Advanced Manufacturing Now

The job market for manufacturing engineers may be stronger than in other industries, but uncertainty still persists for job seekers. Industry veteran and former executive recruiter Dick Schenkel speaks with us about the qualities job seekers can practice to stand out to prospective employers.

On December 5, 2022, researchers at the National Ignition Facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory achieved a landmark breakthrough in Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF), producing an energy output that exceeded the laser input for the first time. The success of an ICF experiment hinges on multi-stage lapping and polishing of fuel capsule shells to nanometer-scale finish and devoid of major surface defects. This talk presents our work with LLNL on assuring surface quality of the fuel capsule shells. Rare surface defects, such as deep pits, can severely degrade ICF performance. Exhaustive inspection across multiple finishing stages to detect these defects is both cost- and time-prohibitive. Conventional scalar surface quality quantifiers fail to capture the manifestation of rare surface pits. We investigated novel inspection strategies that substantially reduce measurement burden while retaining confidence in defect-risk estimation. Here, we impose a multivariate probabilistic bound on pit distribution estimation error to determine the minimal number of surface scans needed to guarantee a specified confidence level. This enables reliable assessment of deep pit risk using approximately 5 – 6 scans (a 5- to 10-fold reduction), thereby substantially reducing the inspection time per shell at each finishing stage. These challenges also motivate the need to move beyond reactive, post-process inspection toward proactive, process monitoring methods that can detect and mitigate the process anomalies that lead to these defects. In this context, we leverage generative machine learning methods conditioned on polishing process parameters combined with shell tracking to identify deviations from expected motion patterns that may lead to surface defects. We also introduce a deep learning model that can track the evolution of pit populations across the polishing stages, capturing rare-event manifestations that scalar surface quantifiers miss. Predictive insights from these models inform possible triaging of at-risk parts and more informed process planning decisions. Taken together, these contributions illustrate how integrating inspection efficiency, process understanding, and predictive decision support can advance manufacturing quality control in settings where rare anomalies and high-consequence requirements demand more than conventional approaches. PRESENTERS: Satish Bukkapatnam, PhD Regents Professor, Sugar and Mike Barnes Department Head Chair, Industrial & Systems Engineering Texas A&M University Shashank Galla Graduate Research Assistant, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) Texas A&M University Presented by SME Technical Activities Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Senior Editor Michael McConnell speaks with Jason Rolland, PhD, chief technology officer at Carbon, a California-based 3D printing technology company, about the growing role of additive manufacturing in healthcare and where he thinks the technology will go in the future. This episode is a recording of the latest episode of Advanced Manufacturing Live. Previous episodes of Advanced Manufacturing Live are available on advancedmanufacturing.org/live. Follow SME Media on Facebook, LinkedIn, X and YouTube to join us live every other Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, we speak with Heather Curtis of Tormach and Joe Leonhard of Sheboygan Central High School about how their partnership with the National Coalition of Certification Centers is shaping the future of manufacturing education.

Hole making remains one of the most critical and cost‑intensive operations in metal cutting. From initial drilling to high‑accuracy finishing, choosing the right tooling strategy has a direct impact on cycle time, tool life, and bore quality. This webinar delivers a practical, application‑driven overview of modern hole‑making solutions, covering solid drilling, indexable drilling, adjustable diameter tools, rough and finish boring, and reaming. Real‑world examples across steel, stainless steel, titanium, and cast iron demonstrate how advanced tool designs, modular connections, and diameter adjustment capabilities can significantly improve process stability and productivity while maintaining tight tolerances. Participants will gain insight into how to select the appropriate hole‑making concept based on material, bore size, depth‑to‑diameter ratio, tolerance requirements, and machine interface—helping them reduce machining time, simplify setups, and increase consistency on the shop floor. Key Takeaways for Attendees How to choose the right hole‑making strategy Understand when to use solid drills, indexable drills, rough boring, finish boring, or reaming based on hole size, depth, and accuracy requirements. Improving productivity with indexable drilling Learn how insert geometry, diameter adjustment, and modular connections enable higher feed rates and faster changeovers without sacrificing performance. Achieving tight tolerances and surface finish Compare finish boring versus reaming and understand the trade‑offs in accuracy, cycle time, surface quality, and setup effort. Managing large diameters and deep holes Explore solutions for large bore sizes and deep drilling applications, including adjustable cartridges, guide pads, and modular extensions. Critical setup and process considerations Best practices for tool runout control, diameter adjustment, coolant delivery, and bore measurement to ensure repeatable, stable results. Presenter:Adrian von Rohr Product Management Lead - Americas Ceratizit   Brought to you by: Ceratizit Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Manufacturers expect levels of tech enablement and automation to more than double by 2030, according to PwC's Global Industrial Manufacturing Sector Outlook 2026. In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, we speak with Ryan Hawk, global and US industrials and services leader for PwC, about the report and what industry leaders are saying about the future of manufacturing. 

