In this episode, Dave Evans, CEO of Fictiv , discusses the journey of his company from its inception to becoming a global player in the manufacturing industry. He shares insights from his experience in the automotive sector, the challenges of scaling supply chains, and the importance of innovation in hardware development.
Editor David Muller sits down with Associate Editor Cary Gitter to debrief from the 2025 North American Manufacturing Research Conference and its Blue Sky Competition. He discusses this years winners, a team from the University of Georgia with its entry on “Manufacturing Empathy,” and other standouts from the competition.
In this inspiring episode, Toni Neary sits down with industry champion Clint Smith of Mastercam. From his start as a mold maintenance technician to CNC programmer and now a leader in education and workforce development, Clint shares his incredible journey and passion for shaping the next generation of manufacturing professionals. Fresh from SkillsUSA Nationals, Clint and Toni dive into the impact of competitions like SkillsUSA, WorldSkills, and Project MFG. Clint gives an insider’s look at what ...
Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb sits down with Al Whatmough, CEO of Toolpath Labs, to explore the potential of AI in manufacturing. Drawing from his experiences as a machinist, high school teacher and former Autodesk executive, Whatmough shares his thoughts on bridging the gap between design and production, creating a more connected, efficient manufacturing ecosystem through intelligent automation.
In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Editor-in-Chief Steve Plum is joined by Meaghan Ziemba, creator and host of Mavens of Manufacturing. Their conversation covers Meaghan's background, storytelling in manufacturing, mentorship, and her passion for inspiring the next generation of manufacturing professionals.
In this episode, Lead Contributing Editor Amy Bryson sits down with Rob MacMillan, founder of PINpoint Information Systems, to unpack the complexities of transformational technology and reach the substance beyond the hype.
The SME Media editorial team discuss their recent travels covering industry events. Topics include Siemens' digital twin technology and industrial AI at Realize LIVE, and North Carolina's transformation into a bio-manufacturing hub.
Join Amy Bryson, Steve Plumb and Chris Mahar as they reflect on the 10-year journey of Smart Manufacturing magazine, discussing its evolution covering key innovations in manufacturing technology and the exciting transition to Manufacturing Engineering & Technology magazine in August.
In this episode of Manufacturing the Workforce of Tomorrow, host Toni Neary talks with Dr. Timothy Wilson, SME’s AI strategist, about what artificial intelligence really is—and what it means for your workforce. They break down the basics of AI (Narrow, General, Agentic), how tools like ChatGPT work, and how AI is already shaping everything from hiring to upskilling. Learn how organizations can use AI to uncover hidden talent, close skill gaps, and personalize employee development. Whether you’re...
In this episode of Manufacturing the Workforce of Tomorrow, host Toni Neary talks with Dr. Timothy Wilson, SME’s AI strategist, about what artificial intelligence really is—and what it means for your workforce. They break down the basics of AI (Narrow, General, Agentic), how tools like ChatGPT work, and how AI is already shaping everything from hiring to upskilling. Learn how organizations can use AI to uncover hidden talent, close skill gaps, and personalize employee development. Whether you’re...
In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Editor David Muller interviews John McCullough of Kubotek Kosmos about the evolution of CAD technology, the challenges of digital communication in manufacturing, and the emerging trend of model-based definition. John shares insights on how A&D industries are driving innovation in data sharing, interoperability, and the potential impact of digital transformation on manufacturing processes.
Join Jason Gorey of Stifel Financial Corp. as he sits down with manufacturing experts Patrick Gaughan and Tim Osterhaus to explore critical strategies for small and medium-sized manufacturers. Hear insights on talent acquisition, innovation, continuous improvement, and the evolving landscape of American manufacturing through the experiences of these seasoned industry professionals.
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have become a critical asset for modern manufacturers. In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Editor Lawrence Moves sits down with Dusty Alexander, President and CEO of Global Shop Solutions. Dusty shares insights into the evolution of ERP technology, discussing real-time data visibility, shop floor automation, overcoming data silos, and helping manufacturers make smarter, faster decisions in an increasingly competitive global manufacturing land...
The June edition of Smart Shop Essentials is all about being better (but not necessarily best). In this episode, Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb speaks with Lead Contributing Editor Amy Bryson and Contributing Editor Kip Hanson about the latest issue, how the word “premium” is synonymous with better—and why being frugal could end up costing big bucks during machining operations.
In this episode of the Advanced Manufacturing Now podcast, Senior Editor David Mueller speaks with Jonathan Christopher and Brian Falk from Scientific Cutting Tools to discuss the company's garage beginnings and commitment to the future. Scientific Cutting Tools was founded in 1963 by Stanley Christopher, and three generations later, serve customers in aerospace, defense, medical, automotive, and advanced manufacturing — including names like NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Caterpillar, Lockheed Marti...
