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Manufacturing Engineering: December 2018

The December 2018 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
Outlook: Solid U.S. Economic Momentum Poised to Cool in 2019

Outlook: Solid U.S. Economic Momentum Poised to Cool in 2019

November 21, 2018
U.S. economic growth is expected to continue in 2019, while outlooks for the aerospace and defense, automotive, energy and medical industries vary.
By Oxford Economics Press Release
Manufacturing in 2050: The World Turned Upside Down?

Manufacturing in 2050: The World Turned Upside Down?

November 26, 2018
Powerful trends will push manufacturing close to complete automation by 2050, while the people still working in the industry will be empowered to rapidly innovate like never before.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
Cyber Secure Manufacturing Is Smart Manufacturing

Cyber Secure Manufacturing Is Smart Manufacturing

November 26, 2018
It’s probably not a bad idea for smaller and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) to adopt an “us against them” attitude as they become aware of the prevalence of cyber-attacks in the digital age of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0.
Jim Lorincz
By Jim Lorincz Contributing Editor, SME Media
Thermo XL5

Testing the Metal

November 27, 2018
Materials science has opened new possibilities for designers of cars, planes and other products. Metal alloys are now as precisely engineered as they are machined. The result is longer lasting, stronger parts. But with a wider selection of materials comes risk—how can you be sure that one piece of gray metal stock is different than another? Careful warehousing procedures and paperwork only go so far.
Bruce Morey
By Bruce Morey Senior Technical Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Up Front

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Viewpoints

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

SME Speaks

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

Workforce Pipeline

  • AUTOMATION

    How To: Deploy Cobots in Existing Production Lines

    Dieter Pletscher, Global Sales Manager, Kassow Robots February 7, 2026
    The use of collaborative robots (cobots) continues to gain momentum as manufacturers look for practical ways to strengthen production without redesigning entire lines. Unlike traditional automation projects that often require significant reconfiguration, cobots allow facilities to improve consistency and reduce strain within the constraints of existing production layouts. This has become all the more important as manufacturers manage aging stations, limited floor space and rising pressure to maintain throughput with the same or fewer resources.
  • MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING

    Sale Leasebacks Aid Manufacturer Resiliency

    Malik Franklin, Partner, SLB Capital Advisors February 6, 2026
    American manufacturing companies operate in an increasingly complex environment. While long-term optimism around domestic production remains intact, near-term conditions are shaped by labor constraints, shifting tariff regimes, accelerating adoption of automation and AI, and renewed emphasis on onshoring to stabilize supply chains.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Tech Investments Outpace Manufacturing Workforce Readiness, Report Finds

    PRESS RELEASE: Revalize Inc. February 6, 2026
    Revalize, a worldwide leader in CPQ, PLM, and CAD software solutions for manufacturers, released new research around the state of AI and smart technology adoption in the manufacturing sector.

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