BDE Celebrates Manufacturing Day 2017

This year, BDE Manufacturing Technologies (BDE) celebrated the Manufacturing Day by opening its doors to local high school students. These students are enrolled in pre-engineering and machine tool courses. Are you interested to know about the importance of the Manufacturing Day? Or the highlights of celebration at BDE? If yes, this post will enlighten you about the same. 

An Introduction to the Manufacturing Day

Various studies suggest that more than 80% of Americans favor manufacturing over other industries. They believe it is an important aspect of a steady economy and ensures a high standard of living. However, only 30% people allow their children to make a career in manufacturing. This mindset needs to be reversed. Thus, the Manufacturing Day seeks to encourage students to build careers in manufacturing. 

The Manufacturing Day was first celebrated in 2012. Generally, it is observed on the first Friday of October. This year, it was observed on October 6, 2017. In short, Manufacturing Day celebrates the manufacturing technologies and trends to inspire the next-generation manufacturers. This day is co-produced by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), the Manufacturing Institute (MI), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) and Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP).

Most manufacturers celebrate the occasion by inviting students, businesspeople, educators, politicians, and celebrities to their facilities. The aim is to educate them about various manufacturing careers, as well as improve their understanding about manufacturing. As every year, being a registered event host, BDE invited students to have a facility tour and encouraged them to follow the various technologies. 

Highlights of the Manufacturing Day event at BDE

The following are the highlights of the event at BDE:

• Machines on Display: During the tour, students accompanied by an expert, saw various manufacturing machinery and inspection equipment in our well-equipped facility, which included the following:

1. Okuma and Haas vertical milling machines 

2. Mazak lathe 

3. Vintage Gorton, Bridgeport, Trak, and Harding machines

4. Multi-machine Okuma MB-5000h cell with Fastems pallet system

5. Wire EDM

6. OGP Smart Scopes

7. 3D Master Gauge

• Interactive Sessions: After the facility tour, we conducted an interactive session. Our experts took turns to answer their questions. The following are a few questions asked by the students:

1. What is the minimum education required for a manufacturing job?

Our answer was, a student can pursue a career in manufacturing after obtaining a GED or a high school diploma. Experience with various tools is desired. Also, students opting this career must complete courses on workplace safety, as well as training through their employer. 

2. Which is better – vertical milling or horizontal milling?

Both these types have their benefits. Thus, the choice will entirely depend on the type of work to be done. The choice of the right milling depends on factors like the size and shape of the workpiece, number of planes on which a piece is required to operate, etc. Horizontal milling is ideal for heavy items, as well as those that work on multiple sides. However, vertical milling is suited for items like sinking dies. Many items can be easily worked on either type of machine using the appropriate techniques. 

3. Which is better – a wire EDM or a milling machine?

Both these machining types offer typical advantages. A Wire EDM machining is suited for parts that have sharp inside corners, complex geometries, or require deep cutting and Punch & Die cutting. However, milling is appropriate for the majority of parts with that don’t require features needing Wire EDM, non-cosmetic surfaces, family parts, or parts where high accuracy is required. 

The students enjoyed the event, refreshments, as well as appreciated their experiences, and time at our facility. For more information, please contact us.