After 75 years in business, MasterGraphics has rebranded to M5D with a focus on supporting its customers in every dimension. In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Editor Lawrence Moebs interviews CEO Kevin Carr about the rebrand, the trough of disillusionment, and the opportunities presented by additive manufacturing today.
Siemens Virtual Technical Application Center is an online educational initiative launched to help companies and their employees keep their skills up-to-date to meet the rapid changes in technology as the industrial sector digitalizes. Mr. CNC Chris Pollack, manager of the center, speaks with Lead Contributing Editor Amy Bryson about the macro challenges facing manufacturers today.
Nick Haase, co-founder of MaintainX, has spent thousands of hours on the shop floor helping manufacturing leaders transform their operations with frontline-friendly software and AI. He joins Senior Editor David Muller to discuss the origins of MaintainX and the current state of computerized maintenance management system software.
RAPID + TCT 2025, North America’s largest and most influential additive manufacturing and industrial 3D printing event, once again brought together the brightest minds in AM. In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, the SME Media editorial team get together to share the most noteworthy insights they discovered on the show floor this year.
Zoovu is an AI search and product discovery platform designed to put the right parts in the right hands. In the manufacturing industry, those parts could mean the difference between fulfilling a multimillion dollar order, or not. James Novak, CEO of Zoovu, joins Editor David Muller to discuss Zoovu with a lens on manufacturing companies.
In this episode, we talk with Gabe Kooyers, a machining instructor who’s redefining what manufacturing education looks like. Blending hands-on experience with engineering design principles and a bold focus on CNC training from day one, Kooyers is preparing students to meet the demands of modern industry with confidence. We explore how his innovative teaching methods, creative student portfolios (think: James Bond briefcase), and strategic use of LinkedIn are creating real-world opportunities for...
Jason Hehman, vertical leader of industry 4.0 at TXI, wants to empower manufacturing with the kind of insight only a digital twin can provide. He speaks with Editor Lawrence Moebs on developing pragmatic solutions with smart manufacturing technology.
Jerry Capo, vice president of technology at Product Evaluation Systems, and Dr. Alex Kinsey, technical lead of metallurgy, failure analysis at ATS, speak with Editor Lawrence Moebs about a crucially important aspect of any manufacturing: testing. In the case of additive manufacturing, the variability and complexity of the processes involved means testing is all the more critical.
The Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII) wants to solve the biggest challenges facing cybersecurity in the U.S manufacturing industry. Gabriela Ciocarlie, Chief Technology Officer of CyManII, speaks with Lead Contributing Editor Amy Bryson about cybersecurity considerations for manufacturers of all sizes.
Brigitte de Vet, CEO of Materialise, knows that additive manufacturing technology has the potential for a revolutionary impact on the manufacturing industry, even if it might be a slow revolution. Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb speaks with Brigitte about where the AM industry has been and where it's heading.
As additive manufacturing technology advances, so does the sophistication of 3D-printed materials. Whatever you choose to use in your process, your grinder needs to handle everything you throw at it. Editor Lawrence Moebs speaks with Erik Lawson of DCM Tech about getting the most out of your rotary surface grinder in additive manufacturing.
Dr. Deb Volzer wants to change the narrative around manufacturing career opportunities. She spearheaded the development of SME’s Manufacturing Imperative Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC) with the express purpose of raising enrollment by 1,000 individuals per year, per college in STEM and manufacturing related programs. As the program finishes its inaugural year, editor-in-chief Steve Plumb speaks with Deb about MI-WPC's key goals and milestones. Read the MI-WPC National Impact Report here: ...
How can we ignite a passion for STEM in young minds and create a more diverse engineering workforce? Join us as we delve into the inspiring story of Shonali Ditz, Co-Founder and Executive Director of SparkShop. Shonali shares her personal journey, from navigating the challenges of engineering at Northwestern University to co-founding SparkShop, an organization dedicated to empowering the next generation of engineers. Discover how SparkShop is breaking down barriers by introducing hands-on engine...
In this episode, host David Muller speaks with Ron Crabtree, CEO of MetaOps , about the current landscape of manufacturing, particularly for small and medium-sized manufacturers. They discuss the challenges these manufacturers face, including digital transformation, workforce shortages, and the impact of automation and AI.
In this latest episode, editor-in-chief Steve Plumb sits down with Smart Manufacturing lead contributing editor Amy Bryson and contributing editor Kip Hanson, to discuss the April issue of Smart Shop Essentials . They detail some of the informative stories you'll be able to read, and they also give a small preview into the upcoming June issue. To learn more about Smart Shop Essentials , visit advancedmanufacturing.org/smart-shop-essentials...
