Manufacturing Day, MFG DAY, is nationally recognized on the first Friday of October each year. MFG Day addresses common misperceptions about manufacturing by giving manufacturers an opportunity to open their doors and show, in a coordinated effort, what manufacturing is — and what it isn’t. By working together during and after MFG DAY, manufacturers will begin to address the skilled labor shortage they face, connect with future generations, take charge of the public image of manufacturing, and ensure the ongoing prosperity of the whole industry. The effort is co-produced by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), The Manufacturing Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST), Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), and Industrial Strength Marketing.

In just three years, National Manufacturing Day has achieved more than 1,600 manufacturing plant tours and events with an estimated 100,000+ attending. "Manufacturing Day is a great opportunity to shift Americans' perception that it is not our grandfather's manufacturing anymore and to showcase the tremendous career opportunities manufacturing has to offer," said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. "This day is an engaging way to attract young people and get them excited about pursuing a career in a technology-driven, innovative environment that will also provide a good-paying job. We encourage all manufacturers and manufacturing associations to get involved and share what we already know—manufacturing makes us strong."

"Manufacturing Day is a great opportunity to celebrate work and innovation of the 12 million men and women who make the United States the world's largest manufacturing economy," said Ed Youdell, president and CEO of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association.

"Manufacturing Day provides a focused point in time each year when all manufacturers in America can collaborate to bring attention to this crucial sector of the economy and celebrate their accomplishments," said Jennifer McNelly, president of The Manufacturing Institute. "This celebration of manufacturing is a chance for all of the great manufacturers who 'Make it in America' to show their value to their communities," said Roger Kilmer, director, Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

Power Partners invited the community to visit their facility for a plant tour on MFG Day and learn about a wide variety of career opportunities available in manufacturing. Power Partners manufacturers pole-mounted and submersible distribution transformers. They are a leading manufacturer of overhead distribution transformers in North America, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean and other markets. 

More than 8.5 million transformers have been produced at the Power Partners' plant in Athens, Georgia.  Power Partners' products include single-phase and three-phase pole-type transformers at 34.5 kV and below, in ratings from 5-1000 kVA single-phase and 30- 500 kVA three-phase. They also manufacture ECO-MAX adsorption chillers that convert waste heat or heat from solar collectors and convert it into cold water for air conditioning and other process requirements.

A bus load of about 50 students from Madison County Middle School were introduced to what a career in manufacturing might look like.  The students toured the 20 acre facility off Newton Bridge Road and had the opportunity to see  how transformers are made and hear from the people who work there. The students met engineers, mechanics, human resources, painters, welders, and technicians. The highlight for many was the simulated lightning strike, or impulse test, where they could see a bolt of electricity shoot between two metal conductors to test for failure in the transformer. At the end of the tour, the students heard from representatives from Athens Technical College where they learned about the different opportunities the college offers for degrees in manufacturing fields such as Machine Tool Technology, Drafting, Electrical Systems Technology and Engineering.

Learn more about Power Partners at http://www.ppiway.com