ARCADIA, Wis. — For the eighth consecutive year, Ashley Furniture Industries has hosted local students to participate in educational tours in celebration of National Manufacturing Day. Throughout the month of October, Ashley welcomed over 770 K-12 students to tour its facilities in Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin. Ashley continues to invest in future leaders by showcasing a variety of career pathways and providing them with a first-hand look at working in the industry. National Manufacturing Day is celebrated on the first Friday of October across the country.

 The students had the opportunity to interact with Ashley employees across various departments, including product design, automation, fabrication, assembly and quality. The tour emphasized the significant economic impact of manufacturing on local communities and the essential role that manufacturing plays in driving economic growth and job creation.

“I was very impressed with the educational insights that Ashley provided for our 6th-grade students, it was fantastic,” stated Derek Updike, a teacher in Arcadia School District. “The organization and thought that went into the presentation and tour, interactions with Ashley employees, the message of teamwork and responsibility. I could go on and on, it was very appreciated by our students.”

In addition to hosting the next generation of manufacturers, the company also celebrated National Manufacturing Day internally, sharing appreciation for the manufacturing workforce across the country.

Committed to creating meaningful educational partnerships, Ashley has developed and strengthened collaborations with K-12 and post-secondary schools, investing in learning opportunities, scholarships, instructor training, and robotics programs. As manufacturing continues to advance, Ashley recognizes the vital importance of educating and training the current and future workforce to add value to our communities.