On June 12, 2025, industry leaders, manufacturers, and technology experts gathered at MAGNET for the CESMII Smart Manufacturing Roadshow—a dynamic event spotlighting the transformative potential of digital tools, systems thinking, and data-driven production across America’s shop floors.
Hosted in partnership with CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute, this Roadshow was designed to accelerate the adoption of Smart Manufacturing (SM) principles, especially among small and mid-sized manufacturers. Throughout the day, participants explored emerging technologies and frameworks that lower the cost and complexity of digital adoption while boosting productivity and resilience.
Mike O’Donnell, MAGNET’s COO of Consulting, kicked off the morning by stating the importance of smart manufacturing across small- to medium-sized manufacturers nationally. This has to be done strategically in order to be effective.
Rob Schoenthaler of ThinkIQ explained the critical challenge of The Fourth Industrial Revolution. While smart manufacturing technologies are proven and impactful, adoption remains sluggish—especially among smaller firms.
“We already have over 600,000 unfilled jobs in manufacturing. If we’re going to reshore production and remain competitive, we must close the skills gap and make digital transformation truly accessible,” emphasized Schoenthaler.
The solution? Shifting from one-off tech implementations to a strategy-first mindset, where digitization is guided by business needs—not novelty—and supported by interoperable, scalable systems.
Participants broke into deep-dive sessions to see how Smart Manufacturing applies across core areas:
Automated Inspection Technologies
Led by representatives from Keyence and Hexagon, panelists shared how AI-powered, closed-loop systems are being used for real-time quality control, reducing waste, and improving decision-making with minimal disruption to existing workflows.
Smart Manufacturing Systems
John Louka presented CESMII’s three-layer data approach—edge ingestion, contextualization, and application—eliminates data silos and vendor lock-in. This architecture reduces time and cost for system upgrades while enabling consistent data use across platforms.
Technology & Human Engagement
Led by Mike O’Donnell, this session explored how people remain central to successful digital transformation. O’Donnell emphasized that empowering workers with the right tools and training is key to realizing the full potential of smart manufacturing.
Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing
Quentin Fisher of AIDAN Systems led this session, diving into practical applications of AI across the shop floor—from predictive maintenance to enhanced decision-making—and how AI can complement human expertise in driving productivity.
The Smart Manufacturing Roadmap
MAGNET's Bill Proctor discussed how to build a tailored SM roadmap, guiding companies to focus first on business challenges and ROI before selecting tools. His advice: “Start small, prove value, and scale strategically.”
Throughout the day, attendees engaged with plug-and-play smart manufacturing solutions, new sensor technologies, and CESMII’s Smart Manufacturing Innovation Platform—an open system designed to help even the smallest companies access Industry 4.0 benefits.
A recurring theme across all discussions: The intersection of human capital and digital tech. To succeed, Smart Manufacturing requires more than machines—it calls for a workforce ready to manage, interpret, and act on data.
With partnerships like MAGNET’s, CESMII is extending its reach nationwide to make Smart Manufacturing tools available, understandable, and useful for all manufacturers—not just the largest.
Whether you're just starting your digital journey or looking to scale your efforts, the message is clear: focus on business value, empower your workforce, and adopt technologies that drive real outcomes. The future of manufacturing is smart—and it’s within reach.