We're joined by Stephen Luckowski, director of the Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology program's Technology Transfer, Transition, and Commercial Partnerships (T3CP) Office. SME Chief Technology Officer Brett Conner speaks with Luckowski about the responsibilities of the T3CP Office, as well as its recent patent holiday providing no-fee commercial evaluation licenses for a curated selection of patents from War Department laboratories.

Wire harness manufacturing is facing rising complexity, tighter timelines, and zero tolerance for errors - yet many teams still rely on physical formboards and manual interpretation on the shop floor. In this webinar, we'll explore how manufacturers are digitizing wire harness manufacturing execution, replacing guesswork with guided, real-time build instructions driven directly from design data. This session will examine where errors typically occur, why they're often discovered too late, and how leading teams are shifting quality upstream during the build process. Attendees will learn how digital execution reduces training time, minimizes reliance on tribal knowledge, and enables consistent, scalable wire harness production. Key Takeaways: Why physical formboards and manual drawings no longer scale for modern harness manufacturing Where wire harness manufacturing errors really originate and how to prevent them earlier How guided, digital execution reduces rework during the build How manufacturers dramatically shorten training and ramp time for new technicians What scalable, repeatable shop floor execution looks like for complex harness builds How to increase throughput without increasing labor dependency Presenters: Andrew Armstrong Co-Founder & Chief Technology Officer Henry Lopez Senior Field Applications Engineer Brought to you by: Cadonix Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.  

SME Media Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb and Senior Editor Michael McConnell sit down with Harry Moser, president of the Reshoring Initiative, to explore the growing impact of reshoring on the U.S. economy. They discuss how reshoring can quickly strengthen the U.S. economy and boost competitiveness by building a stronger skilled workforce. This is an audio-only recording of our latest episode of Advanced Manufacturing Live. Follow SME Media on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube to catch our next episode live.   

On July 4, 2026, America will officially celebrate 250 years of independence. But the festivities have already started, with a barrage of local parades, tech activities, educational events and contests across the country, including the Great American State Fair, sponsored by Freedom 250. CEO Keith Krach, a serial entrepreneur and innovator, shares some of the highlights, history and what's next as the country reignites the American spirit. 

We sit down with Laura Beckwith, Director of Product Management at Configit, to explore the evolving role of generative AI in manufacturing—and why it's not as simple as plugging AI into existing systems.

Mae Krier has lived an amazing life. She started working at Boeing, riveting the wings of B-17 and B-29 planes during World War II, and has been a fierce advocate for all the Rosies ever since. She's inspired countless girls and women throughout her life, and now—after just turning 100—she's working with Raya Kenney to erect a monument to the Rosies in Washington, D.C. To learn more about the WWII Women's Memorial Foundation, visit them at wwiiwomenmemorial.org

The R&D Tax Credit is a tax credit that businesses can claim for qualified U.S. research and development spending — things like developing or improving products, processes, formulas, or software. However, navigating the R&D credit landscape is not without its hurdles. Challenges include identifying qualifying activities on the shop floor, managing the rigorous documentation required for audits, and integrating tax strategy into broader business development goals. This webinar will review the current updates and opportunities with the R&D tax credit for the manufacturing sector. Our experts will also discuss strategic approaches to identifying high-value opportunities because of the OBBB. Presenters: Tim Parrish CEO Sagemont Matt Davenport Director of R&D Tax Credit Services Sagemont Brought to you by: Sagemont  Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.  

SME Media Editor Rachael Thomas and Associate Editor Cary Gitter sit down for an industry update, discussing recent news on the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a visit to Michigan Central and Newlab in Detroit, and the administration's proposed defense budget for 2027. This is an audio-only recording of our latest episode of Advanced Manufacturing Live. Follow SME Media on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube to catch our next episode live. 

We sit down with SME's chief Manufacturing Officer, Dr. Brett Conner, to discuss the National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy, and what they mean for manufacturers in the United States. 

