Launched annually on the first Friday in October with events that continue throughout the month, MFG Day helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors to students, parents, teachers and community leaders. MFG Day empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive.
Be sure to seek out October events on our Training and Events page
and register to attend or tune in!
Plan, Host, Find – All you need to know about MFG Day/ Month
Planning your MFG Day event Check out the dozens of ways you and your teams can host an event – webinars, toolkits and so much more are at your fingertips to plan your best manufacturing event ever! Since MFG Day’s main focus is careers in manufacturing, we highly encourage you to reach out to your local Career & Technical Education Center (CTE). Be sure to view previously recorded webinars at MFG Day Webinars.
Host An Event Registering your event contributes to the larger MFG Day phenomenon in a major way. The more events we know about, the more people we can say we’ve affected — which inspires more interest in manufacturing. MFG Day makes a big impact in shifting the misconception of modern manufacturing. Tell your story by opening your doors – physically or virtually – and hosting an event with students, parents, educators, media, community leaders and elected officials. Registered events are reviewed for completeness and are generally made public within 24 hours after registrations are submitted.
Find An Event Check out what’s going on in the Green Mtn. State; be sure to type Vermont USA into the search field and plan to attend one or more events!
MFG Day is an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute, with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association as a founding partner. Check out any of the above links where many free resources and ideas are available to companies, organizations and educational institutions desiring to host special events. You may also contact Robynn Albert, VMEC Marketing and Training Manager, (802) 793-2078 or [email protected].
VMEC Hosted/ Co-Hosted MFG Day/ Month 2022 Events – click here
VMEC Hosted/ Co-Hosted MFG Day/ Month 2021 Events – click here
With nearly 600 online classes, virtual labs, instructor-led training, certifications, apprenticeships, consulting and more, Tooling U-SME works with thousands of company industry leaders, including more than half of all Fortune 500® manufacturers, 1,000+ educational institutions across the country and more than half of the states in our MEP National Network.
Manufacturers Are Able To:
- Build a more capable, adaptable workforce with 24/7 flexibility
- Close and add to targeted, foundational knowledge and skill gaps in real time
- Free up your internal experienced, value creating, in-demand technical experts
- Inspire individual, professional growth in a safe, self-paced, on-line environment
Technology and the Human Touch using Tooling U-SME and VMEC
Not only does Tooling U-SME deliver needed content, it delivers the latest technology. Interactive online classes increase engagement and knowledge retention and a mobile app provides the ability to learn anytime, anywhere.
Tooling U-SME and VMEC work together with you to identify the appropriate learning outcomes, and quickly customize paths and offerings to make the optimum impact for the company and the individuals. We add value to your training program by offering a blended and adaptive solution, providing input and follow-up to the selection of learning options, hands-on support and integration as needed. We excel in supporting adoption of new learning in your processes to ensure you get the maximum value from your training investment.
Tooling U-SME is for YOU!
“Tooling U-SME has been an integral part of The Husky Machinist Academy. It supplemented our curriculum with detailed, well-paced classes on topics like grinding, G code, and tool offsets, and reinforced the students’ classroom learning. A bonus was teaching “time management” and “work prioritization skills” to the apprentices. It fits in nicely to the program and we would like to incorporate it into future versions of The Husky Machinist Academy.”
- Devon McGarry, Campus Recruiter/Talent Marketing Specialist, Husky Technologies™
Contact Carla Wuthrich, VMEC Director of Field Operations and People Development Lead, to review the Tooling U-SME curriculum and find out how we can help you to support your people and your company results through these cutting edge programs.
VMEC is pleased to announce that we have partnered with highly accredited and acclaimed food safety experts in their respective fields to offer our VT manufacturers food safety certifications and training programs. As someone whose livelihood depends on keeping Vermonters and others around our country and possibly international populations with the highest quality of food and beverage the Green Mtn. State has to offer, we bring to you several opportunities to engage in programs to further develop your company’s success as it relates to food safety.
Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, the University of Idaho and Registrar Corp. are offering discounted programs in the form of certificates and CEUs (Continuing Education Units), virtual and in-person options ranging from a few hours to single day to multi-day courses.
The topic offerings just to name a few are: HACCP accredited courses, Food Safety Planning, Business Planning, FSMA Preventive Controls, Good Manufacturing Practices for Food, SQF Quality Management Systems, Managing Performance, Marketing, Cleaning and Sanitation, Environmental Hazards. There are many more valuable sessions that are geared to specific industries and topics.
