson is proud to sponsor this year’s Manufacturing Day and to reinforce the important role the next generation will play in moving our industry forward,” said Mike Train, president of Emerson. “The challenges we have seen this year both here in the United States and around the globe have reinforced the critical nature of the manufacturing sector and the ongoing need for our people and our industry in the viability of daily life.”
Registration is free and teachers are encouraged to sign up and participate with their classes. Students — including those learning remotely — can also sign up individually and attend the program via Facebook live. Thousands of students and teachers have already registered to take part in this virtual Manufacturing Day event.
More information and registration details are available at: www.mocahmber.dreamhosters.com/mfgday/
“The Missouri Chamber is very excited to be hosting this statewide Manufacturing Day event. Even during the pandemic, we continue to see workforce shortages in our manufacturing sector. We need to do everything we can to make sure we give our young people the opportunity to be inspired to pursue a career in manufacturing,” said Daniel P. Mehan, Missouri Chamber president and CEO. “Going virtual with Manufacturing Day in 2020 allows us to keep the momentum we’ve built in recent years. We’d like to encourage as many students, teachers and parents as possible to join us on Oct. 2.”
The Missouri Chamber has developed this virtual event in collaboration with the Manufacturing Institute, Missouri Enterprise and the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. The Missouri event is presented by BKD CPAs and Advisors and statewide sponsors include Toyota, Wal-Mart, Nike AIR Manufacturing Innovation, State Tech, Catalent, Chamber Benefit Plan, NTMA St. Louis Chapter, The Boeing Center for Supply Chain Innovation at Washington University, Watlow.