We speak with Alexandra Levit, workforce futurist and founder of Inspiration at Work, and Stephanie Loeck, vice president of strategic development at GPS Education Partners, about their book Make School Work and the growing impact of work-based learning.

The manufacturing industry is transitioning into a new era of additive implementation, from massive automotive-scale builds to ultra-precise micro 3D printing. We dive into the evolving landscape of this technology in our preview of the April 2026 edition of Manufacturing Engineering and Technology, just ahead of RAPID + TCT 2026. 

2026 is not about transformation - it's about survival through smarter allocation. Manufacturing leaders are entering the year with fewer people, tighter margins, and far less patience for initiatives that don't deliver measurable ROI. Based on CADDi's 2026 Industry Report, this session breaks down where manufacturers are still investing, what they're deliberately avoiding, and how the best teams are extracting more output from the assets and data they already own. We'll explore: Why 69% of companies are prioritizing physical assets - and why automation and robotics are winning over headcount Why data access, not headcount, is becoming the real productivity multiplier How "selective improvement" is replacing broad transformation - and what that means for ROI, resilience, and speed Join us for a data-backed look at where the industry is heading and how leading manufacturers are extracting more value from the assets, systems, and people they already have. Presenters: Aaron Lober VP of Marketing CADDi Chris Cope VP of Engineering CADDi Patrick Harrigan VP of Partnerships CADDi Brought to you by: CADDi Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

SME Media Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb and Associate Editor Cary Gitter are joined by SME's Dave Morton, group director, events; Suzy Marzano, senior manager, industry development and technical activities; and Stacey Eeman, director, industry strategy, for a special preview of RAPID + TCT—North America's largest additive manufacturing event—and the AeroDef Manufacturing showcase, coming up in Boston April 13-16. This is an audio recording of our latest episode of Advanced Manufacturing Live. Follow SME Media on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube to catch our next episode live. 

We sit down with Matthew Bush, CEO of Hirebotics, to discuss the rapid rise of cobots in modern manufacturing and how they are transforming operations across industries.

Manufacturing organizations face a wide range of interconnected risks—from supply chain disruptions and inventory shortages to customer concentration and pricing volatility. Yet many still rely on traditional "what if" scenarios that fail to capture how these risks interact and compound, limiting their ability to anticipate performance shortfalls. Join Glen Justis, CEO of Acclaim Strategies, LLC, to see how leading manufacturers use Monte Carlo methods to analyze the interaction of manufacturing risks and support the development of more effective risk mitigation strategies. In this session, you'll learn: Why traditional "what if" analysis falls short for manufacturing risk decisions How deeper insight into risk variability supports better, more resilient manufacturing decisions Strategies to model supply chain and inventory risk, evaluate customer concentration, and support pricing optimization under uncertainty Presenter: Glen Justis CEO, Acclaim Strategies, LLC Brought to you by: LUMIVERO Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.  

We speak with Brittany Rodriguez about her career as a Technical Professional in Oak Ridge Nation Laboratory's Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, how her mother supported her move into a manufacturing career, and being recognized as an SME 30 Under 30 Honoree in 2025.  Nominations are open now for SME 30 Under 30 2026 until April 17, 2026.

Industrial operations rely on precise lubrication to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Yet, for decades, lubricant condition monitoring has relied on scheduled sampling, delayed lab results and discovering issues only after costly damage has occurred. Real-time condition monitoring fundamentally changes this reactive approach, transforming lubrication management from guesswork into intelligent, predictive maintenance. Real-time monitoring powered by expert knowledge represents the evolution from reactive to predictive maintenance strategies. Companies that embrace this evolution, will lead in operational excellence and asset reliability. What you will learn in this webinar: Why lubrication monitoring is important. The problem with traditional monitoring & why change is needed. Why expertise is essential – not just sensors. Benefits for Operations Teams & the transformation journey. Presenters: Cole Turner Franco Global Industrial Technical Offer Manager Adam Rice Application Engineer, Industrial Solutions Brought to you by: Castrol Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

SME Media Senior Editor Michael McConnell and Associate Editor Cary Gitter sit down with Ethan Baehrend—a 2024 SME 30 Under 30 honoree and the founder and CEO of Creative 3D Technologies—to discuss the latest in additive manufacturing and the future of the technology. This is an audio recording of our latest episode of Advanced Manufacturing Live. Follow SME Media on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube to catch our next episode live. 

