Advanced Manufacturing Now

In this episode, Associate Editor Cary Gitter sits down with Bryan Christiansen, CEO and founder of Limble CMMS, to explore how usability in maintenance technology directly impacts uptime, technician adoption, and overall manufacturing performance.

Ceramic cutting tool technology has advanced substantially over the past few decades to offer significant productivity improvements in a wide range of materials. Unsurprisingly, with that rapid progression, myths have sprung up that may cause manufacturers to be hesitant to give ceramic tooling a try. During this webinar, members from the tech and marketing team at Greenleaf Corporation will: Join us to learn about ceramic tools and their applications, and to discover methods to unlock your true potential for productivity with ceramics. Speakers: Martin Dillaman: Engineering and Applications Global Manager | Beth Greenleaf: Marketing Specialist and Photographer | Aaron Allen: Applications Engineer Sponsored by: Greenleaf Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Join Editors Steve Plump, Kip Hanson and Amy Bryson as they explore the December issue of Smart Shop Essentials, focused on automation in manufacturing.

The decision to move from a manual to an automated process has historically been a laborious, lengthy, and capital-intensive endeavor. Calculating the return on investment (ROI) of such a project is critical to the decision-making process. Companies beginning their automation journey tend to look at robots as a 1 to 1 replacement for their workforce leading to expensive over tooled and over automated processes. Focusing solely on labor replacement can lead companies to vastly undervalue some of the less obvious cost savings created by the switch to robotics. In this presentation, we will be discussing some of the best practices and common pitfalls to avoid when calculating the ROI of a robotic implementation, including: Efficient system design for a high-mix manufacturing environment Cost benefits from increased production and decreased waste Indirect cost benefits generated from increased worker satisfaction and safety Long term cost savings from greater traceability, product consistency and redeployability By considering these concepts, we can move toward considering robots as part of an overall process improvement opportunity versus simply as a direct replacement to workers. Doing so brings into consideration improvements to the production environment, increased product quality, and enhanced company profitability. Ultimately a refocused ROI calculation will help companies pivot from mid-line labor expenses to top-line revenue and bottom-line profitability. Speakers: James Shimano: Product Manager, Epson Robots Sponsored by: EPSON Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

In this episode, we talk with Teresa Simons, Executive Director of the Alliance for Working Together (AWT), about how a group of local manufacturers turned a workforce challenge into a regional success story. From the sparks of the student RoboBots competition to the hands-on training at AWT's Transformation Center, Simons shares how AWT is inspiring students, retraining adults, and connecting people with meaningful careers in manufacturing. Tune in to learn how collaboration, innovation, and community spirit are reshaping the future of work in Northeast Ohio.

Wipfli's latest benchmarking insights highlight tariff uncertainty, labor pressures and efficiency gaps as key factors shaping the outlook for U.S. manufacturers in 2026.

Johannes Fuhrmann of Arvato Systems discusses how data spaces and digital twins boost manufacturing efficiency, data sharing, and Industry 4.0 innovation.

Join us for this transformative webinar on the power of integrated risk management (IRM) for safety and risk professionals. We'll discuss how IRM can be achieved via a culture of collaboration between departments and powered by technology. Discover the pivotal role IRM plays in bridging the gap between risk and safety departments, unifying data and strategies to drive meaningful impact across the organization and ultimately improving efficiency, reducing incidents and injuries, and decreasing risk and insurance costs such as workers' compensation claims. Jeff Enzinger, Senior Sales Executive at Origami Risk, will lead an engaging conversation between Jeff Emrick, Corporate Safety Director at Ozinga, and Jenna Bechely, Senior Risk Specialist at Ozinga. They will share their real-world experiences in implementing an IRM strategy and how it benefits their business. Takeaways: Risk and safety professionals can be true partners Business results can be achieved by collaborating (reduction in insurance claims were shown by Ozinga) Technology can surface ways to send workers home safe and avoid insurance and legal costs Ozinga's story is proof that this can be done in practice! Speakers: Jeff Enzinger: Senior Sales Executive, Origami Risk | Jeff Emrick: Corporate Safety Director, Ozinga | Jenna Bechely: Senior Risk Specialist, Ozinga Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

Steve Plumb, Editor-in-Chief of SME Media, talks with Sam Schroeder, a mechanical engineering student at Northern Illinois University, and Corey Dahlberg, a mechanical design engineer at Sloan Valve Company and SME Chapter 5 director. Together, they share insights from the SME Bright Minds Student Mentorship Program.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Steve Plumb, editor-in-chief of SME Media, is joined by Amy Bryson, Cary Gitter, and new team member Rachel Thomas to dive into the highlights of the November issue of Manufacturing Engineering & Technology.

