business backgrounder | manufacturing
Broadcasting the Stories of Manufacturing
This year ’ s Manufacturing Week tour had a new TV-style look , but the same deep focus on Washington ’ s vital manufacturing sector .
Brian Mittge
From Spokane to Vancouver , Everett to Walla Walla , AWB ’ s fourth-annual Manufacturing Week tour was fully socially distanced but still live and on-site at key manufacturing-related locations . Themes ranged from workforce and innovation to aerospace and women in manufacturing . Every moment was broadcast live from a mobile network studio in the style of ESPN ’ s College “ GameDay .”
At A Glance
Manufacturing helps drive Washington ’ s economy , producing more than $ 63 billion in goods annually and accounting for more than 11 % of the gross state product .
Manufacturing industries employ more than 298,000 people in Washington with total average compensation of $ 93,095 , compared to the statewide average of $ 60,504 .
Exports drive Washington ’ s manufacturing economy . More than $ 46 billion in manufactured goods were exported in 2018 . Washington saw nearly 14 % growth in the export of manufactured goods from 2010 to 2019 .
www . MFGisWA . org
In October AWB hit the road for the fourth annual Manufacturing Week tour , but this year ’ s event was anything but ordinary .
In the face of the Covid-19 pandemic , the tour was revamped to retain the dynamism of a cross-state tour , but also to be safe and socially distanced .
That meant a pivot away from tours of factory floors and toward a live show in the style of ESPN ’ s College GameDay . Manufacturing Week Live broadcast over six days from a mobile studio set up at key sites across the state , from Vancouver and Walla Walla to Spokane and Everett .
Each day had a different focus , including honoring a local PPE hero — a manufacturer that helped create the key safety supplies to respond to the pandemic .
34 association of washington business