Advanced Manufacturing Now

The manufacturing industry is changing at an unprecedented rate. With this in mind, the upcoming Smart Manufacturing Experience Showcase at IMTS will address the latest challenges, opportunities and how emerging technologies are shaping the future. In this episode, Jamie Goettler, chief revenue officer at BTX Precision, shares his thoughts and vision for "Unscripted Manufacturing: Real-Time Problem Solving Across the Industrial Ecosystem." Potential topics include scaling production, ROI, resolving the skills gap and managing CMMC compliance.

Cara Walton shares the latest benchmarking results about efficiency, ROI, automation, workforce trends, IMTS and more from the consulting company's annual survey. Spoiler: material costs and volatility were the top concern.

Rachael Thomas, editor at SME Media, hosts welding instructors Makayla Baker and Darrell Buchanan from the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program in Danville, Va.

In today's rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, workforce challenges aren't just about filling roles—they're about building a sustainable, skilled talent pipeline that can adapt to change. From accelerating retirements to advancing technologies, manufacturers must rethink how they attract, engage, and retain talent. In this webinar, Tooling U-SME Workforce Development Specialist Denise Cowburn shares practical, proven strategies to help organizations strengthen their workforce for 2026 and beyond. Attendees will gain insights into creating a repeatable talent cycle that supports long-term growth, resilience, and competitiveness. PRESENTER: Denise Cowburn, Workforce Development Specialist, Tooling U-SME Presented by Tooling U-SME Visit https://toolingu.com/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Atomic-6 CEO Trevor Smith makes a case for putting data centers in space, the OCD marketplace and other outer-limit advances. Plus the latest news on tariffs (your check could be in the mail), cutting tungsten carbide-cobalt waste with 3D printing and ISM's expanding July PMI survey results. 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.

The manufacturing sector has expanded for the seventh consecutive month, according to the July 2026 Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing PMI Report. Susan Spence, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee discusses the factors driving industry expansion.

What can manufacturers expect from the Smart Manufacturing Experience at IMTS 2026? In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Steve Plumb is joined by Carl Mitroff, SME's conference manager, to preview one of IMTS's premier educational destinations. Carl shares what attendees can expect from more than 30 presentations designed to help manufacturers turn emerging technologies into practical business results.

FAI creation is an essential element of quality control programs but can consume a significant amount of time. In this webinar, we will discuss a tool that consolidates all requirements into an accountability checklist, keeping drawing and inspection sheets in sync. Automatically capture sheet and zone and identify Bill of Materials (BOM) and specifications for a complete and accurate report. This software exports a professional ballooned print as a PDF and can output to your customized Excel spreadsheet. In this session, we'll go over how to reduce quality escapes that occur from overlooking requirements. Failing results are flagged in real-time and any missing required FAIR AS9102 data is also flagged for compliance to the standard. Easily renumber balloon sequencing and change between Imperial and Metric units as required by your customers. Learn how to seamlessly import your CMM data to validate each result and easily flag non-conformances. Use any CMM in your shop to create result data and automatically populate the Designed Tooling. The tool we discuss will assist you in keeping up with the growing prevalence of 3D modeling in manufacturing. Using the Product Manufacturing Information (PMI) of the model, this software extracts the geometry and notes from the model to create views with ballooned data and exports to the inspection sheet. In this webinar, you will learn how to: Error-proof each FAI for accuracy and customer approval. Eliminate the need for manual data entry. Use your CMM output to populate FAI actuals. Address your customer's requirement for MBD. PRESENTER: Jeffrey C. Davis Account Manager DISCUS Software Presented by DISCUS  Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Teacher. TV host. Digital content creator. Ian Johnson has done all that and more. On the latest Advanced Manufacturing Live, Johnson traces his manufacturing career journey and the role social media has played in it. He also explains why social media is a must for manufacturers that don't want to get left behind. 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.

Tech consultant and contributing editor Meaghan Ziemba spoke with industry experts about how to improve CNC operations via a holistic approach. She previews the result for her latest article in Manufacturing Engineering & Technology with Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb.

What happens when the brightest minds in manufacturing research, industry and government come together to shape the future of advanced manufacturing? In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, host Steve Plumb is joined by SME Chief Manufacturing Officer Brett Conner and Director of Technology Innovation and Strategy Tim Wilson to reflect on key takeaways from NAMRC 54.

It's no longer a question of whether to adopt digital technology. The question is how to do it. Those are among the findings in Rockwell Automation's 11th annual "State of Smart Manufacturing" report. Andy Stump, Rockwell director of technical enablement, discusses where the digital transformation process is now, how it got here and where it might be headed 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.

Today, we're revisiting a conversation from the Advanced Manufacturing Now archives. In this episode, host Bruce Morey speaks with Chuck Somerville of Ceratizit about the six keys to successful milling applications. Their discussion covers material selection, part geometry, workholding, machine capabilities and the importance of aligning tooling and machining strategies to maximize productivity and part quality.   