The rapidly evolving field of medical 3D printing demands a new generation of professionals equipped with the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking to harness its full potential. This 45-minute webinar will explore the pivotal role of structured education in developing a competent and confident workforce ready to innovate in clinical, academic, and research settings. In addition, the session will highlight the advantages of engaging and educating the broader community, demonstrating how cultivating curiosity can inspire future professionals and promote widespread adoption of 3D printing in healthcare. Speaker: Trish Weber | Assistant Director of Radiography/Medical Imaging and Advanced Technology, Clarkson College Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, host Steve Plumb, Editor-in-Chief of SME Media, joins colleagues Amy Bryson, Cary Gitter, and Cameron Kerkau to spotlight the inspiring young innovators shaping the future of manufacturing. From engineers designing 3D printers for military field use to metallurgists reinventing 1950s alloys and researchers working on NASA’s missions, this year’s 30 Under 30 honorees represent the brightest and most diverse talent in the industry.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, host Cary Gitter is joined by Dennis Easter, Senior Solutions Engineer at Algorithm Inc., and Doug Johnson, VP of Solution Architecture at Acumatica, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming ERP systems in the manufacturing industry.

Retaining Top Talent & Cultivating a Culture of Gratitude in Manufacturing Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals. Speaker: Lisa Ryan, CSP The manufacturing industry faces challenges in attracting and retaining talent. In this interactive workshop, Lisa Ryan will explore how leaders can create a workplace culture rooted in appreciation, purpose, and engagement. Learning Outcomes: Explore the five key drivers of employee engagement in manufacturing Learn practical ways to foster a positive, productive culture Understand how gratitude impacts retention and leadership effectiveness Walk away with tools to create an environment where employees feel valued and connected

Trailblazers in Smart Manufacturing: Women Leading Innovation Join a panel of influential women who are shaping the future of smart manufacturing. Learn from their personal journeys, challenges, and leadership insights. Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for a more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals. Panelists Include: Jane Arnold, Chief Customer Officer, APERIO Carley Mollica, Ph.D., MRC Program Manager, Lockheed Martin Supriya Puragundla, Senior Solutions Architect, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Suzy Teele, Chief Strategy Officer, ARM Institute Facilitated by: Jennifer Coyne, Director of Programs, The Barnes Global Advisors Learning Outcomes: Gain insights into the latest smart manufacturing innovations Understand the unique challenges and leadership lessons from women in the field Discover strategies to advance your career and impact

Dr. Cassandra Haim from Castrol joins Associate Editor Cary Gitter on Advanced Manufacturing Now to discuss how intelligent lubrication is transforming maintenance from reactive to predictive. Dr. Haim also shares how Castrol's latest innovation—Smart Coolant—is setting new benchmarks in coolant management, helping manufacturers reduce waste, control costs, and extend equipment life.

Manufacturing is at a pivotal crossroad. Rapid advances in automation, AI, and industrial IoT are transforming the shop floor, creating an urgent need for a new generation of skilled workers. But how do we build a workforce ready to keep up with this technological wave? In this episode, we go Inside SME’s Manufacturing Imperative Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC), a national initiative dedicated to answering that question. We sit down with Dr. Deb Volzer, SME’s Vice President of Workforce Development, to discuss how this program is reshaping the collaboration between community colleges, employers, and local organizations to solve America's skilled labor crisis. What you’ll learn: Why the Workforce Challenge Exists: America's competitiveness hinges on closing the widening skills gap caused by unprecedented technological change. The Power of Community College Hubs: How 25 colleges across 17 states are using innovative strategy sessions—like the "sticky storm" design thinking exercise—to align community resources and create hyper-local talent pipelines. Piloting New Approaches: Hear about the initiative's success using AI-powered chat tools for targeted social media marketing, reaching hundreds of thousands of prospective students and uncovering thousands of potential learners in just a few weeks. Critical Takeaways: Dr. Volzer shares three vital lessons from the first year, including the looming faculty shortage crisis and the essential role of continuous industry dialogue to keep curriculum current. This conversation is a blueprint for how communities can future-proof their workforce and ensure manufacturing remains strong in America.

In this special Manufacturing Month episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, host Steve Plumb, Editor-in-Chief of SME Media, is joined by a powerhouse panel of workforce development leaders: Jeannine Kunz, Executive Director and CEO of SME; Erica Logan, Workforce Development Director of the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base Program; and Joe Barto, Program Leader of the Navy’s Talent Pipeline Program. Together, they dive deep into one of the most urgent issues facing U.S. manufacturing today, the growing talent gap.

The Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry is demanding Aerospace parts at Automotive rates. Learn from aerospace and automotive industry leaders who will share the unique manufacturing, quality and inspection requirements for aerospace composites and current challenges to high-rate manufacturing. Insights from manufacturing experts with a command of high volume production will also be discussed. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain knowledge from aerospace composite manufacturing experts from the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) who will elaborate on the current state and propose solutions to high-rate manufacturing of AAM composites. Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for a more interactive experience with visuals. SPEAKERS: Nick Gianaris, PhD, PE Principal Technical Consultant, Nexight Group Doug Decker, FSME President of the Composites Consultants Ben Dietsch VP, Arsenal, Cornerstone Research Group, Inc. Sana Elyas Industrial Collaborations-Composites Innovation & Sustainable Manufacturing Technologies, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Confused about the difference between a certificate of completion, a certification, and an industry-recognized credential? You’re not aloneOn this episode of the "Manufacturing the Workforce of Tomorrow" podcast, host Toni Neary welcomes Montez King, Executive Director of NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills), to break down what these terms really mean, why industry-recognized credentials matter, and how certifications evolve to stay relevant. From understanding standards to renewal requirements and the importance of independent validation, this conversation will help you navigate professional development with clarity and confidence.