So God Made Manufacturing

On February 3, 2013 I was watching Super Bowl XLVII – the Baltimore Ravens vs. the San Franscisco 49ers – and I had a very emotional moment. Not because I’m a lifelong Cleveland Browns fan and just seeing the Ravens take the field always gets me fired up. No, it was a commercial that sparked my emotions, and in a very good way. Ram Trucks did a spot that paid tribute to America’s farmers and Paul Harvey’s classic speech “So God Made a Farmer.” As I watched and listened to the words, I started translating in my head…this could just as easily be about manufacturers! Immediately I penned my “homage” to the subject, which you can see here in this video.

An Inspiration

On the day I wrote So God Made Manufacturing , I had my father on my mind. I was taken back to the 1960s. A time of the golden voice of Paul Harvey and of course this man…my dad.

He was the essence of my works…my inspiration as a typical machinist in the “iron age” of manufacturing.

MANUFACTURING DAY 2015

This Friday, October 2, is Manufacturing Day, a celebration that’s meant to inspire the next generation of manufacturers. Here at Okuma America we’ll be hosting nearly 150 local students, and we have a packed agenda of educational and entertaining activities planned for them. I hope we inspire them, as I was inspired at a young age.

WHAT DOES MANUFACTURING MEAN TO YOU?

This is the week when we all join together and reflect on the importance of manufacturing in our lives and in our great country. What does manufacturing mean to you? Please comment below and share your thoughts and inspirations.

Ted Driggs is Project Manager, Okuma America Corporation.

More: For a written copy of the essay "So God Made Manufacturing," click here.