1,500 students get hands-on with manufacturing
More than 1,500 North Texas high school students will attend Manufacturing Day 2026 on Oct. 2, a hands-on event presented by the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center that connects students with careers in modern manufacturing.
Known as TMAC, the center is housed within the UTA Research Institute in Fort Worth. The event has grown exponentially and will utilize the entire White Settlement ISD Fine Arts Academy campus, including its two-story building, large gym and 22 acres of outdoor space. The event will be between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Manufacturing Day will feature more than 40 interactive stations and live demonstrations, allowing students to get hands-on experience with robotics, automation, product and process demonstrations, engineering challenges and make-and-take projects throughout the day.
The event's growth has outpaced its own projections two years in a row. Last year, organizers planned for 250 students and hosted more than 500. This year, the number is expected to triple.
The goal of Manufacturing Day is to help students see a future for themselves in an industry many don't associate with modern careers, one that can offer financial security, innovation, work-life balance and a path that doesn't require sitting behind a desk.
According to TMAC, within the next 18 to 42 months, the Dallas-Fort Worth region is projected to need more than 31,000 new manufacturing employees, making early exposure to the field increasingly critical for the region's workforce pipeline.
Organized by TMAC, the event is co-hosted by NTMA Lone Star, TechFW, and MADE: Manufacturing Accelerator and Development Engine. Volunteers and demonstrators from Lockheed Martin, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County and Junior Achievement of Chisholm Trail will be on hand throughout the day.
This event is made possible by generous donations from NTMA Lone Star, Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, MP Materials, Tech-Labs, IACMI The Composites Institute, Integrated Machinery Solutions, AtlasIED, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.
Every student will receive a free lunch and an American-made and produced "Modern Maker" T-shirt.