Worried about scratches, scuffs, and blemishes during your sheet metal fabrication process? Whether you need to replace brush panels on turret punch, shearing, laser, and bending machines or require a safe work surface for assembly and material transfer, we've got you covered. When it comes to designing brush for different materials and processes, we take into account the weight and finish to ensure your brush has the optimal bristle diameter, spacing, and height. This tailored approach helps you consistently deliver top quality products. You can order from our extensive library of standard brush panels for major equipment manufacturers like Amada, Trumpf, Euromac, Salvagnini, Prima-Power, and LVD-Strippit or we can create custom shapes and configurations. Let's work together to optimize your sheet metal fabrication processes and enhance the quality of your end products. Presenters: Jeff Fettig Sales Team Greg Gach Lead Engineer Brought to you by: RBT Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Manufacturers are facing a silent crisis: decades of institutional knowledge are walking out the door as experienced engineers retire, turnover rises, and supplier ecosystems shift. At the same time, teams are drowning in unstructured files — drawings, quotes, QC reports, and tribal process notes — making it harder than ever to reuse past work, avoid repeat mistakes, and train new talent. AI has the power to reverse this trend — not by replacing experts, but by capturing, structuring, and amplifying their knowledge across engineering, procurement, and operations. Join CADDi's VP of Partnerships Patrick Harrigan and CADDi's VP of Engineering Chris Cope for a deep-dive discussion on: You Will Learn Why knowledge attrition is the #1 hidden cost in manufacturing transformation How AI is being applied today to digitize, structure, and unlock legacy engineering + supplier data Real examples of teams using AI to speed RFQs, avoid repeat quality issues, and ramp new engineers faster Frameworks for evaluating AI tools that support — not disrupt — your workforce A practical roadmap to start preserving expertise before it's gone This session is designed for forward-thinking manufacturing leaders who want to future-proof their organizations and empower their teams — not replace them. Brought to you by: CADDi Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

SME Media Senior Editor Michael McConnell, Editor Rachel Thomas and Associate Editor Cary Gitter sit down for an industry update, discussing economic expansion in the manufacturing sector, a visit to Autotool Tech Day in Ohio and the latest news on tariffs. This is an audio recording of our latest episode of Advanced Manufacturing Live. Follow SME Media on LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube to catch our next episode live. 

We sit down with Dave Evans, CEO of Misumi America and founder of Fictiv, to unpack findings from the 11th Annual State of Manufacturing and Supply Chain Report.

Welcome How Winning Manufacturers Put Historical Data At The Center Of Their Business Transformation American manufacturing has been on a negative trajectory for the last half century. In the last 20 years alone, 30% of Americas small and midsized manufacturers have been absorbed by larger competitors or gone out of business. Trade policy alone isn't enough to save the American Manufacturer. To dominate the 21st century, American Manufacturers need to innovate faster than ever before. Fortunately a fresh crop of leading innovators in this new AI-powered era is beginning to emerge. We're here to bring you their stories. Consolidating components purchasing across a global supply chain. Speeding up DFM to get products to market faster. Enforcing reuse to avoid unnecessary duplication and carrying costs. These are just a few of the success stories that CADDi customers have pioneered over the last year. We're here to deep dive some of these for you. The CADDi team will get under the hood on approaches used by our top customers so you can deploy them in your own business. Don't miss this chance to grab the AI-enabled playbooks that are making companies like, Subaru, Kawasaki, Dairy Conveyor Corp, Denso, Ebara, and others so successful at improving QCD Brought to you by: CADDi  SPEAKERS: Aaron Lober VP of Marketing CADDi Aaron Lober is an accomplished marketing executive with a foundation in product marketing at companies like Procore Technologies, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Blameless (acquired by FireHydrant). He holds an MBA from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School. Chris Cope VP of Engineering CADDi Chris Cope is a seasoned technology leader with expertise in SRE, AI, Architecture and Security. Formerly with Xometry and Laconia, Chris excels in optimizing production workflows and spearheading automation projects. He is known for driving innovation and scaling teams to enhance operational efficiency and earned a Masters in Computer Science from DePaul University. Patrick Harrigan VP of Partnerships CADDi Patrick Harrigan, VP of Partnerships at CADDi, formerly of Hexagon AB and Tulip Interfaces, fosters a partner network to expand CADDi's AI platform, driving operational efficiency, cost reduction, and knowledge democratization. Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Curious about adding a 3D printer to your operation? In this episode, we shares insights from manufacturers who have already taken the leap. 

