Globalization continues to change the manufacturing industry and is forcing companies to become more creative in order to meet the needs of customers and compete on an international level. As a result, engineering and technology students must develop creative thinking skills to solve diverse, complex and seemly impossible problems. In today’s competitive environment, companies in every industry, including the manufacturing industry, cannot afford to remain complacent in their operations, or the products and services they provide. Instead, being proactive in order to anticipate and be prepared for constantly changing market situations is of paramount importance. This paper focuses on the importance of promoting creative thinking among students in engineering and technology related programs and how to teach creative thinking skills to prepare students for the future manufacturing environment.