This October, Astro Machine Works is excited to celebrate National Manufacturing Day with a series of educational activities planned for students during the first week of the month. Designed to teach students about the career opportunities available in manufacturing, these events will bring students to Astro Machine Works’ facilities to meet our staff and see different manufacturing processes done up close.
Started in 2012 by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), National Manufacturing Day is celebrated each year on the first Friday in October, with this year’s taking place on October 5. NAM started this annual event as a way for manufacturers to bring visibility to the manufacturing industry. In particular, the event aims to:
- Connect manufacturers with their local communities
- Introduce young people to the career opportunities available in the manufacturing industry
- Shape the public’s perception of manufacturing
- Show the ongoing importance of manufacturing to other industries and the local economy
Sponsored annually by NAM, National Manufacturing Day also receives support from the Manufacturing Institute and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
MANUFACTURING DAY AT ASTRO MACHINE WORKS
Astro Machine Works has participated in Manufacturing day since its inception in 2012. We will kick off our 2018 celebration early this year, starting with activities on October 2, 4, and 5. Over the course of the week, Astro will host engaging activities with local students from Warwick High School, Lancaster County High School, and Lancaster County Career and Technology Center. We’re also excited to welcome participating students from the Skilled Women Get STEM Jobs program.
During each day of the event, students will start with a presentation from Eric Blow, president of Astro Machine Works. During the presentation, Eric will share information about our company, culture, and available career opportunities in manufacturing and other skilled trades. Following the presentation, students will split into small groups, in which they’ll get to participate in an interactive tour of Astro Machine Works’ manufacturing facilities.
While on the tour, students will have the opportunity to see live demonstrations of different manufacturing processes, including CNC Machining, Fabrication & Welding, laser engraving, reverse engineering, assembly services, as well as view some of our Custom Machines being built. The tour will conclude with students having the opportunity to see sample products up close and to ask any questions that they may have about the company or about manufacturing processes or careers.
It’s not just students who will learn something—the Astro Machine Works staff will have great experiences throughout this event getting to meet our local students and learning more about their career interests and aspirations. Each National Manufacturing Day, our staff have come together to make the event a success, strengthening our ties within the company and with our community. This year, our team has worked hard on planning––and will be hands-on in carrying out the days’ activities––leading students on tours, answering questions, and guiding students at each individual station. This year’s National Manufacturing Day events will also receive support from Astro Machine Works’ Workforce Development Committee.
CELEBRATE MANUFACTURING WITH ASTRO MACHINE WORKS
At Astro Machine Works, we’ve been a leading manufacturer in our community for more than 30 years. Specializing in custom machinery and equipment, we are committed to providing excellent customer service and the highest-quality workmanship available with each and every product we create. Our company values include unity and collaboration in working toward a common goal, and these values have significantly contributed to our ongoing dedication to support and lead our community. Through events such as National Manufacturing Day, we are proud to be able to share those values and the meaningful aspects of manufacturing with our friends, neighbors, and local students.
Since 1984, Astro Machine Works has been providing a wide range of manufacturing services, including CNC machining, reverse engineering, custom machine building, welding and fabrication, wire EDM machining, and more to our customers. We are pleased to serve clients spanning industries as diverse as the medical, energy, aerospace, and food processing industries.
Our modern, fully equipped work space is located in our 60,000-square-foot facilities located in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. As we draw closer to National Manufacturing Day, we at Astro Machine Works and our staff look forward to meeting these local students and sharing our facility, manufacturing expertise, and our industry knowledge. Here’s to another year of a successful week of National Manufacturing Day celebrations!