On this first Friday of October, Goodwin College will be celebrating both the hard-working makers and aspiring innovators, the modern technology and the remarkable history, that have truly made the manufacturing industry what it is today. We invite you to join us in honoring Manufacturing Day 2017.

Manufacturing Day is an annual and national movement recognizing the importance of manufacturing (and its workers) in the United States. This year, Manufacturing Day falls on Friday, October 6, 2017. However, honoring manufacturing industry can go much beyond this specific day. In many states, including Connecticut, the full 31-days of October are dedicated to Manufacturing Month!

Since 2011, the state of Connecticut has named the month of October, “Connecticut. Dream it. Do it. Manufacturing Month.” Now in its sixth year, the goal of Manufacturing Month is to introduce young minds and aspiring makers to the thriving, creative, yet often overlooked, field of manufacturing. This is exactly what Goodwin College’s Manufacturing and Machining School aims to do.

There is no doubt that the manufacturing field is prospering. And we, as a state and a country, wouldn’t be where we are now without it. 90 percent of Americans agree that manufacturing is the most essential industry for economic development and prosperity in the United States. 90 percent believe that it is imperative to uphold our current standard of living – most of our daily essentials, not to mention our gadgets and other luxuries, are a product of manufacturing.

Take a look around you. Are there buildings and houses around you? Do you see cars on the road, a boat in the water, or an aircraft in the sky? Are you reading this article on your computer or mobile device right now? There are all things that have been manufactured by expert and skilled innovators. Even your basic items, such as your wallet, your keys, the clothes you are wearing, the desk or chair you are sitting at, the BPA-free to-go coffee mug you’re sipping out of – those are all manufactured, too.

It’s hard to think about life without all of these things, but that would be a life without manufacturing. It’s no wonder, then, that this industry gets a whole holiday, and even entire month, to celebrate its importance. Today, nearly everything around you exists because of the manufacturing industry and the innovative, dedicated pioneers and workers behind it.

The problem today is that many young people do not know about the creative, colorful side of the manufacturing industry. Instead, many will think of their forefathers and black and white movies, of heavy machinery and old factory settings. They think manufacturing is about quantity, not quality. But that is no longer the case. The manufacturing industry is no longer about making more, it’s about making better. Manufacturing processes are getting leaner and greener, with more sustainable equipment in use and less output going to waste. Today’s manufacturing industry is high-tech, efficient, and booming with new ideas and inventive thinkers. And it needs more of them.

The United States estimates that 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will become available by the year 2024. This means 3.5 million new jobs for aspiring, skilled workers to fill. Even right now in Connecticut, there are more open manufacturing jobs than there are skilled employees to fill them.

If you are interested in a high-demand career path, enjoy working with your hands and have a passion for innovation, think manufacturing. Within the industry, you can pursue CNC machining, supply chain, quality control, logistics, metrology, technology, and even management positions. Goodwin College can help you find the perfect fit for your skillset, and get you started towards a manufacturing career.

Goodwin’s Manufacturing and Machining School in Connecticut offers both Bachelor and Associate degree level programs for aspiring makers. We also have many collegiate certificate programs that can help you further your education and become certified in the field. And in light of Manufacturing Day and Manufacturing Month 2017, Goodwin College would like to highlight our latest path for manufacturing students: a full-time, accelerated certificate program in CNC Machining, Metrology, and Manufacturing Technology.

The manufacturing industry needs highly-skilled and trained employees now. That is why we make it easy for you to get on the fast track towards a job in the manufacturing field. At Goodwin College, you can now complete your Certificate in CNC Machining, Metrology, and Manufacturing Technology in just 22 ½ weeks. We’ve partnered with manufacturing employers across Connecticut to make our program shorter in length and less expensive, so that you can land a job quickly without burning through your wallet.

We know you’re eager to get out there, to get working, and to become a major player in the manufacturing industry. Why not apply today? Our new manufacturing program is open enrollment – meaning there are no wait lists to enroll. Contact us at 800-889-3282 to request more information, or visit www.goodwin.edu/landingpages/manufacturing/ to learn more.