  Join Sundeep Ahluwalia, Chief Product Officer at TDK SensEI, as he explores the future of industrial manufacturing and computer vision. In this webinar, Sundeep introduces edgeRX Vision—a powerful combination of computer vision and edge AI designed to deliver fast, accurate quality control directly on the production line. Currently deployed in TDK manufacturing facilities worldwide, edgeRX Vision can inspect up to 2,000 parts per minute, detecting defects in components as small as 1 mm × 0.5 mm. Discover how edgeRX Vision enables manufacturers to achieve: Enhanced AOI capabilities Higher production throughput Real-time visual feedback Precision driven by AI Reduced human error PRESENTER: Sundeep Ahluwalia Chief Product Officer Presented by TDK SensEI Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Steve Bauer, Digital Content Producer for SME Media, joins Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb to share his experiences and insights from his visit to the Automate show in Chicago. The conversation highlights the latest advancements in robotics, vision systems, grippers, and integrated automation solutions.

We're joined by Heidi Balestrieri, engineering director at Sentry Equipment. Balestrieri discusses what led her to a manufacturing career and why she's so passionate about encouraging other women to pursue industry careers. 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, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X or LinkedIn to join us live every other Thursday at 1 p.m. Eastern Time.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, host Steve Plumb is joined by educators Chris Desmond from Hopewell High School and Jason Hyatt from Cazenovia High School. Both schools are part of the SME Education Foundation's PRIME (Partnership Response in Manufacturing Education) initiative, which has recently expanded to middle schools. Chris and Jason discuss how hands-on learning, advanced manufacturing technologies and community partnerships are shaping the future of STEM education and preparing students for rewarding careers in manufacturing. Advanced Manufacturing Now is an SME Media podcast. As an industry thought leader, SME Media publishes Manufacturing Engineering & Technology and AdvancedManufacturing.org. The team of seasoned editorial, digital, sales and marketing, and audience service professionals is deeply committed to keeping readers well-informed and engaged on the latest manufacturing advances to help them make timely decisions to improve their business operations. From cutting tools and other traditional equipment and processes to workforce development, advanced software, additive manufacturing and Industry 4.0, we've got you covered. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X and LinkedIn. 

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, the team previews the June/July issue of Manufacturing Engineering and Technology, available to read now on advancedmanufacturing.org. The issue explores the intersection of people and technology, from press brake tooling and setup reduction to evolving chip control strategies. The conversation also dives into the growing role of AI—from engineering design reviews to real-time decision-making—and what it takes to successfully integrate it into modern manufacturing.

Satyandra K Gupta, co-founder and chief scientist for GrayMatter Robotics, talks with SME Media about the company's new agreement with defense prime Huntington Ingalls Industries, the recent expansion of its operations and the latest advances and applications for physical AI in manufacturing. 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, Steve Bauer sits down with Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Vice President of Technology Ryan Kelly to unpack a unique industry challenge: why breakthrough technologies aren't reaching factory floors fast enough. Plus, a preview of what to expect at IMTS, where the next wave of innovation takes center stage.

The uncomfortable truth? Most AI initiatives fail - not because of the technology, but because engineering data is fragmented, tribal knowledge lives in inboxes, and process discipline isn't built for scale. Join Patrick Harrigan, VP of Partnerships at CADDi, and Greg Cunningham, Platform Specialist at IMAGINiT Technologies, for a candid discussion on what it actually takes to prepare your organization for AI-driven growth. This isn't theory. It's a practical game plan for manufacturers who want to: Turn engineering data into competitive advantage Break down silos between design, manufacturing and supply chain Reduce costly rework and accelerate speed to market Build the structured foundation AI requires to succeed PRESENTERS: Patrick Harrigan VP of Partnerships CADDi Greg Cunningham Platform Specialist IMAGINiT Technologies Presented by CADDi Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

From supply chain volatility and geopolitical unrest to workforce challenges and transformative technologies, manufacturers need to learn how to survive—and thrive—in dynamic environments where flexibility is critical. Quickparts CEO Avi Reichental and SME Media's Steve Plumb and Michael McConnell discuss what this means for the industry today and how it could impact the future.   Reichental leads Quickparts' global operations, creating components for aerospace, medical and mobility through additive manufacturing. 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.

On the latest episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, the editorial team discusses the 250th anniversary of the United States, and the spirit of innovation they discovered while putting together the State-by-State of the Manufacturing Industry special report.

This episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now brings together three Executive Perspectives from RAPID + TCT 2026, exploring where additive manufacturing stands today and where it's headed next. Featuring conversations with SME's Brett Conner, Stratasys' Foster Ferguson, and Brigadier General Beth Behn, we discuss the shift from prototyping to production, the rise of digital supply chains and the growing influence of AI, qualification standards and defense demand in shaping the future of AM.

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 National 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.