Executive Perspectives from RAPID + TCT 2026: Additive Manufacturing's Shift to Production

Paul Van Metre shares some of the insights from his new book with advice on how to build a successful machine shop.

Which U.S. cities have the most market potential for the aerospace and defense industry? In a recent report, Global Location Strategies (GLS) highlights the locations positioned to lead the next generation of manufacturing—and the top spots might surprise you. GLS President and Founder Didi Caldwell shares insights from the comprehensive report, which ranks 387 U.S. metropolitan areas based on long-term competitiveness.

The editorial team discusses the Aerospace & Defense Industry Report and features on giving production data context, high-mix/low-volume production, why smart manufacturing fails and how AI weaves islands of info into a comprehensive digital thread.

Passenger air travel, defense contracts and the emerging space market are all booming. But production, supplier and workforce constraints threaten to create bottlenecks. PwC's Scott Thompson helps make sense of the consulting firm's inaugural A&D Sector Outlook.

In the second episode of Advancing the Line: AI in Manufacturing, SME's Tim Wilson sit down with Dr. Bijan Sayyar-Rodsari, Director of the AI Center of Excellence at Rockwell Automation, to examine how edge computing and generative AI are transforming real-world plant operations. With more than two decades of experience designing data-driven industrial control systems, Dr. Sayyar-Rodsari discusses how manufacturers can shift AI from experimental pilot projects into dependable, daily production environments.