With the click of a mouse, young people can get a behind-the-scenes look into the significance and fascination of manufacturing. Manufacturing is Cool provides an inside look at how kid favorites – such as snacks, fashion, cars and cell phones – are designed and produced by engineers.

Parents, teachers and students also can use the Manufacturing Is Cool Web site as a resource for information on the foundation, such as its available grants and scholarships. The site contains links to information on STEPS programs, as well as colleges and other manufacturing Web sites.

The Manufacturing Is Cool Web site is part of the foundation’s larger initiative to address the shortage of skilled manufacturing workers. That deficit will critically affect America’s manufacturers if left unchecked, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The foundation’s youth outreach programs inspire students’ interest in engineering and technology at the middle and high school age. This helps motivate students to take the advanced-level math and science courses during high school that are prerequisites for pursuing engineering degrees.