Manufacturing Day is a celebration of modern manufacturing meant to inspire and build awareness for the next generation of manufacturers. This year, Manufacturing Day is October 6, 2017. The Schertz Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) in conjunction with the San Antonio Manufactures Association (SAMA) are planning activities for the public to attend.  Multiple events are planned throughout the day, including plant tours at CalTex Protective Coatings, located at 7455 FM 3009 located in Schertz in the morning and the Toyota Motor Manufacturing facility in San Antonio in the afternoon.

“Caltex is pleased to open our doors on October 6, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. to celebrate Manufacturing Day and feature how we have become the premier provider of automotive coatings sold through dealerships nationwide.  We see this as an opportunity to do what we can to debunk the myth that modern shop floors are dirty factories of the past and that manufacturing is an excellent career choice,” said Rande Hawkinson, Executive Vice President of Operations, CalTex.

Manufacturing facilities, which include highly trained, well-paid employees who work on technical equipment, are commonly thought of as antiquated factories designed for low-skilled workers.  Manufacturing Day addresses this misperception by giving all manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, exactly what manufacturing is – and what it is not.

“We are excited to work with SEDC and SAMA to celebrate Manufacturing Day with fellow manufacturers, students, educators, businesspeople, and our elected officials to educate them about manufacturing careers and improving the public perceptions of manufacturing,” said Hawkinson.

A change in perception is the first step in addressing one of the main challenges faced by manufacturers – a gap in skilled labor.  By giving manufacturers an occasion to share what they do with their communities, Manufacturing Day provides manufacturers with an opportunity to connect directly with job seekers and students to begin to address the skilled labor shortage they face.

“Some residents may have never been inside a manufacturing plant and this is a great opportunity to see what happens inside. The tours expose them to careers they may have never considered,” said Kyle Kinateder, Executive Director, Schertz Economic Development Corporation.

“To change perceptions about manufacturing, we are partnering with our manufacturers, workforce development partners and schools to encouraging residents and students to explore the possibilities offered by a manufacturing career. Providing a realistic picture of today’s manufacturing world – clean, quiet, and modern with cutting edge automation – through site visits to local manufacturers, they can see how they can get started in an exciting industry,” said Kinateder.

Manufacturing Day is a component of the SEDC’s business retention and expansion activities and demonstrates the corporation’s commitment to support manufacturing industries. The SEDC and our regional partners are arduously working to build a strong manufacturing base with a skilled workforce which strengthens our overall economy.

Attendance on the plant tours is limited and registration is required. Registration is available online at www.sama-tx.org/events/mfg-day/ or by calling SAMA at (210) 979-7530.