The Capital Area Manufacturing Council will kick off Manufacturing Day 2026 with a press conference at Lansing Community College West Campus at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. The event launches a week of student tours and hands-on experiences designed to showcase today’s manufacturing careers.
“We want students to see a future they can be part of,” said CAMC Executive Director Cindy Kangas. “You can’t be what you can’t see, and MFG Day helps bring that future into focus. Students will get to walk the shop floor, see robots and advanced technology in action, watch products being made, and try hands-on activities. They’ll meet the people behind the work — from engineers and welders to quality experts and automation technicians — and learn about career pathways they may not have even known existed. That’s what makes this so exciting: today’s manufacturing is innovative, high-tech, creative and full of opportunity.”
Today’s manufacturers are powered by robotics, automation, engineering, data and advanced technology, with opportunities that go far beyond the shop floor. Manufacturing needs people with skills in everything from engineering and automation to marketing, accounting, biology and supply chain management.
“Manufacturing Day opens students’ eyes to the wide range of opportunities available in today’s advanced manufacturing industry,” said Shon’ta Dwyer, dean of technical careers at Lansing Community College. “By visiting LCC’s West Campus, students gain hands-on exposure to innovative technology, connect with industry professionals and discover career paths they may not have considered before. We are proud to help students turn their interests into rewarding careers while developing the talented workforce Michigan manufacturers need to succeed.”
Michigan’s manufacturing future depends on people — and there are thousands of opportunities waiting for the next generation. Michigan is projected to have nearly 518,300 professional-trades jobs through 2032, with approximately 40,600 job openings expected each year. In the Lansing-East Lansing region alone, manufacturing employs about 20,000 people, from skilled trades and technicians to engineers, designers, and business professionals.
Following the press conference, guests will have the opportunity to see that future up close with tours of LCC West Campus, technology demonstrations and hands-on activities.
“We invite members of the press, educators, community leaders, manufacturers and anyone who wants to learn more about the people and technology shaping Michigan’s manufacturing future to join us”. Kangas said.
