Advanced Manufacturing Now

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb sits down with Todd Smith, President and CFO of Associated Metal Forming Technologies (AMFT), a global leader in precision springs, deep-drawn parts, stamping, and metal-forming solutions.

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: Delv...

Join Editors Steve Plumb, 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 automa...

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 peo...

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...

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 wi...

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...

  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 appr...

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 more webinars and an interactive experience with visuals. Panelists Include:   Jane Arnold , Chief Customer Officer, APERIO  C...

Dr. Cassandra Higham 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 dedicat...

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 Pro...

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....

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 credenti...

Jay Jessen, director of Lawrence Tech's Marburger STEM Center and 2025 STEM Director of the Year, joins Advanced Manufacturing Now to discuss hands-on STEM education, breaking down access barriers,and preparing students for the future of work. 

Nations need manufacturing workforces that are competent, empowered, and diverse. Attracting and educating this base – ranging from operators and technicians to technologists and engineers – poses unique challenges and opportunities. Underinvestment in manufacturing education has led to a lack of integration of manufacturing content in higher education curriculum. In many countries, deep disconnec...

In this episode, Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb is joined by his colleagues Kip Hanson and Amy Bryson to discuss the October issue of Smart Shop Essentials , fresh off the press and centered on metrology — the science of measurement — and its critical role in smart manufacturing.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Associate Editor Cary Gitter is joined by Padma Raghunathan, Product Marketing Manager at Deltek , to explore what it really means to run a digitally connected manufacturing operation.