Please visit the links below to sign up for a course or courses that suit the needs of you and your company as they relate to food safety. They fill fast so if you see something that interests you, please register at your earliest convenience. Each organization’s registration link is provided below and payment will be through their websites.
Cornell Dairy Foods Extension - To obtain the in-state (Vermont) discounted rate, please add “/VMEC” to your company name when registering and choose the in-state rate to be eligible for that level pricing; this applies for all Vermont food/ beverage producers. Questions? Contact Louise M. Felker, Program Coordinator, Cornell Dairy Foods Extension, [email protected]
Boise State - Idaho - Tech Help - To obtain a 10% discount off the final price of any of their events, insert coupon code “VMEC10” when prompted. Questions? Contact Dr. Janna Hamlett, Asst. Professor & Food Processing Specialist, Tech Help, [email protected]
Registrar Corp. - To obtain a 25% discount off the final price of online training and downloadable templates, please contact Louis Prue, VMEC Business Advisor, or Robynn Albert, VMEC Marketing and Training Manager, and one of them will provide a promo code to be used during the check out process. Questions? Contact Betsy Hsiao, Director of Food Safety Online Training, Registrar Corp., [email protected]
Launched on August 22, CONNEX™ Vermont is the Green Mountain State’s answer to your Supply Chain solution. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, this is the one-stop, on-line platform which connects small manufacturers and suppliers to large primes, OEM’s and other buyers.
Curious how to set up your account? Have an account but want to learn more? Wondering why you should be involved in CONNEX™ Vermont at all and what’s in it for you and your manufacturing organization? This introductory session is just what you need; we’ll take you through the ease of setting up your account, answer questions about creating your company’s profile, how to find buyer and supplier opportunities through the exchange center and access not only Vermont supply chain solutions but national ones as well.
Who Should Attend? Anyone and everyone interested in learning how to solve their company’s supply chain challenges. There is no cost to Vermont manufacturers to be part of the CONNEX™ Vermont platform. AND if you register your account before November 20, 2023, you will obtain one full year of national access for FREE!
We look forward to seeing you soon to help you with your supply chain solution through CONNEX™ Vermont!
Wednesday, October 4, 12:15 – 12:30 pm, WCAX – Across The Fence – Join VMEC Director of Business Development Brett Ference to find out about VMEC's mission and dedication to the Green Mountain State's manufacturers, how manufacturers create opportunities and prosperity for Vermont and one of its newest service offerings that is key in the local and national supply chain solution. Across the Fence is a daily, 15-minute television program co-produced by University of Vermont Extension and WCAX-TV, Channel 3. It is the only program of its kind in the United States. Visit Across The Fence for complete details of how to view the program.
Launched on August 22, CONNEX™ Vermont is the Green Mountain State’s answer to your Supply Chain solution. Whether you’re a buyer or seller, this is the one-stop, on-line platform which connects small manufacturers and suppliers to large primes, OEM’s and other buyers.
Curious how to set up your account? Have an account but want to learn more? Wondering why you should be involved in CONNEX™ Vermont at all and what’s in it for you and your manufacturing organization? This introductory session is just what you need; we’ll take you through the ease of setting up your account, answer questions about creating your company’s profile, how to find buyer and supplier opportunities through the exchange center and access not only Vermont supply chain solutions but national ones as well.
Who Should Attend? Anyone and everyone interested in learning how to solve their company’s supply chain challenges. There is no cost to Vermont manufacturers to be part of the CONNEX™ Vermont platform. AND if you register your account before November 20, 2023, you will obtain one full year of national access for FREE!
We look forward to seeing you soon to help you with your supply chain solution through CONNEX™ Vermont!
Join VMEC Center Director and CEO Patrick Boyle to hear why manufacturing is important to Vermont, what are the challenges and opportunities ahead and much more. Ethan Allen Institute sponsors Common Sense Radio with Bill Sayre, broadcasting from station WDEV on both the airwaves and the internet. Visit Common Sense Radio for complete details of how to tune or call into the program.
Root Cause Analysis/ Structured Problem Solving teaches a structured approach to problem solving by applying experimentation and the Plan, Do, Check, Act (PDCA) cycle. This simple, teachable, repeatable and consistent method can be used to approach any type of problem or opportunity. Applicable from the CEO to front line personnel, Root Cause Analysis/ Structured Problem Solving helps identify the true root cause of problems and implements effective, sustainable solutions.
