“By adding a second day, we were able to meet and speak with even more students and educators from across the area and it certainly was a worthwhile experience for us, as well as the students.”

Students were eager to learn about careers at the facility, which is the sole global source of Honda’s Odyssey minivan, Pilot SUV and Ridgeline pickup, as well as the Acura MDX.

Last month, workers there produced the facility’s 4 millionth vehicle.

The students toured the plant, talked to employees and took a look at the plant’s racing vehicles.

They also got to test their own skills by participating in a technical competition to see how many bolts they could torque through a threaded plate in 30 seconds.

National Manufacturing Day, observed each year in October, is sponsored in part by the National Association of Manufacturers.

iNSPIRING A NEW GENERATION

The Honda plant has been involved in a number of similar activities, part of a proactive approach to show off its innovative operations and inspire a new generation of manufacturing workers.

Last spring, during the Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at Birmingham’s Barber Motorsports Park, the automaker hosted a “Gear Up Your Career” event along with its suppliers, area staffing firms, colleges and universities.

Students got to try out assembling engines, virtually painting a car and other complex processes employed in today’s modern manufacturing industry.

The activities help show high school students that there are a variety of different careers and opportunities in the field, Watkins said.

“HMA associates have been a dedicated part of the workforce in this area and state for a long time, and we’re proud to welcome students in, let them see the skills associates have, get them excited about manufacturing and a potential future with Honda,” he added.