October 28, 2022 by Brett Gallagher SME and CESMII both have mutual interests in advancing manufacturing and together can leverage their members and industry experience to lift the entire ecosystem. Whether your organization is ready or not, Industry 4.0 is changing how manufacturing companies operate. With a heavy focus on interconnectivity, automation, machine learning, and real-time data, manufacturing is evolving right before our eyes. Recognizing the urgent need to harness the capabilities and accelerate the adoption of smart manufacturing in the U.S., SME and CESMII, (the Smart Manufacturing Institute) announced the official launch of the Smart Manufacturing Executive Council (SMEC). This council is comprised of forward-thinking executives leading some of our country’s largest manufacturers’ smart transformation and was created to engage business and technology executives, thought leaders, and visionaries advocating for transformation in the U.S. manufacturing ecosystem. Jeannine Kunz, Chief Workforce Development Officer of SME, and John Dyck, Chief Executive Officer of CESMII visited the Peggy Smedley Show to discuss the launch of the new Executive Council and the national imperative to engage the industry, align efforts and resources, and offer tangible solutions to combat the hurdles and roadblocks to adoption. “This council will serve as a think tank of manufacturing companies and industry thought leaders to advance smart manufacturing and digital transformation,” said Kunz. “Partnerships and initiatives like this will usher in a new perspective, highlight priorities, and drive the actions needed to change.” “As we transition from one manufacturing era to another, it’s clear that legacy behaviors, business models, and technology architectures must make way for new ones,” said Dyck. “It’s the charter of this Smart Manufacturing Executive Council to advocate for this transformation, and the practical steps, investments, and policy recommendations that will help this ecosystem cross this digital divide.” In SME’s 90 years of advancing manufacturing, we have witnessed the power of community and industry giants coming together; volunteering their time, insights, and expertise to solve some of manufacturing’s greatest challenges and benefit the industry as a whole. “I think we’re at a critical inflection point,” added Kunz. “I am honored and excited to be part of our industry’s resolve to step up and take action. And we too understand the important role and accountability we have that comes with this initiative.” The Smart Manufacturing Executive Council will meet for its inaugural SMEC Session in December 2022 to affirm its charter, set strategic priorities for 2023, and begin engaging small to mid-size businesses, technology providers, academia, and other non-profits in this national effort. Listen to the full Peggy Smedley Show Podcast discussing more on why the Smart Manufacturing Executive Council was formed and more importantly some of the first areas being tackled.
