Students from around the state visited their local manufacturing plants during Manufacturing Week 2015.

If it’s October, expect to see a spotlight shining brightly on manufacturing in New Hampshire and around the country.

That’s thanks in part to the national initiative, which began a few years ago when Manufacturing Day was proclaimed for the first Friday in October. It has grown since its inception and now thousands of manufacturers host students, teachers, parents and job seekers at open houses to showcase careers available and innovation happening close to home.

New Hampshire turns one day into a week of celebration, as manufacturing is the state’s largest industry. Events kick off on Manufacturing Day (Oct. 7) at New England Wire Technologies in Lisbon and continues throughout the week with the manufacturing and community college open houses throughout the state.

It all ends on a high note with the Governor’s Advanced Manufacturing and High Technology Summit on Oct. 13 at the Grappone Center in Concord. Now in its 14th year, the summit draws over 200 manufacturers from around the state.

Click here for more information and to register.

This year’s guest speaker is David Morgan, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Association of the Blind. Prior to joining that organization, Morgan served as vice president of Perkins School for the Blind and general manager of Perkins Products. His manufacturing background includes being president of BE Semiconductor’s US operation, located in Londonderry.

He’ll speak about Design Thinking and the Future of Innovation, with insight about the creativity that transforms products, grows markets and drives employment.

The Manufacturing Summit is presented by the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire; New Hampshire MEP; New Hampshire High Technology Council and New Hampshire Economic Development.