Humans are curious creatures. We like to see how things work, and we want to know what makes things tick — we have a deep-seated desire to make a connection with our environment by understanding the process of creation. That, in part, is what is so appealing about facility tours. However, for most manufacturers, conducting a plant or facility tour is more than sating the curiosity of fellow humans — conducting a tour is about the bottom line. After all, when done right, a behind-the-scenes guided tour is one of the greatest marketing tools at a company’s disposal.
I’ve been on a lot of facility tours. Some have been interesting, while others have been scattered, unorganized and uninspiring. And some have been so informative and engaging that after walking out of the building, I have found that I am not only a life-long customer and advocate of the company’s products, but my confidence has been so validated, that I have sought out and purchased stock in the company.