Manufacturing Day started as a national initiative in 2012 to shine a light on engaging, rewarding career opportunities in a field that was struggling to shake off its past. Memories lingered of dangerous work environments and relatives getting laid off from repetitive jobs.
The metal fabricators association had an idea to correct the misconceptions: Bring young people into the plant (and sometimes, their parents as well) to see for themselves manufacturing at its best. They could geek out on cool machinery and technology, walk the well-lit shop floors and talk to the engineers, technicians and operators that make it all go.
Here are some early highlights. We’ll add more photos as they come in.
If you have Manufacturing Day (or Month) photos from your company that you'd like to see included in the slideshow, you can send them throughout October 2026 to Senior Editor Laura Putre at [email protected]. Please share a bit about what we're seeing in the photos and include the name of the photographer, if possible.
About the Author
Laura PutreLaura Putre
Senior Editor, IndustryWeek
As senior editor, Laura Putre works with IndustryWeek's editorial contributors and reports on leadership and the automotive industry as they relate to manufacturing. She joined IndustryWeek in 2015 as a staff writer covering workforce issues.
Prior to IndustryWeek, Laura reported on the healthcare industry and covered local news. She was the editor of the Chicago Journal and a staff writer for Cleveland Scene. Her national bylines include The Guardian, Slate, Pacific-Standard and The Root.
Laura was a National Press Foundation fellow in 2022.
Got a story idea? Reach out to Laura at [email protected]