SME

05/18/2026

Graduation season marks more than a milestone. It represents the next generation of skilled talent preparing to strengthen the future of U.S. manufacturing.

SME is proud to celebrate the Class of 2026 and the students pursuing careers that power innovation across the manufacturing industry. From automation and robotics to AI and advanced technologies, today’s graduates are entering the workforce with the hands-on skills needed to make an immediate impact.

As manufacturers continue to face hundreds of thousands of open advanced manufacturing roles, these graduates are stepping into one of the nation’s most in-demand sectors with opportunities to build meaningful, high-tech and high-impact careers.

Behind every graduate is a strong network of educators, employers, industry partners, and college leaders helping create pathways into manufacturing careers and supporting workforce readiness. Through SME’s Manufacturing Imperative – Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC), those partnerships continue to strengthen the manufacturing talent pipeline and help build the skilled workforce manufacturers need to compete and grow.

🎓 Congratulations to the Class of 2026 and the future leaders of manufacturing.

05/11/2026

Record-breaking impact for the next generation of manufacturing talent.

This year, the SME Education Foundation awarded over 250 scholarships totaling more than $1.5 million — the highest total awarded in the Foundation’s history. The record number of 2,000 applications received reflects the growing momentum and interest in manufacturing careers nationwide.

Last week at the 2026 SME International Awards Gala, we were proud to recognize recipients of distinguished scholarships, including the E. Wayne Kay Scholarship, Dr. Irving P. McPhail Scholarship and 2026 Gustav J. Olling Directors Scholarship.

These awards represent more than financial support — they help students pursue careers in manufacturing while building the workforce that will drive the future of our industry forward.

Congratulations to all of this year’s scholarship recipients. Your passion, dedication and achievements continue to inspire us all.

Learn more about the 2026 scholarship recipients and scholarship program: https://brnw.ch/21x2oxv

04/23/2026

Apprenticeships are one of the most powerful ways to connect students to high-demand careers — and help build the skilled talent employers need.

Across SME’s Manufacturing Imperative – Workforce Pipeline Challenge (MI-WPC) network, colleges and industry partners are working together to strengthen the manufacturing workforce pipeline through hands-on training aligned with real workforce needs. In the first two years of MI-WPC, 2,382 learners have participated in earn-and-learn programs.

🔹Wake Technical Community College North Carolina partnered with life sciences leaders CSL Seqirus, FUJIFILM Biotechnologies, and Eli Lilly and Company to launch a BioMechatronics Apprenticeship Program that prepares advanced maintenance technicians for careers in biomanufacturing — the first of its kind in the U.S.

🔹 Mohawk Valley Community College in New York is collaborating with Wolfspeed to develop apprenticeship and training pathways supporting the company’s $1 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in Marcy.

🔹Grand Rapids Community College in Michigan partners with Tooling Systems Group (TSG) to support tool and die apprenticeships where workers gain hands-on skills in die design and building, machining and more.

National Apprenticeship Week is April 26–May 2.

It’s a great opportunity to spotlight apprenticeship programs—or explore how earn-and-learn models can strengthen workforce development efforts in your community.

Tools, ideas, and resources are available here:

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04/21/2026

We’re excited to welcome an incredible lineup of keynote speakers to SME FUSION on May 5-6 in Nashville, TN — bringing fresh perspective on the future of work, leadership, and workforce development in manufacturing.

🔹Ryan Jenkins
The Wall Street Journal bestselling author and leading voice on team connection and generational dynamics, Ryan helps organizations unlock stronger engagement and collaboration in today’s evolving workplace.

🔹Mark C. Perna
A nationally recognized expert on generational workforce trends, Mark brings powerful insights on how to inspire, attract, and retain the next generation of talent—critical for building a resilient manufacturing pipeline.

At SME, we’re committed to advancing manufacturing by equipping leaders with the strategies and insights needed to develop a future-ready workforce—and these keynote speakers will do exactly that.

Join us at SME FUSION to hear from these thought leaders and more as we shape the future of manufacturing together.

Register here: https://brnw.ch/21x1N5Q

04/16/2026

Innovation was on full display at RAPID + TCT Event & AeroDef Manufacturing as the event reached its peak, with packed sessions and a dynamic show floor.

Yesterday highlighted the breadth of additive manufacturing’s impact—from design and materials to production and workforce development—demonstrating how the ecosystem continues to mature.

Yesterday's highlights:
🔷 Kicked off Day 1 of the Bright Minds Student Summit, where high school students from across the state experienced the high-tech reality of modern manufacturing.
🔷 The Tech Hub featured hands-on demos and expert insights on emerging additive technologies.
🔷The AeroDef Manufacturing Knowledge Bar connected attendees with experts on aerospace and defense applications.

