Input Stories

MFG Day 2025 started with a bang yesterday, thanks to Novonesis, a global leader in biosolutions manufacturing. Partnering with the Manufacturing Institute—the workforce development and education affiliate of the NAM—the company invited more than 300 high school students, education partners and community leaders to its flagship MFG Day 2025 event at its North American headquarters in Franklinton, North Carolina.

The big tour: Team leaders from Novonesis, which leverages the power of biology across more than 30 industries—including food, health, agriculture and energy—led local students through its facility to see advanced biomanufacturing up close and meet the people shaping the U.S. bioeconomy.

• Students saw production facilities, stepped into advanced biotechnology labs and participated in interactive STEM demonstrations designed to showcase the integration of science and manufacturing.

All the sights: The students took rotating immersive tours featuring Novonesis’ origin story, research and development and the role of biosolutions in daily life. Then they made their way to the fermentation shop floor and control room, where they engaged with workforce development and community college programs. On the tour, students were able to see the full array of opportunities available to them in modern manufacturing.

• “When students walk through our doors, they see that manufacturing today is about innovation, sustainability and meaningful careers,” said Novonesis North America President Tue Micheelsen. “It opens their eyes to possibilities they may never have imagined.” 

The bigger picture: Access to talent continues to be a challenge for manufacturing companies.

• According to research from the MI and Deloitte, manufacturers will need to fill nearly 3.8 million manufacturing roles by 2033. Nearly 1.9 million of those are expected to go unfilled due to the lack of skilled talent necessary to fill these jobs. 

Why MFG Day matters: Events like the Novonesis tour and other MFG Day activities help the industry alleviate—and hopefully even reverse—this workforce crisis.

• By giving students a firsthand look at all the exciting careers on offer in the industry, not to mention the world-changing innovations it puts forth, manufacturers can attract more young people into the industry—and put them on the path toward high-paying lifelong careers. 
• The average manufacturing employee earns $102,000 a year, often with generous benefits and employer-sponsored health insurance in addition. 

The NAM says: The NAM “is proud to work for the success of the 13 million men and women who make things in America. On MFGDay25, we look to inspire the next generation of creators so we can build a bright manufacturing future,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons.

The last word: “People can’t be what they can’t see,” said MI President and Executive Director Carolyn Lee.

• “Today, students got to see first-hand the many career opportunities available in modern manufacturing. We’re so grateful to Novonesis for helping expose local students to all that our industry has to offer.”

Learn more here about MFG Day and the events taking place across the country throughout the month of October.