By John C. Viskup, Jr
President and CEO Victory Energy

Manufacturing has played an integral part in the success story of the United States and the world for centuries.  The Industrial Revolution would not have been possible without the genius and grit of the people who made a career in manufacturing.  Too often, it’s underappreciated and undervalued.  Think for a minute.  What would the world be like without manufacturing?  Imagine a world without the steam that our boilers, burners and heat recovery products generate in applications around the globe.

We make products that are vital to many facets of life.  When viewed from the outside, it looks easy.  It’s not.  The skills and knowledge required in the manufacturing world today are wide ranging.  Technology rules the day on the factory floor. No longer are brawn and brute strength the required attributes for success.  The manufacturing plants of today are incredibly complex, with IoT being the hub.  The people responsible for manufacturing at Victory Energy are among the smartest and brightest.  Being a vertically-integrated supplier is complex.  It requires staying ahead of the curve.

Manufacturing doesn’t get the credit and acclaim that it deserves.  There is usually little understanding of what goes into the production of products and systems.  As a manufacturer, we’ve made it appear easy and seamless.  The quality of end-use products is off the charts.  Reliability is tremendous.  Many take manufacturing for granted.

It’s important to pay homage to manufacturers on “Manufacturing Day.”  If you’re in the manufacturing business, you understand the daily, monthly and year-over-year challenges and obstacles.  It’s up to us to educate the public about how a successful manufacturing base impacts their lives.  It’s a tremendous responsibility.  At Victory Energy, we live steam and how it enhances people’s lives.  There is no better sense of accomplishment for me than seeing a boiler leave our operation.  It means there are going to be decades of steam production coming out of that boiler which was manufactured at our plant in Collinsville, Oklahoma.

Invite people into your operations and demonstrate what manufacturing looks like today.  Align with trade schools in your area.  Utilize employees as brand ambassadors for what your firm produces.  Create awareness of what your products/systems/solutions deliver to the end user.   Together, we can create a new “revolution” to better portray what the manufacturing industry looks like.

Kudos to all of the manufacturers with whom I’ve worked and collaborated.  I’m proud to be in a very select circle with extremely talented professionals.  Congrats on what you’ve accomplished as you continue to keep manufacturing on the map.

Here’s to celebrating Manufacturing Day.  Let’s go make something!

#MFG2023 #Creatorswanted #MadeinUSA #USAMade