Good Planning starts with clear objectives, access to the necessary tools to achieve them, strong leadership and the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions.
To this end, SME recently updated its strategic plan for 2024 and beyond. While the overriding mission is unchanged—to accelerate widespread adoption of manufacturing technologies and build North America’s talent and capabilities—our tactics continue to evolve and are now built around five key pillars: leadership, relationships, transformative technologies, workforce development, and growth and diversification.
All are equally important and intertwined, impacting and supporting each other. In my new role as Editor-in-Chief of SME Media, I’m taking the relationships portion of the plan to heart. Our official strategic action calls for “increasing impact and reach by developing and growing new partnerships in industry, academia, government, communities and other not-for-profit organizations.”
While not formally stated, the same concept applies to readers, contributors, advertisers and advisors. Moving forward, we’d like to not only broaden our base for both Manufacturing Engineering and Smart Manufacturing but also encourage more active engagement and feedback. The more our editorial team gets to know the greater manufacturing community, the better we can serve it. Your industry knowledge and insights are invaluable to help us identify trends and develop relevant content. So, if you have a story idea, want to comment on a past issue or simply share some information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
We also look forward to meeting you at an upcoming industry event. The power of in-person connections was underscored at our recent AM Summit in Michigan. With a goal of informing the long-term strategy that drives SME and our partners to innovate, remove barriers to additive manufacturing (AM) adoption, and attract and develop needed talent, the two-day summit brought together 78 experts to identify barriers and collaborate on how to overcome them.
Education and building awareness were identified as key areas to grow AM applications across industries. Attendees also addressed challenges around workforce development, technology implementation, and standards and qualification, as well as resistance to change.
Needless to say, the 2023 Summit is part of an ongoing process. SME will continue to work with event participants and other partners to develop and implement an action plan, which we will share in the coming months.
Meanwhile, this issue is packed with a variety of content. Our lead feature, “Filling the Manufacturing Talent Gap,” perfectly aligns with SME’s strategic plan, highlighting innovative approaches that manufacturers are taking to overcome the ongoing shortage of skilled workers. Other features focus on five-axis machining, metrology and cutting tools. Enjoy!
Connect With Us