We breakdown the March issue of Manufacturing Engineering and Technology, featuring articles on advances in wire EDM technology, AI integration, cybersecurity and workforce development, as well as our Aerospace and Defense Industry Report. 

Additive Manufacturing (AM) has evolved from a promising emerging technology into a mature production method that is transforming industries worldwide. While it has successfully enabled groundbreaking applications in sectors such as aerospace, defense, medical, and consumer goods, it has also revealed limitations where initial expectations could not be met. In this webinar, Matthias Schmidt-Lehr, Managing Partner at AM consultancy AMPOWER and Co-Author of the leading Additive Manufacturing Market Report, will share insights into the latest industry developments. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of market numbers, technology distribution, and regional adoption differences. The session will highlight lead applications and present key learnings from successful AM suppliers and adopters. Join us to explore current trends, machine sales data, and the factors shaping the future of AM. Brought to you by: AMPOWER  SPEAKER: Matthias Schmidt-Lehr Managing Partner Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

On the latest episode of Advanced Manufacturing Live, Jennifer Coyne, director of programs at The Barnes Global Advisors and an advisor on SME's AM Technical Community Leadership Committee, joins Senior Editor Michael McConnell and Editor Rachael Thomas for a conversation on workforce development and advocacy within the additive manufacturing industry as well as holistic approaches to technology adoption. Join us every two weeks on Thursday at 3pm EST for Advanced Manufacturing Live. Watch us on your preferred platform such as Facebook, LinkedIn, X and YouTube. Also available on-demand.

Join us in exploring the findings from a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) report by Sphera and The Aluminum Association. Learn how aluminum is shaping a more sustainable future by reducing emissions and improving efficiency in battery electric vehicle (BEV) designs.  Why Attend?  Explore Key Findings: Understand how lightweighting with aluminum contributes to lower life cycle emissions in BEVs.  Hear from Experts: Gain insights on the role of aluminum in the future of mobility, from a panel of the aluminum industry's experts, leading researchers and industry voices.  Discover Design Impacts: See how aluminum-optimized BEV design reduces Global Warming Potential by enabling battery downsizing and improving fuel efficiency.  Brought to you by: DRIVE ALUMINUM SPEAKERS: Marshall Wang Senior Manager, Sustainability Programs, The Aluminum Association Andreas Afseth Technical Director Global Automotive, Constellium Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Key Machining Strategies Covered: Trochoidal Milling: Efficient material removal with reduced tool wear High Efficiency Milling (HEM): Uses low radial depth of cut for improved tool life and productivity Specialized Operations: Helical interpolation Ramping Full slot milling Industry Segment focus: Critical aerospace components, Oil & Gas (dogbone coupon milling), automotive, medical and more Supply Chain Importance: Emphasis on the quality and availability of materials from powder to rod to finished end mill Closed-loop system includes recycling, ensuring sustainability and consistent performance Global production ensures scalability and repeatability across markets Brought to you by: CERATIZIT SPEAKER: Scott Walrath Business Development Manager Scott brings 40 years of experience in cutting tools, with a specialization in end mill manufacturing. He is the former owner of DuraMill, based in Upstate New York, and since 2021 has served as Senior Product Manager for Solid Carbide End Mills at CERATIZIT. Scott's deep expertise includes tool production, edge preparation technology, coating technologies, and machining strategy optimization. Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, we speak with Nush Ahmed and Karlie Hahn, CEO & COO of Sisterhood of Trades respectively, about their burgeoning manufacturing careers and the rewards of building a community of their peers.  

Justin Baucum, who's leading Isembard's U.S. expansion, joins Steve Plumb to discuss the company's unique business model of establishing contract manufacturing franchises on the latest episode of Advanced Manufacturing Live. 

