Manufacturing Day 2026
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What Is Manufacturing Day?
Celebrated each year on the first Friday in October, Manufacturing Day inspires manufacturers and their partners across the country to gather with local students and their families, teachers, and other community members to offer a closer look into manufacturing. At facilities across the country, students will have the opportunity to tour facilities, interact directly with industry professionals, and learn about the different pathways available to them after high school.
At JV Manufacturing, our goal is for students to leave Manufacturing Day understand that manufacturing is much more than operating a machine – it includes engineering, robotics, automation, technology, quality, project management, skilled trades, business, leadership, finance, and entrepreneurship.
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Participating Partners
See Manufacturing. Experience Manufacturing. Find Your Path.
JV Manufacturing's Manufacturing Day is intended to go beyond a traditional facility tour. By bringing together manufacturers, educators, workforce organizations, technology partners, and students, we can show young people the full ecosystem of modern manufacturing and give them tangible next steps toward a future career.
Students will have the opportunity to tour, experience, ask questions about, and discover where they could fit within the manufacturing industry. Here's a glimpse into what that journey might look like:
See
Tour active manufacturing facilities and see equpiment, technology, and employees at work.
Experience
Participate in hands-on demonstrations, robotics, manufacturing activities, or technology experiences.
Understand
Talk directly with employees about what they do and why their jobs matter.
Explore
Meet colleges, apprenticeship programs, workforce organizations, and employers.
Plan
Understand what steps they can take during high school to prepare for a manufacturing-related career.
Students should leave with a better understanding of what careers exist, what those careers require, and where they can go next if something interests them.
Get Ready For #MFGDay26
JV Event Timeline
8:00 AM — Arrival & Check-In
Arrive at your assigned location and check in with your school. You’ll receive your group assignment, tour schedule, lunch information, and event materials.
8:00–8:30 AM — Welcome & Safety Briefing
Hear a brief welcome from JV Manufacturing, learn what to expect throughout the day, review facility safety requirements, and meet the participating manufacturers and community partners.
8:30 AM–12:00 PM — Morning Tours & Activities
Rotate through manufacturing facilities and interactive partner stations. Explore areas such as engineering, tool and die manufacturing, CNC machining, EDM, automation, quality, robotics, skilled trades, and production.
11:00 AM–1:30 PM — Lunch & Networking
Enjoy lunch during your group’s assigned time and connect with manufacturing professionals, educators, apprenticeship programs, and workforce partners.
12:00–2:00 PM — Afternoon Career Exploration
Continue your facility rotations and participate in hands-on demonstrations. Learn about college programs, technical education, apprenticeships, internships, entry-level jobs, and manufacturing career paths.
2:00–2:30 PM — Final Networking & Exploration
Ask final questions, revisit career and education partners, and learn what steps you can take during high school to prepare for a future in manufacturing. Some groups may begin departing during this time.
2:30–3:00 PM — Closing & Departure
Complete the student survey, reflect on the careers and pathways you explored, and depart with your school group.
Past MFG Day Events at JV
Manufacturing Day FAQs
Students must wear closed-toe shoes and clothing appropriate for touring active manufacturing facilities. Additional safety or PPE requirements will be communicated before the event.
Students are expected to visit approximately three to four manufacturing facilities. Planned locations include JV Manufacturing, EDP/MetPlas, and Cochran Parts, with final locations subject to confirmation.
Yes. Planned experiences may include robotics demonstrations, manufacturing challenges, CNC or programming simulations, blueprint reading, measurement activities, and other interactive demonstrations.
Students will explore careers in engineering, skilled trades, robotics, automation, machining, quality, technology, project management, operations, business, leadership, and more.
Yes. Lunch will be provided to participating students and educators during an assigned lunch rotation.
Schools will be asked to provide dietary restriction and allergy information before the event. Final meal arrangements will be based on the information submitted.
Schools should submit accessibility or accommodation requests before the event so the planning team can prepare accordingly.
Students will receive a safety briefing and must remain on approved tour paths, follow employee instructions, and avoid restricted areas. Any facility-specific PPE or visitor requirements will be shared in advance.
Participating schools will receive final arrival instructions, facility addresses, tour rotations, lunch information, and transportation details before October 2.
Yes, transportation reimbursement is available. If you require reimbursement, please forward the applicable invoice to our team for processing.
Want to be a Part of Next Year's MFG Day Event?
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Contact the JV team today to learn more about the event and discover how your company or school can get involved.
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