Festo Didactic celebrates Manufacturing Day, dedicates efforts to workforce development - The Robot Report

Festo Didactic, the vocational and technical training division of global automation company Festo SE, is celebrating its 100th anniversary alongside National Manufacturing Day, which launches Manufacturing Month in the U.S. Manufacturing Day, organized by the Manufacturing Institute, highlights modern factories and production technologies while promoting STEM education and addressing skilled labor shortages through events and job fairs. Ted Rozier, director of digital, advanced technology, and robotics at Festo Didactic, emphasized the company’s century-long innovation and its broad involvement in areas such as digitization and workforce development. Rozier discussed the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in manufacturing, noting the importance of using AI thoughtfully to enhance production processes rather than viewing it as a threat. He highlighted the need for education around data classification, predictive maintenance, and the integration of AI tools to empower technicians and operators—currently among the most in-demand manufacturing roles—to make better decisions and improve efficiency. On workforce development, Rozier stressed the importance of teaching practical skills across educational