Students, teachers, and industry partners attended DMI Companies, Inc.’s eighth annual Manufacturing (MFG) Day event on October 2, 2024, for a day of career exploration and development activities at two of DMI’s plants.

The MFG Day events were held simultaneously at our Monongahela, Pennsylvania, and Wagoner, Oklahoma, locations so that participants at the two locations could collaborate via video conference at various points throughout the day.  Approximately 70 students from Belle Vernon Area High School, Charleroi High School, Elizabeth Forward High School, Ringgold High School, and Central Westmoreland Career and Technology Center visited our Monongahela facility, while approximately 50 students from Wagoner High School and the Indian Capital Technology Center (Tahlequah and Coweta campuses) visited our Wagoner facility.

To kick off our MFG Day, students were welcomed by DMI Companies’ President and CEO Ray Yeager, heard more about MFG Day from Workforce Development Manager Katie Hager, and were given a brief safety presentation by Safety Manager Nick Dadig to ensure their safety as they walked through our facilities.

Then, Catalyst Connection’s Director of Communication & Community Outreach, Tom Reed, spoke to students about the history of manufacturing and what a career in manufacturing can provide.

Students were then divided into groups to participate in hands-on activities, including creating a functional catapult, learning the chemical reactions behind and creating elephant toothpaste, assembling access doors using lean manufacturing processes, and programming robots to perform simple automation tasks.

In the afternoon, students reassembled to listen to Katie Hager’s presentation about careers in manufacturing. They also heard from Automation Engineer Julietta Maffeo about her career path at DMI and how her success started with programs like MFG Day, BotsIQ, and a DMI internship. Lastly, students participated in an engaging game of Blooket to reinforce the information they learned throughout the day.

DMI has hosted MFG Day events since 2016, which have provided hundreds of students with opportunities to learn about advanced manufacturing and the variety of career opportunities it offers. Many of those students have returned to participate in additional DMI Workforce Development programs and have even joined us as full-time employees.

Thanks to all who helped make this MFG Day possible. Numerous teachers, students, and industry partners have said it was the best MFG Day we have ever hosted.