Honda facilities in Alabama and Ohio joined thousands of other U.S. manufacturers to mark the fifth annual Manufacturing Day where companies host students, teachers, parents and community leaders to showcase the diverse skills and job opportunities in the manufacturing industry. Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) and Honda Transmission Mfg. of America (HTM) hosted events on October 6 and October 7.

More than 200 high school students spent the day at HMA learning what goes into manufacturing Honda vehicles in Alabama and around the world, as well as the many careers involved in operating a manufacturing facility.

“This is our second year to welcome students into HMA as a part of National Manufacturing Day, and this year, we extended it to two days,” said Matt Watkins, Staffing and Development Department Manager. “Adding a second day enabled us to meet and speak with even more students and educators from across the area and it certainly was a worthwhile experience for us, as well as the students.”

Groups had the chance to tour the plant, see assembly processes in action and even get hands on – competing in a technical competition against one another to see how many bolts they could torque through a threaded plate in 30 seconds.

“Activities like Manufacturing Day help to create an interest in manufacturing among high school students, and show them that there are a variety of different careers and opportunities available to them in a manufacturing environment,” Watkins said. “HMA associates have been a dedicated part of the workforce in this area for a long time, and we’re proud to welcome students in, let them see the skills associates have, get them excited about manufacturing and see a potential future with Honda.”

Approximately 700 students from 17 schools visited HTM during its two-day event which featured a plant tour, engagement stations, including a parts measuring activity, a 3D printer and information from area colleges on careers in manufacturing.

“Honda Transmission Mfg. has a strong commitment to our communities, we are working diligently to reduce the skills gap in the manufacturing sector by placing a strong emphasis on educating our future workforce about opportunities that exist in manufacturing,” said Plant Manager Gary Hand. “We believe our efforts are resulting in a better informed and more engaged student population as they make decisions on their future career path.”

A planned event at Honda of South Carolina Mfg. (HSC) was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. It will be rescheduled for later in the month.

National Manufacturing Day is sponsored in part by the National Association of Manufacturers and is observed each year in October.