When Dr. Sampson Gholston first encountered an SME certification in the late 1980s, it was not just a test; it was part of the classroom.

If last year was the year of evolution for manufacturing, 2026 marks a clear inflection point as we head into a transformative era.

SME FUSION is the manufacturing industry’s leading workforce event, focused on providing actionable insights and strategies to fill the workforce pipeline, efficiently onboard and train new hires, upskill existing talent, and transfer vital knowledge.