Celebrated annually on the first Friday in October, National Manufacturing Day shines a light on modern manufacturing careers by encouraging companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders.  Things may look different this year due to COVID-19 but that is even more reason to share the importance of manufacturing in today’s world.  

Because we don’t want to miss working with your students, the Explore Team is launching innovative programs this fall for middle and high school classrooms.

Manufacturing Day Virtual Labs 

This series is a condensed virtual version of our Explore Academics and Workshops for middle school classrooms and remote learning programs. We have packed the labs with a ton of fun to help engage students.

Charleston, WV. September 8, 2020 – Explore the New Manufacturing announced today the publication of its Year in Photos 2019-2020 Book.

"This past year, the Explore Team and its partners engaged more than 1,500 middle and high school students across West Virginia. Our efforts would not have been possible without the dedication and support of 52 manufacturers who worked with students and educators to increase the awareness of the industry's career options," Monica Cross, Program Director of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association Educational Fund (WVMAEF).

Explore the New Manufacturing, an outreach program of the West Virginia Manufacturers Educational Fund, provides hands-on, innovative learning labs and projects for West Virginia middle and high school students. The programis designed to supply foundational knowledge about local job opportunities inmanufacturing and create excitement about career pathways that align with student interests and skillsets.

The Year in Photos 2019-2020 Book will be available on the Explore website https://www.exploremfgwv.com/photobook.html.

In General Stanley McChrystal's book Team of Teams, the author shares the importance of adaptability and having the capacity to respond swiftly and effectively as situations arise. As a former educator, I experienced the constant need to adjust to new curriculums or adapt current ones to fit students' needs. More recently, as a process improvement specialist who worked with manufacturers across the state, I observed manufacturer response to changing markets, supply chains disruptions, and internal challenges. As technology has progressed, and done so at warp speed, a company's ability to pivot quickly and refocus effectively has become an integral part of successful strategic planning across all industries. But just when adaptability, as a means of driving operations, began weaving itself into normalcy, COVID-19 took the wheel and floored the pedal.