Ashley Welcomes Students for Educational Tours
Furniture World News Desk on
11/6/2024
Pictured above: Students from Whitehall School District eagerly starting their tour of the advanced manufacturing facility in Arcadia, WI
For the eighth consecutive year, Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC (Ashley) hosted local students
to participate in educational tours in celebration of National Manufacturing Day. Throughout the month of October,
Ashley proudly welcomed over 770 K-12 students to tour its facilities in Mississippi, North Carolina, Texas and
Wisconsin. Ashley continues to invest in future leaders by showcasing a variety of career pathways and providing
them with a first-hand look at working in the industry. National Manufacturing Day is celebrated on the first Friday
of October across the country.
During their visits, students learned about Ashley’s cutting-edge manufacturing operations, featuring a wide
range of advanced robotics and automation systems. They had the opportunity to interact with Ashley employees across
various departments, including product design, automation, fabrication, assembly and quality. The tour emphasized
the significant economic impact of manufacturing on local communities and the essential role that manufacturing
plays in driving economic growth and job creation.
“I was very impressed with the educational insights that Ashley provided for our 6th-grade students, it was
fantastic,” stated Derek Updike, Teacher, Arcadia School District. “The organization and thought that
went into the presentation and tour, interactions with Ashley employees, the message of teamwork and responsibility.
I could go on and on, it was very appreciated by our students.”
Participating schools included North Pontotoc Middle School and Ripley Middle School in Mississippi; South Davie
Middle School in North Carolina; Arcadia, Blair-Taylor, Cochrane-Fountain City, Eleva Strum,
Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau, Gilmanton Public School, Holy Family Catholic School, Independence Public School and
Whitehall School District in Wisconsin; and Van Guard High School in Texas.
In addition to hosting the next generation of manufacturers, the company also celebrated National Manufacturing Day
internally, sharing appreciation for the manufacturing workforce across the country.
Ashley is a proud and active supporter of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) initiatives to nurture and
inspire future leaders. Committed to creating meaningful educational partnerships, Ashley has developed and
strengthened collaborations with K-12 and post-secondary schools, investing in learning opportunities, scholarships,
instructor training, and robotics programs. As manufacturing continues to advance, Ashley recognizes the vital
importance of educating and training the current and future workforce to add value to our communities.
About Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC
Ashley feels that every person deserves more value for their
money. Established in 1945, Ashley is the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world and strives to be
the most innovative and competitive home furnishings company on the planet. From design through fulfillment, Ashley
is committed to delivering the world’s best home furnishing values, selection and service, and earning the
loyalty and trust of its customers every day. Visit Ashley online at www.ashleyglobal.com.