Participants will learn through exercises and examples how to apply real solutions to real problems at work using the Toyota Kata method - a skill-building process to shift your mindset and habits from a natural tendency to jump to conclusions to a tendency to think and act more scientifically. This session will also teach and practice the elements of A3 thinking to clearly and concisely capture and communicate the team’s problem solving activity visually, including a problem statement, background, causes, countermeasures and results.
The training and its hands-on exercises will include:
- Effectively describing a problem or opportunity
- Using data to break down a problem
- Applying divergent thinking, brainstorming and mind mapping to come to a resolution
- Root cause analysis, decision making and convergence
- Conducting team meetings
- Experimenting toward target conditions
Included in the course for all participants is a coaching session within 4 weeks of completing the workshop.
Note: We will need a minimum of five (5) persons registered for this training on or before October 10; if we're unable to meet the minimum, we'll re-schedule this training for a later date.
Who Should Attend: If you’re seeking professional development to learn and apply structured problem solving methods with your colleagues and an opportunity to engage with problem solvers from other industries, this is for you!
Companies sending five (5) or more participants to this session will also receive a planning session prior to the workshop. Contact Carla Wuthrich or Louis Prue for details.
Much like continuous improvement, Lean transformation is a methodology that can and should be applied to all areas of a manufacturing business, not just the shop floor. It is a common misconception that the purpose of Lean transformation is to eliminate waste. The real purpose of Lean transformation is to increase efficiency, agility and transparency across the organization. Eliminating waste is really just a natural outcome of properly implementing lean.
Lean organizations strive to align their skills, resources, processes and strategy with the wants of their customer. Organizations who implement this correctly can rapidly respond to change in order to ensure success for today and tomorrow.
According to the Lean Business Report in a survey of over 3,000 respondents, the benefits of Lean are:
- Manage complexity
- More efficiency
- Better change management
- Increased visibility at the team level
- Increased productivity
- Reduced lead time
- Increased team morale
- Improved visibility for stakeholders
- Reduced costs
- Predictable delivery of customer value
If we align these benefits to the current and growing workforce shortage problem, we can see how Lean can help manufacturers sustain success. More than ever before employers need to do everything they can to keep their best talent, attract great new hires, do more with less and free up capital for skilled worker salaries and benefits. Various surveys related to hiring and retention point to the same reasons that people love their jobs and stay - great pay, great coworkers, understand that they’re human, opportunities to learn, management support and great training.
Questions? Contact VMEC Business Growth Advisors Carla Wuthrich or Louis Prue regarding the training and its content. If you encounter issues registering for this training, contact Chris Gray, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Instructor, River Valley Technical Center at [email protected] or (802) 885-8321.
Biotechnology holds substantial promise and impact across various economic sectors including the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and environmental industries. A cornerstone of biotechnology is the production of monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are laboratory-engineered molecules designed to act as substitute antibodies that can restore, enhance, or mimic the immune system's ability to target foreign cells and molecules. They have emerged as a crucial tool in biotechnology, medicine, and research owing to their specificity and versatility.
As Vermont’s pioneering biotech company, Green Mountain Antibodies has over 25 years of experience making mAbs and has become a trusted partner for large pharmaceutical corporations, innovative biotech startups, and non-profit research organizations. They specialize in producing mAbs for both therapeutic and diagnostic applications encompassing areas like cancer, autoimmunity, and infectious diseases. The development and use of monoclonal antibodies signify a remarkable advancement in the capacity to treat, diagnose, and study diseases, showcasing the power of harnessing the immune system towards better healthcare outcomes.
Situated in the historic Chace Mill in Burlington, VT, their state-of-the-art laboratory, offices, and learning spaces are the hub of innovation where their team of over 25 dedicated employees work in value-driven zones to deliver unparalleled service to our clients. Being early adopters of Lean manufacturing principles, GMA fostered a fruitful partnership with VMEC beginning in 2005, setting a benchmark in manufacturing excellence. This collaboration has been instrumental in embedding a culture of continuous learning and improvement across people, processes, and strategic approach.
Agenda: 9:00 - 9:30 am - Registration and networking
9:30 am - 12 Noon - Welcome, Presentation, Tour, Q&A
Plan to attend this valuable presentation and tour-based event where you’ll learn how Lean and Continuous Improvement play a key role in the continued growth of this successful VT manufacturer who’s on the forefront of promoting mAbs to improve science and health. No more than 3 employees per company, please.
