October is National Manufacturing Month, with National Manufacturing Day celebrated on October 4th. This month serves as an opportunity for manufacturers across the state to come together, address industry challenges, and build excitement around manufacturing careers that are vital to the community's growth and future prosperity.
At Tennessee MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership), we’re proud to support a series of events throughout the month to showcase the importance of manufacturing in our state. A notable highlight this year is a series of student tours organized in the Memphis area, where our TMEP center is a key sponsor. These tours aim to introduce students to the world of manufacturing, sparking interest in this critical industry that powers so much of our economy.
One of the most rewarding aspects of Manufacturing Month is seeing the excitement on students' faces as they explore the innovative world of manufacturing. This year, students from Hutchison School and White Station High School had the opportunity to visit various manufacturing facilities in the Memphis area. These tours are a hands-on way for students to learn about the careers that fuel manufacturing and to see how modern manufacturing is transforming industries in real-time.
We extend our sincere gratitude to these schools for their participation, and we’re equally grateful to our sponsors and community partners who made these events possible. It's a community effort, and together, we’re helping inspire the next generation of manufacturers and innovators.
A fascinating stop on the student tour was Memphis Paper Optics, a local company based in Bartlett, Tennessee, that has produced over 4 billion optical glasses. Students were able to learn about the company’s operations, the technology behind optical production, and how this local manufacturer contributes to global markets.
The tour provided students with a real-world look at how a small Tennessee company can have a massive global impact, and we hope it sparked interest in future careers in manufacturing and engineering.
National Manufacturing Month isn’t just a time to celebrate the industry’s successes; it’s a chance to inspire the next generation of talent. The future of manufacturing relies on today’s students—tomorrow’s engineers, operators, and leaders. Through initiatives like these student tours, we aim to make manufacturing more accessible and engaging for young people, showing them the innovative and rewarding career paths that exist in this field.
As Manufacturing Month continues, we’re excited to see how these efforts will inspire the future workforce, driving innovation and growth for generations to come.
Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for being part of this initiative to introduce students and educators to the vibrant world of manufacturing!