National Manufacturing Day 2026

Join us at the University of Sunderland for National Manufacturing Day on Thursday 24th September. Participate in our sustainable manufacturing and product design interactive workshops.

This event is open to Year 13 students (individuals and group bookings). It's perfect for those interested in studying Engineering at undergraduate level.

Taster Sessions

Participants will have the opportunity to take part in many interactive taster sessions.

Industry 4.0 and Smart Factories

The internet has revolutionised the way we live and communicate. In this session, students will about the fourth industrial revolution. They'll discover how the internet shares information and makes decisions. They'll link human behaviour and real world events to smart manufacturing factories. These improve efficiency and make intelligent decisions in real time. Students will see this technology in action. They'll gain an understanding of the exciting careers emerging for specialists in this field.

Strength of Materials

Product failure is not acceptable, especially in safety critical and high-performance applications. In this session, students will learn about mechanical engineers. They'll learn how they're able to remove guesswork from the equation when developing products. The workshop will start with the theory of different types of forces and what this means for materials and components to which they are applied. Using computer software, a real-world simulation will be created to understand at what point the material will break. Finally, this can be tested in the laboratory to see how theory, computer prediction and real world all compare.

Reverse Engineering and Metrology Challenge

Step into the world of modern engineering. Students will discover how advanced technology is used to test, inspect and improve real components.

Working in teams, students will investigate the accuracy of an engineered component. They'll use contactless metrology equipment in our brand new Metrology and 3D Printing Laboratory. They'll gain experience with:

• Professional 3D scanners
• Capture detailed measurement data
• Use data-driven CAD software to compare the manufactured component against its original design.

Can you identify where the design or manufacturing process has gone wrong?

This fast-paced practical activity will introduce students to:

• Reverse engineering
• Dimensional inspection
• Digital manufacturing.

Students will learn how engineers use colour deviation maps and 3D data to detect inaccuracies. These help to solve problems and improve future designs.

Most importantly, the session is designed to be fun, relaxing and welcoming. There is no need to feel worried or intimidated as our team will guide your students through every step and help them to get the most from the experience.

This event is a great opportunity to:

• Tour our facilities
• Learn from lecturers
• Hear from current students about their experiences studying with us.