Smart Manufacturing Experience, tuX, Women of SMART Wrap Up Successful Pittsburgh Visit
June 20 2024 - 12:09PM
Manufacturing technology and talent development were on full
display in Pittsburgh this month as the Smart Manufacturing
Experience 2024, tuX Workforce Conference and Women of SMART
Experience co-located events came to the David L. Lawrence
Convention Center.
The Smart Manufacturing Experience, co-produced by SME, the
nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing technology
and fostering manufacturing and engineering talent and capabilities
in North America, and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing
Technology, which specializes in providing targeted business
assistance, extensive global support and business intelligence
systems and analysis, featured two days of speakers, a bustling
exhibit floor and career guidance and development panels offering
early-career professionals insights into future opportunities.
“Attendees had the opportunity to learn how to solve for
specific pain points including operational efficiency, cost
reduction, quality control, cybersecurity and talent shortage to
help keep small and medium-sized manufacturers competitive and
profitable,” said Dave Morton, group director – Manufacturing
Technology Series. “This year’s event was a real success. We have
already heard a lot of positive feedback from our attendees about
how much they valued being at the event.”Speakers at the event
included representatives from both small and large manufacturers,
including The Boeing Co., Bayer, the World Manufacturing
Foundation, Bell Textron, Carnegie Mellon University and Advanced
Robotics for Manufacturing and Mursix Corp.
The Smart Manufacturing Experience was co-located with tuX, a
conference hosted by Tooling U-SME, the workforce development
division of SME. The conference offered attendees a full schedule
of panel discussions and keynote speakers discussing upskilling,
improving diversity in the manufacturing workforce, talent
acquisition, and implementing learning and development programs to
prepare talent for the future.
“The workforce needs in manufacturing is a dynamic challenge,
requiring concerted efforts to attract, develop, and retain talent
capable of meeting both current and future demands,” said Meghan
Shea-Keenan, senior programs manager for Tooling U-SME. “At tuX, we
witnessed a powerful collaboration among companies, government
entities, nonprofits and educators — a true team sport — to address
these complex needs head on. This event delivered innovative
solutions directly to employers and other leaders. Together, we are
shaping a robust workforce ready to thrive in the evolving
landscape of manufacturing.”New this year was a one-day program,
Women of SMART Experience, co-presented by SME and Women in
Manufacturing. The program highlighted the contributions of women
in industry and offered strategies for overcoming common barriers
faced by women in the field.
Attendees also participated in a community service opportunity,
supporting three Pittsburgh-area charities: Journey of Hope,
Women’s Shelter & Center of Greater Pittsburgh and Dress For
Success Pittsburgh.
“Bringing this platform and opportunity to Pittsburgh for the
first time and hosting it right alongside the Smart Manufacturing
Experience and tuX, was a fantastic way to raise the visibility of
women in the manufacturing industry,” said Sheronda Carr, SME vice
president of Membership and emcee for the event. “As manufacturing
becomes younger and more diverse, it’s important to share the
accomplishments women have achieved in the industry and help
younger women find success of their own.”
For more information on the Smart Manufacturing Experience,
visit smartmanufacturingexperience.com. To learn more about Tooling
U-SME’s tuX event, visit tux.toolingu.com.
Media contact:Brian SmithCommunications
Specialist, SMEbsmith@sme.org248-798-1995