A consistent thread throughout the day: the power of connecting technology with talent to drive manufacturing forward.

With tomorrow being the last day of the events, the ideas and connections made here will continue well beyond Boston.

SME Education Foundation

04/14/2026

Momentum continued today at RAPID + TCT Event & AeroDef Manufacturing attendees dove deeper into the technologies and strategies shaping the future of additive manufacturing.

Across the conference and exhibit hall, discussions centered on scalability, workforce readiness and real-world implementation—highlighting how organizations are moving from exploration to ex*****on.

Notable highlights:
🔹 The Keynote Series: Executive Perspectives panel on scaling additive manufacturing for aerospace and defense, moderated by SME CMO Brett Conner, brought together leaders from Stratasys, Velo3D, Siemens and the U.S. Army to share perspectives on adoption, scalability, and implementation in these high-impact sectors.
🔹The AM Pitchfest returned, giving startups, spinoffs and entrepreneurs the opportunity to showcase their innovations in technology, products and applications to the industry and earn a fully equipped exhibition space at RAPID + TCT 2027 in Detroit.
🔹 SME's Mission Critical: Workforce 2030 convened industry stakeholders around strategies to address today’s workforce and technical challenges and build a future-ready talent pipeline.

From technical depth to strategic perspective, today’s conversations underscored the importance of collaboration in advancing the industry.

04/13/2026

RAPID + TCT Event is underway in Boston, bringing together the people, ideas and momentum driving additive manufacturing forward.

Today’s conference programming set the tone for the week, as industry leaders and innovators shared insights on where additive manufacturing is headed—and how organizations are putting those ideas into practice. From forward-looking keynotes to in-depth technical sessions, conversations centered on innovation, application and impact.

Key moments from today included:
✅ Bringing manufacturing faculty, education researchers and practitioners together at the 2026 Manufacturing Education Summit to explore the future of manufacturing education.
✅ Setting up for the Bright Minds Student Summit, where high school students from across the state will experience the high-tech reality of modern manufacturing.
✅ Convening the AM Emerging Professionals Committee to reflect on its inaugural year and align on future priorities.

With the show floor opening tomorrow, the energy continues to build as attendees prepare to explore the latest technologies and connect with the companies shaping the future of manufacturing.

04/08/2026

Recently, Dan Sloan, SME’s Strategic Partnerships Director, joined leaders at the National Defense University to lead a critical discussion on the role of workforce development in strengthening the U.S. defense industrial base.

During the session, Dan emphasized a clear reality: technology alone doesn’t drive capability—people do. As advanced manufacturing continues to evolve, building a skilled, adaptable workforce is essential to sustaining national security, industrial resilience, and global competitiveness.

From addressing workforce shortages and closing skills gaps to advancing partnerships across industry, academia, and government, the conversation reinforced that workforce development is not just an economic priority—it’s a strategic imperative.

Thank you to the National Defense University for the opportunity to engage in this important dialogue.

03/02/2026

📣 It’s March Madness, SME style! 🏀

Student chapters are in the running for big wins during SME Student Chapter March Madness, happening March 1–31, 2026! Chapters score points by recruiting new student members, renewing members, and helping graduating seniors bridge to Emerging Professional status. Build momentum, climb the leaderboard, and compete for prizes and recognition! 🙌

💡 New student members and renewals using code MADNESS26 count toward your chapter’s score. Graduating seniors can earn bonus points when they upgrade with code EPMADNESS26.

Let the madness begin — who will take home the victory? 🏆
👉 Learn more: https://brnw.ch/21x0nHw

12/08/2025

Meet Ford Philanthropy BlueOval Scholar Steven Harden

When Steven heard Ford BlueOval was coming to his community, he saw more than just new jobs—he saw a pathway to a lasting career in electric vehicle manufacturing.

“With Ford BlueOval coming to my area, I see a chance to start a lasting career in electric car manufacturing. This scholarship gives me the tools I need to get there without putting extra strain on my family.”

Through the Ford Philanthropy BlueOval Scholarship, Steven is gaining the skills and resources to start strong in an industry that’s driving the future of American manufacturing.

We’re proud to support students like Steven through the SME Education Foundation's scholarship program. The Ford Philanthropy BlueOval City scholarship is one of 60+ scholarships awarded by the Foundation. Apply today at https://brnw.ch/21wYaOW and secure your future!

11/27/2025

As we celebrate today, we’re grateful for the manufacturers, engineers, educators, and students across the manufacturing ecosystem who transform ideas into impact.

From all of us at SME—thank you and enjoy a meaningful holiday.