October is Manufacturing Month: Here’s What to Expect

Manufacturing Month is here! Until now, this meant a plethora of trade shows, events, and expos running throughout October. This year, however, due to COVID-19, many in-person events have been cancelled, postponed, or amended, but - in true manufacturing spirit - the celebration of Manufacturing Month is set to continue all month long, only virtually.

Traditionally, Manufacturing Month brings to light the businesses and technologies which have made great strides over the previous year - as well as showcasing the exciting trends and expectations for the year to come. This year, Manufacturing Day falls on October 2nd.

What to Expect...

The pandemic environment, and the consequential social distancing requirements, have forced events to switch from in-person to virtual. Rather than meeting together at technical colleges or on shop floors, many events will be taking place as webinars or virtual experiences. For students, many companies have opted for digital activity packets to work in conjunction with virtual events to promote hands-on learning.

As it lands in the middle of trade show season, Manufacturing Month also serves as a way for companies to build excitement for major exhibitions and expos. Notably, a few trade shows which were scheduled for November have already been cancelled, like PackExpo International/Healthcare Packaging Expo, which unites over 600 suppliers in packaging, and FABTECH Expo, the largest Metal Forming, Fabricating, Finishing, and Welding event in North America. However, companies still have a chance to gather and network, only virtually, as these organizations find workable solutions for the current environment - like PackExpo’s “PackExpo Connects” event. The expo, conducted completely virtually, includes more than 600 suppliers, 2000 virtual demonstrations, and interactive sessions for attendees.

With COVID, What is There To Talk About?

Despite the global period of disruption, manufacturing is as exciting as ever. Throughout the third quarter of this year, and into the fourth, the industry has seen steady growth - regardless of challenges with labor shortages, fulfillment obstacles, and stressors of a pandemic environment. The Institute for Supply Management reports the purchasing manager’s index rose to 56.0% in August, increasing 1.8 points from July, according to IndustryWeek. Similar increases could be seen in the production index growth rate (63.3%) and new orders index growth rate (67.6%), rising 1.2 points and 6.1 points from July, respectively. Consumer demand across the industry, for nearly every sector, is driving production to new heights, and consequently, new hires. In August, the employment index reached 46.4%, 2.1 points more than July.