Advanced Manufacturing Now

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 disconnects exist between manufacturing and workforce development. Expanding industries such as semiconductors and the submarine industrial base struggle to grow their workforce at a pace to support growth. And at times, manufacturing has struggled to attract young people and develop talent.

This webinar will present a new 2025 special issue in SME Manufacturing Letters: Innovations in Manufacturing Education. This issue will provide a platform for findings that advance the frontiers of manufacturing education and workforce development. Topics will include, but are not limited to: innovative manufacturing education in higher education, community colleges, and K-12; learning technologies for manufacturing education and training; and novel approaches to experiential learning and labs. The presentation will include timeline, topics and scope, review process, and Q&A.

Visit https://advancedmanufacturing.org/webinars for a more interactive experience with visuals.

SPEAKERS:

Dr. John LiuDirector and Principal Investigator, MIT Learning Engineering and Practice (LEAP) Group

Ismail Fidan, PhDProfessor of Engineering Technology and Director of the University's Maker Space, Tennessee Tech University

John Irwin, EdD Professor, Mechanical Engineering Technology Chair, Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology Department, Coll, Michigan Technological University

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.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Associate Editor Cary Gitter shares conversations with industry leaders recorded at Rapid + TCT 2025 in Detroit. Dr. Masahiko Mori (DMG Mori), Yoav Zeif (Stratasys), and Brigitte de Vet-Veithen (Materialise) contemplate the future of additive manufacturing and the importance of collaboration, digitalization and workforce transformation.

The editorial team dives into the September issue of Manufacturing Engineering and Technology (MET), covering the latest trends of the auto industry, the continued rise of AI and the critical importance of cybersecurity preparedness.

On this episode of the "Manufacturing the Workforce of Tomorrow", host Toni Neary welcomes her colleague and friend, Craig McAtee, the Executive Director of the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC).

Craig shares his unique career journey, transitioning from an engineer at a company called Swagelok to roles in workforce and economic development at Cuyahoga Community College, before taking the helm at NCATC. They discuss how NCATC has evolved into a leading workforce development association under his leadership.

The conversation dives into the power of partnerships, highlighting the shift from calling industry relationships "vendors" to "strategic partners". Craig and Toni also discuss what makes the NCATC conference so successful, including its focus on sharing best practices, offering "industry innovation tours" , and the "Member Assistance Program" (MAP) where experienced members help colleges plan new technology centers. This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in how education and industry are collaborating to build the workforce of the future.

Senior Editor David Muller sits down with Tim Gaus, smart manufacturing business leader and principal at Deloitte, to discuss the pressing challenges facing the manufacturing workforce. Tim shares his perspective on knowledge transfer, the impact of generational shifts, and how partnerships with academia are building a robust talent pipeline.

Metalworking fluids are often overlooked but absolutely critical to machining success. In this episode of the Advanced Manufacturing Now podcast, Associate Editor Cary Gitter is joined by Brandy Brown and Mike Kowalski of Castrol to discuss the importance of metalworking fluids in. They explain the various types of metalworking fluids and the factors to consider when selecting the right fluid.

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb dives into how small and mid-sized manufacturers can build cybersecurity into their digital transformation efforts. Gabriela Ciocarlie and Curtis Taylor from CyManII are joined by Vinh Nguyen from Michigan Tech to explore a groundbreaking cybersecurity project.

You could have the best tools in the world, but if your tool path isn't dialed in, the whole process will break down. Editor-in-Chief Steve Plumb, Lead Contributing Editor Amy Bryson and Contributing Editor Kip Hanson discuss the latest issue of Smart Shop Essentials, exploring the nuanced world of milling strategies, examining how tool selection, machine behavior, and programming techniques impact manufacturing performance.