MTU America Hosts Annual Girls Day at Manufacturing Plant

Manufacturing Day is a national event highlighting the power of American innovation and celebrating manufacturers across the

country. For the past three years, FLATE and its statewide network of partners across Florida has taken a leading role in conducting and hosting MFG Day events. These efforts have led to Florida consistently being placed at the top in the nation for hosting MFG day events overriding states that are considered a much bigger hub for manufacturing than the sunshine state. 

Plans for Manufacturing Day 2016 are starting to take shape. Most recently, MTU America hosted its annual Girls Day event, exposing young girls to manufacturing processes and careers at its MTU Aiken Plant last month. The event aims to educate young girls about the careers available in the manufacturing industry and stokes interest in an industry that is typically male-dominated. All seven of the Aiken County Public School District’s high schools participated in this year’s event.

According to a news release from MTU America, the gender pay gap is a hot topic in the United State, considering the upcoming election and various legislation in the works to help close it. A recent study from Fortune magazine suggests that getting more women into middle-skill jobs such as manufacturing, information technology, transportation, distribution and logistics could result in closing the gap and an earnings increase for all women. MTU’s Girls Day offers young women a glimpse into the world of manufacturing while cultivating the belief that girls and boys are equally capable of achieving success in the industry, according to a news release from MTU America.

At this year’s event, MTU hosted 85 local female ninth-graders to hear directly from women in the manufacturing industry about their education, career path and the opportunities available for women in manufacturing. The girls also toured the plant, got hands-on experience with components in the plant and learned about MTU America’s high school apprenticeship program.

For more information on MTU visit http://www.mtuamericacareers.com. 

FLATE will be making announcements about 2016 Manufacturing Day in Florida, and related tours/events in the next month, or two. Stay tuned for updates that will be posted at http://madeinflorida.org/manufacturing-day, or email Executive Director of FLATE, Dr. Marilyn Barger at barger@fl-ate.org.