“The biggest thing for us is being able to show students that manufacturing is happening here in Michigan,” said, Director of Marketing & Communications Greg Vanwagenen. “These tours allow us to inspire a new generation to look for opportunities and be excited about future employment in manufacturing.”
With 30 students expected Friday, October 6, Manitou staff are willing to sacrifice a few hours of their production schedule to guide young minds through the boat-building process. Beginning with a video from Lansing Mayor Verg Bernero and factory floor tour, students from the Lansing School District and six neighboring counties will see Manitou turn raw materials into industry-leading pontoon boats.
“Manufacturing is extremely strong in our market,” Vanwagenen is happy to report. “Right now, we’re cresting where we were before the 2009 crisis and demand is only increasing.”
National Manufacturing Day started in 2012 as an annual celebration of modern manufacturing. Manufacturers invite students, educators, business people, media, and politicians to their facilities in a collective effort to educate visitors about manufacturing careers and improve public perceptions of manufacturing. Officially recognized by President Obama in 2014, local partners are now hosting over 2,800 events nationwide.
“Last year was our first year hosting Manufacturing Day tours,” Vanwagenen continued. “The students loved it and our staff loved the opportunity give back to the community, hopefully by encouraging students to look for careers in their own backyard.”
Manitou Pontoon Boats, in opening their doors to National Manufacturing Day student tours, is joined by Alro Steel (Potterville), Bekum, Cameron Tool, Capital Steel & Wire, Chassix, Dakkota Integrated Systems, Dart Container, Eckhart, Emergent BioSolutions, Enprotech, Franchino Mold and Engineering, General Motors, GSE Industrial Automation, GM, Hatch Stamping, IMPCO, Kirchhoff Automotive, Neogen, Niowave, Orchid Orthopedic Solutions, Peckham, Roberts Sinto, RSDC, Spartan Motors, and Triton Industries. For more information on Manufacturing Day and Manitou Pontoon Boats, please use the following links:
www.manitoupontoonboats.com
www.camconline.org/mfgday.php
www.mfgday.com
This article first appeared on Great Lakes Boating Magazine's website.
