October 17, 2025 by By Cara Pattison, Program Manager Manufacturing Imperative – Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC) members from across the country came together to exchange ideas and lessons learned from their past Manufacturing Day celebrations. What unfolded was a practical and inspiring conversation about how to move beyond a single day in October and create year-round engagement opportunities that introduce students to modern manufacturing careers. “This isn’t just about a day or even a month,” said Allyssa Johnson, meeting facilitator and SME MI-WPC State and Federal Programs Manager. “For many of you, manufacturing engagement is a mindset—a way of life that plays out all year long.” From Plant Tours to Playbooks Taylor Hodge of MACNY (the Manufacturers Association) shared how her organization has developed a highly coordinated approach to Manufacturing Month. MACNY works with employers to host student tours, provides logistical support to schools, and even leads walkthroughs to help companies prepare. The result is a streamlined, replicable model that serves both industry and education. “We’ve built out internal best practices over time,” said Hodge, noting that the effort now includes specialized programs for middle schoolers and events designed specifically for teachers and counselors. One standout partnership—Future Women in STEM with The MOST (The Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology)—ensures that female role models in manufacturing are front and center for students as young as 11 or 12. Statewide Reach, Local Impact In Illinois, the IMA (Illinois Manufacturers’ Association) has taken Manufacturing Day on the road. Sarah Hartwick described “Makers on the Move” (MOTM) as a bold, statewide bus tour celebrating Manufacturing Month by spotlighting the innovation, career opportunity, and economic impact of modern manufacturing. Throughout October, the tour will make stops at cutting-edge factories, technical colleges, and high schools to offer students and community members a firsthand look at today’s high-tech, clean, and sustainable manufacturing environments. At every stop, the IMA and Illinois’ Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), work to ignite student interest, strengthen community ties, and connect employers with the next generation of skilled talent. The MOTM is a movement to redefine manufacturing, challenge outdated perceptions, and showcase the wide range of rewarding, future-focused careers that fuel Illinois’ economy and global competitiveness. To make the tour possible, IMA relies on a high-dollar sponsorship model that secures key stops along the route. Hartwick acknowledged that this year’s fundraising proved challenging, but that partnerships with the state and IMEC helped keep the initiative moving forward. “It’s about the students, and it’s about the employees,” Hartwick said. “We’re showing young people what manufacturing in Illinois really looks like.” Don’t Just Host—Follow Up Mel Cossette, a long-time workforce leader from Edmonds College, reminded participants that a successful event isn’t enough on its own. She emphasized the need for consistent marketing, promotion, and post-event engagement. “You can bring 300 students through a plant, but if you don’t follow up—if you don’t show the impact—what’s the point?” she asked. “We’ve done Manufacturing Day events for years. The events’ success is often determined by how well we promote, prepare, and measure outcomes.” Cossette stressed the importance of looping in institutional leaders and communications staff early and often. Without impact data and storytelling, it becomes difficult to gain internal support or leverage Manufacturing Day events for grants and proposals. Strategies to Boost Student Engagement The SME MI-WPC Idea Labs team has identified several practical, low-cost strategies to boost student engagement before, during, and after manufacturing experiences. One creative recommendation is the use of “passport” activities, where students collect stamps at each station during a plant tour—an easy and effective way to gamify the experience and keep students attentive. The team also recommends providing take-home items such as branded notebooks or QR codes that link to online career exploration tools. To reinforce connections and spark ongoing interest, post-event classroom visits or student surveys can be used to follow up—opening the door to continued engagement with educators, counselors, and families. While the month of October provides a national spotlight on manufacturing, the meeting attendees made it clear: real workforce impact is built in the months before and after. The tools and strategies shared in this session—from statewide bus tours to middle school STEM partnerships—reflect a growing belief that Manufacturing Day is not a standalone event but part of a larger continuum of engagement. For these workforce champions, the work doesn’t stop when the banners come down, it starts there.
