2026 Manufacturing Week

Celebrate Manufacturing Every Day:
Open Your Foundry Doors to Your Community

Manufacturing Day is celebrated on the first Friday of October. Across the country, manufacturers invite students, educators, families, and community members to see their work firsthand. It is a national celebration of the people who make the products we depend on and the careers that keep American manufacturing strong.

For foundries, it is also a reminder of something we cannot take for granted: Most people have no idea what happens inside our buildings.

They may pass a foundry on their way to work or school without knowing what we make, where our castings are used, or how many different people and skills it takes to produce them. Students cannot imagine themselves in a metalcasting career if they have never met anyone who works in one.

Opening your doors can change that. Let visitors see a casting take shape. Introduce them to the employees who operate equipment, solve problems, inspect parts, maintain machines, and work with customers. Show them the skill and technology behind the products that help our country move, build, and stay secure.

Manufacturing Day brings national attention to that story, but your invitation does not need to fall on the first Friday of October. A school tour in November, a classroom visit in February, or a conversation with parents in May can be just as meaningful. Open your doors when your foundry and your community can make the most of the opportunity.

Then think about what happens after the visit. A tour may change a student’s perception of manufacturing that day. Lasting impact takes follow-up. Send the teacher something to share in class. Give interested students a way to learn about the jobs they saw. Invite another group, offer to speak at their school, or make yourself available to answer questions. Keep the relationship going.

That is why we created Cast Your Future. When visitors leave your foundry, their exploration should continue. Cast Your Future helps students, parents, and educators learn about metalcasting careers and the people behind them. It also gives foundries resources to share their stories and connect with their communities throughout the year.

Manufacturing Day celebrates the importance of making things in America. Foundries can carry that celebration forward by showing their neighbors what they do, welcoming the next generation inside, and staying connected long after the first visit.