What is a time series database and why should you consider using one? In this podcast, we will examine challenges that traditional relational databases struggle to address efficiently and how to implement high-performance time-series data systems with minimal operational overhead. We'll explore how modern open source technologies like InfluxDB, Apache Arrow, DataFusion, and turn high-volume, high-velocity, high-resolution manufacturing and industrial data into actionable intelligence, without compromising performance and keeping storage costs low. What you'll learn: Why traditional databases struggle with modern manufacturing data requirements Key characteristics that make time series databases essential for industrial operations How to achieve real-time data processing at massive scale with minimal infrastructure overhead Practical implementation strategies using modern open source technologies Real-world manufacturing use cases demonstrating measurable ROI and operational improvements Brought to you by: influxdb SPEAKER: Scott Anderson, Product Manager Scott Anderson is a Product Manager at InfluxData, leading product management for the company's core database. Before transitioning into product management, he served as the Technical Lead for InfluxData's Docs team, where he specialized in translating complex technical concepts into clear, accessible documentation. With a formal background in graphic design and a self-taught expertise in coding, Scott combines principles from both disciplines to inform his approach to product development, software documentation, and information design. Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, we speak with Dick Schenkel, industry veteran and former executive recruiter, about how retained search firms work, when and why companies should partner with a recruiter, and how candidates can position themselves to stand out in a competitive market.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, we talk with Paul Boris of UiPath about the next evolution of continuous improvement.

Discover how manufacturing leaders are transforming their approach to enterprise data, moving beyond silos to create systems of insight for competitive advantage.  Learn how AI is becoming your best friend for navigating tariff impacts by enabling data-driven domestic sourcing and offsetting higher costs.  See how AI-powered workflows help engineering and supply chain stop reinventing the wheel through intelligent design reuse and accelerated data retrieval.  Explore how data becomes the secret weapon for high-mix, low-volume manufacturers, driving rapid, accurate quotes and operational efficiency.  Uncover how AI is being leveraged to tame cost volatility by optimizing supplier negotiations and identifying hidden savings opportunities. Brought to you by: CADDi Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, we speak with Dean Svarc, author of "Trojan Horse: The Unseen Solution to Critical Business Problems" about the hidden cultural and leadership issues that erode business performance.

A family owned millwork company scales up high end custom production in Queens. We discuss Axos Designs' major facility expansion in one of the most expensive real estate markets in the world.

Skilled labor shortages continue to top the list of barriers to manufacturing growth. In Episode 2 of Advanced Manufacturing Live, we examined how manufacturers are responding—through apprenticeships, partnerships with educators, veteran hiring initiatives and hands-on training centers.

The SME Media editorial team breaks down the February issue, exploring how AI, automation, apprenticeships, and workforce development are coming together to close manufacturing's skills gap.

Join Deltek for a webinar showcasing the powerful capabilities of the Gage and Tool module in TIPQA, a comprehensive solution designed to streamline tool management and enhance quality assurance across manufacturing operations. In this webinar, you'll learn how TIPQA empowers teams to: Track Tool Usage with Precision: Record tool usage directly against manufacturing and inspection steps for full traceability. Simplify Tool Management: Utilize an intuitive check-in/check-out system to manage tool availability and accountability. Ensure Accuracy and Reliability: Automate calibration cycles and schedule preventative maintenance to maintain tool integrity. Adapt Maintenance to Real-World Use: Leverage dynamic maintenance cycles based on actual tool usage to reduce downtime and optimize performance. Drive Data-Driven Decisions: Perform Gage Repeatability & Reproducibility (Gage R&R) analysis to validate measurement systems and improve process control. Whether you're a quality engineer, manufacturing manager, or SME member looking to elevate your tool management strategy, this webinar will provide actionable insights and a firsthand look at how TIPQA's Gage and Tool module can transform your operations. Brought to you by: DELTEK Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

In recognition of National Mentoring Month, SME Media Editor Rachael Thomas spoke with Nashay Naeve, president of the engineered plastic components business unit at Tsubaki-Nakashima, to learn more about her career journey, uplifting other women in the manufacturing industry and more.

America's manufacturing sector continues to face a critical skilled labor shortage—but one highly capable talent pool often goes overlooked: military veterans. In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, host Rachel Thomas, editor at SME Media, is joined by Michael McConnell, senior editor at SME Media, to discuss his upcoming February feature in Manufacturing Engineering & Technology magazine.

Recorded live at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, this episode features a conversation between SME Media Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb and SME Chief Manufacturing Officer Dr. Brett Conner on why manufacturing belongs at the world's biggest technology show.

In today's special episode, you'll hear the audio version of SME Media's brand new video series, Advanced Manufacturing Live! You can find the video version of this episode on SME Media's social media pages.     

In this special episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, the SME Editorial Team reflects on the highlights of 2025 and anticipates the trends and challenges for 2026.