What’s So Cool About Manufacturing

Home » Workforce Initiatives » What’s So Cool About Manufacturing

WHAT’S SO COOL ABOUT MANUFACTURING?

Student Video Contest

What's So Cool About Manufacturing LogoWhat’s So Cool About Manufacturing® (WSCM) is a video-based educational tool created by a consortium of partners led by MRC in 2013 that increases awareness of career paths and technology in manufacturing through “peer marketing”, kids telling kids what’s so cool about manufacturing jobs.  The program is executed as a dynamic student video contest between 7th and 8th grade student teams.

Held annually, middle school teams representing their local school districts are paired with pre-selected manufacturers over the 4-month contest period.  Each team receives media technology, a curriculum, a teacher-coach, and hands-on training in videography and editing.  The students are free to film, edit, and produce a short video highlighting their assigned company’s manufacturing technology, employees, and products.  Local media personalities judge all competing videos for “Emmy” type award categories, and online voters determine the coveted “Viewers Choice” Award.

This contest allows students to connect with local manufacturers, document their experiences, and present them in an educational and “cool” way.  The contest was created to generate excitement that draws students towards manufacturing career paths, and CTE and STEM education. The program has expanded across the Commonwealth and the country. Inside Pennsylvania there has been 77 regional contests and 5 statewide awards, representing 60 of the 67 Pennsylvania counties.

Watch this video to find out What’s So Cool About Manufacturing! 

The “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing” comprehensive manufacturing video library was created by MRC and WSCM PA in 2020 and funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (PADCED). The interactive library of the who’s who in Pennsylvania manufacturing, garnered from the yearly regional contests, is intended to serve as an educational resource for anyone curious about manufacturing in Pennsylvania. The library can be accessed through the WhatsSoCool.org website and contains over 1200 student videos featuring 600 unique Pennsylvania manufacturers.

Contact Us

Contact Us

Don’t see what you are looking for or have a question? MRC can help. Contact us today!

Training and Certifications

MRC provides far more than certifications and funding assistance. We offer job creators access to specialized coaching, mentorship and a variety of business and marketing assistance normally outside the reach of most manufacturers.

Solutions

No matter what’s happening with your business, MRC has probably seen it. We know the problems that keep CEOs up at night, and we know how to help solve them. Our staff has more than 100 years of combined experience working side-by-side with business owners to evaluate, strategize, discover and implement solutions that address both strategic growth needs and organizational transformation.

Training & Events Calendar

MRC breaks down the barriers that prohibit manufacturers from realizing their full potential. Our proven tactics and methods can help nearly any company at nearly any stage of its evolution. Whatever the hurdle – going green, becoming lean, entering new markets, rebranding the company – MRC can help you clear it.

Workforce Initiatives

Developing Future Workforce with programs like: What’s So Cool About Manufacturing®, PA Dream Team, the Inside Manufacturing Series, and Manufacturing Day.

Resources

Through our partnerships, we are able to bring the horsepower of the best-in-breed experts to you. Imagine having access to the second-largest technology institute in the world, a corps of ex-Toyota executives trained under the best Lean practitioners in the world or world-renowned business strategy groups. MRC makes it possible.

About Us

For over 30 years, Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC) has helped small and mid-sized manufacturers become more competitive, adopt lean and agile processes, strategically grow their companies and invest more effectively in their existing human capital.

My Account

Ready to complete your event registration? Need to confirm the date of a previous registration? Find all these details here or call us at (610) 628-4640 for additional assistance.