On Friday, October, 3, we celebrated MFG Day (Manufacturing Day), a moment to honor an industry that drives progress, innovation and opportunity.
Celebrated annually on the first Friday in October, MFG Day is a national grassroots movement that demonstrates the reality and future of modern manufacturing careers. Thousands of companies and educational institutions nationwide are invited to open their doors to students, parents, educators and community leaders to build excitement about manufacturing careers, helping their communities and future generations thrive.
At AME, we don’t celebrate MFG Day on one day. We champion manufacturing and the people who power it all year long.
This week, the manufacturing spirit came to life at our AME St. Louis 2025 International Conference, where nearly 1,000 professionals from manufacturing and other industries gathered in the vibrant city of St. Louis. Together, we embraced learning, sharing and growing to shape the future of our industry.
I am especially proud to highlight AME Board Director Ellen Sieminski, who was featured on MFG Day in her very first podcast episode, “Empowering Women” with Shannon Bumgarner. In this inspiring conversation, Ellen shares her journey of leadership, resilience, and her unwavering belief that manufacturing must always be people-powered. You can listen here.
Did you know that women now make up 29 percent of the U.S. manufacturing workforce? It’s a milestone worth recognizing, yet the journey toward equity is far from over. Representation in leadership and innovation continues to grow, and voices like Ellen’s are helping to shape the future of manufacturing.
With more than 25 years of experience transforming teams, processes and culture, Ellen embodies AME’s mission to put people at the heart of continuous improvement. As she reminds us: “If you’re not engaging the people doing the work, you’re missing the point of lean.”
Stories like Ellen’s are what make AME unique. We are truly a community dedicated to people, progress and possibility. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.
Stay tuned — we will be sharing conference updates in future letters.
As always, please stay safe and keep looking out for one another.