The Capital Area Manufacturing Council kicked off Manufacturing Day 2026 with a press conference at Lansing Community College West Campus on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The event launched a week of student tours and hands-on experiences designed to showcase today’s manufacturing careers.
MBN was on the road joining in on business media coverage of the event. Watch the event in the YouTube video shared below:
“We wanted 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 helped bring that future into focus. Students got to walk the shop floor, see robots and advanced technology in action, watch products being made, and try hands-on activities. They met the people behind the work—from engineers and welders to quality experts and automation technicians—and learned about career pathways they may not have even known existed. That’s what made this so exciting: today’s manufacturing is innovative, high-tech, creative, and full of opportunity.”
For many, manufacturing carries an outdated image of being dirty, dark, dingy, and dangerous. Stepping inside a modern manufacturing facility, that picture changes quickly. 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. “We drive past these facilities every day, often unaware of the incredible work and economic activity happening inside,” said Kangas. “Michigan manufacturers are creators, problem-solvers, and innovators. We wanted students to see that for themselves—and recognize that there may be a place for their talents in manufacturing.”
“Manufacturing Day opened 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 gained hands-on exposure to innovative technology, connected with industry professionals, and discovered career paths they may not have considered before. We were proud to help students turn their interests into rewarding careers while developing the talented workforce Michigan manufacturers need to succeed.”
Maya Taylor, LCC Student, said, “I’ve always liked figuring out how things work, so robotics and automation just made sense to me. What surprised me is how much goes into modern manufacturing and how many different careers are connected to it. I’m learning skills here that I can see myself using in a career.”
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 had the opportunity to see that future up close with tours of LCC West Campus, technology demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Members of the press, educators, community leaders, manufacturers, and others interested in the people and technology shaping Michigan’s manufacturing future joined the event.
Event Details
When: Thursday, October 1, 2026, 9:00 AM–10:00 AM Eastern Time
Location: Lansing Community College West Campus, 5708 Cornerstone Dr, Lansing, MI 48917, USA
