Advanced Manufacturing Now

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 an...

  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 Vi...

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/li...

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 m...

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...

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 Adv...

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 organiz...

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...

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 grow...

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 maj...

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 Li...

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 diame...

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 select...

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. T...

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 Adva...

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...

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 WWI...

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, an...