Your Path to Manufacturing Excellence Explore how material innovation, intelligent design-to-production strategies, and smart facility planning are shaping the future of manufacturing. Gain expert insights to boost efficiency, strengthen resilience, and build agile, sustainable operations. SME Members enjoy these programs at no cost. Nonmember pricing is $40 per session. Not a member? Consider joining SME to enjoy these and other benefits! JOIN NOW. Please email membership@sme.org with any questions about registering. Please note: Dates & Topics are subject to change. Register Now Designing for Efficiency: Strategic Approaches to Facility Planning August 26 | 2–3 p.m. ET FREE for SME Members | $40 for Non-Members Feeling the strain of outdated layouts, capacity constraints, or processes that don’t quite flow? From increasing productivity demands to the pressure to scale efficiently, many manufacturing leaders face complex decisions that hinge on thoughtful facility planning. Join us for this virtual session exploring proven methods for optimizing plant layout and capacity planning: Plant Layout Optimization: Learn how strategic facility planning supports safer operations, improves production flow, maximizes existing assets and tool selection, and aligns layouts with long-term business goals. Capacity Planning & Buffer Design: Explore approaches to evaluating capacity, managing variability, and designing buffers that improve system throughput and reduce production disruptions. See how analytical tools, including Excel and simulation modeling, can be used to assess performance and support data-driven decisions. Automation & Robotics Integration: Discover how small and medium-sized manufacturers are successfully implementing robotics within existing facilities. Through real-world simulation examples, learn how thoughtful layout integration and automation can enhance productivity while working within the constraints of legacy equipment. As part of SME’s quarterly Manufacturing Excellence Series, this program supports the Four Pillars of Manufacturing Knowledge and is designed for professionals seeking practical strategies to improve operational flow and long-term scalability. Register Now Registrants will receive the recording in an email after the live event. Dr. Herman Tang Professor and Program Coordinator | School of Engineering Eastern Michigan University Dr. Herman Tang is a distinguished professor in the School of Engineering at Eastern Michigan University, bringing more than 16 years of manufacturing industry experience from Chrysler (now Stellantis) to his academic role. His expertise includes mechanical, manufacturing, and quality engineering. He is the author of five technical books, including two manufacturing books published by SAE. His latest book, Manufacturing System Throughput Excellence: Analysis, Improvement, and Design, was published by Wiley in 2024. Dr. Tang has led EMU’s Master of Science in Quality Management and Graduate Certificate in Lean Six Sigma programs for more than a decade. He also serves as a journal associate editor, reviewer, and NSF panelist. He earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Michigan and an MBA in Industrial Management from Baker College. He can be reached at htang2@emich.edu. William “Bill” Miller Principal Engineer ARM Institute Wlliam Miller is a Principal Engineer at the ARM Institute and the lead architect of the Robotics Manufacturing Hub, where he oversees the technical development and deployment of advanced robotics and automation systems from requirements definition through system integration and factory acceptance tests. This has engaged more than 50 manufacturers and completed over 20 robotic prototypes with a 60% transition-to-deployment rate. With over 20 years of experience in robotics, autonomy, and defense-related engineering, he has led and delivered complex systems development and deployment for manufacturing and national security applications. Prior to joining ARM in 2022, Mr. Miller served as System Architect for thermal management systems at Uber Advanced Technologies Group (now Aurora Innovation) and held senior technical leadership roles at Carnegie Robotics and L3Harris, supporting autonomous mobile systems, fire controls, and opto-mechanical defense platforms. He holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Rochester. Art Romo Senior Director of Operations & Operational Excellence Vantedge Medical Art Romo is an accomplished operations executive, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and transformational leader with more than 25 years of experience driving business turnarounds, organizational transformation, and operational excellence across startups, public companies, private organizations, and private equity-backed businesses. His experience spans the biopharmaceutical, medical device, chemical, food and beverage, and manufacturing industries, where he has built high-performing teams, revitalized operations, and delivered sustainable business results. He currently serves as Senior Director of Operations and Operational Excellence at Vantedge Medical, leading Rancho Cordova operations while driving Operational Excellence across West Coast sites. Previously, Art held executive leadership roles with Baxter International, Baxalta, and B. Braun Medical, and has provided pro bono consulting to organizations across diverse industries. Known for combining strategic vision with hands-on execution, he is passionate about developing leaders, transforming organizations, and fostering cultures of accountability, continuous improvement, and lasting success. Coming Soon November 10 | Risk Ready: Developing Resilient Plant Operations Register NowDissect the ways proactive risk management can protect manufacturing operations from costly disruptions. Learn from experts on how to identify, assess, and mitigate risk such as equipment failure and supply chain volatility. Completed Webinars SME Members get free access to Manufacturing Excellence replays. Email membership@sme.org to receive the replay. 2026 Exploration of Engineering Materials in ManufacturingExplore the role engineering materials play in manufacturing. Jamesa Stokes, Materials Research Engineer at NASA Glenn Research Center, and Aswini Hariharan, Manufacturing Engineer III at Integer Holdings Corporation, provide insights on how material selection can impact product performance, sustainability, and cost effectiveness in manufacturing. Design Prototyping from Concept to ProductionExamine strategies that transform innovative concepts into manufacturable products. Learn from Arthur Pius Santiago, Prototyping Lab Lead at the Centre for Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Arts & Science at University of Toronto, and Justin West, R&D Staff Associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, about key approaches to prototyping in a competitive and fast-paced manufacturing process. 2025 Maximizing Operational Efficiency: Lean, Six Sigma, and Beyond Navigating Regulatory Changes in Manufacturing: Compliance, Safety, and Innovation Enhancing Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) to Meet Modern Market Demands Cost Management Strategies: Reducing Overhead and Enhancing Profit Margin
