Advanced Manufacturing Now

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:

• Delve into some of the most common myths about ceramic tooling
• Cover which materials are most appropriate for ceramics
• Share in-depth discussion on optimization methods, tips, and tricks to help you get the most out of your ceramic tooling- whether you are familiar with ceramic tools or just looking to understand how to incorporate them into your machining

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

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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 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

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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.