Advanced Manufacturing Now

In the second episode of Advancing the Line: AI in Manufacturing, SME's Tim Wilson sit down with Dr. Bijan Sayyar-Rodsari, Director of the AI Center of Excellence at Rockwell Automation, to examine how edge computing and generative AI are transforming real-world plant operations. With more than two decades of experience designing data-driven industrial control systems, Dr. Sayyar-Rodsari discusses how manufacturers can shift AI from experimental pilot projects into dependable, daily production environments.

On this special Manufacturing Day edition of Advanced Manufacturing Live, SME Senior Editor Michael McConnell speaks with Macomb County (Mich.) Executive Mark Hackel. The former county sheriff will explain why he's a big proponent of advanced manufacturing and why Macomb County is one of Michigan's premier locations for it.

Join SME Chief Editor Steve Plumb, Editor Rachael Thomas and Associate Editor Nicole Franzese-Damron for a discussion of the sights and sounds—and how tired their feet were—at this year's IMTS.

In the premiere episode of Advancing the Line: AI in Manufacturing, SME's Tim Wilson sit down with Adam Marsh, CEO of Ledge Inc., to explore how artificial intelligence is moving beyond corporate hype to deliver practical value on the machine shop floor. Marsh, a Penn State industrial engineer and quality systems specialist, explains why small and medium manufacturers should look at AI not as a job-replacing disruption, but as an operational calculator that relieves lean teams from administrative bottlenecks, complex compliance documentation, and quoting backlogs.

Key opportunities include advanced manufacturing, maintenance and repair, and quality and lab technicians. Steve Shepley and Victoria Bloom discuss these and other findings from a new report from Deloitte and the National Association of Manufacturers.