BUILD YOUR AGENDA

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

How to spot a dead-end gig early and make the moves that land you somewhere your skills actually grow.

Get an in-depth understanding how automation systems can create the smart factory by leveraging ASRS for kit buffering, just-in-time sequencing, and visualization. While automation has typically been sought for production in work cells, now, automating the supply of parts, tools, or dies can help create a smart environment while contributing to the bottom line.

As manufacturers face increasing pressure to improve productivity, responsiveness, and lower production costs, the smart factory is no longer a concept—it’s a competitive necessity. Automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) play a critical role in enabling this transformation by connecting material flows, data, and automation into a single, intelligent intralogsitics backbone.

This session explores how modern ASRS solutions move beyond traditional storage to become an active real time component of the manufacturing process. By tightly integrating ASRS with production lines, warehouse management systems (WMS), and enterprise platforms, manufacturers can ensure just-in-time and just-in-sequence material delivery, reduce work-in-process inventory, and eliminate manual handling errors. Real time visualization software enables updates and tracking of these processes. The result is improved throughput, higher equipment utilization, and greater process reliability across the entire plant.

Attendees will gain insight into how ASRS supports smart factory initiatives such as real time visibility data-driven decision making. Hear about real-world use cases and see how manufacturers are leveraging automation to adapt to fluctuating demand and how to scale operations without disrupting production. This session will also address key considerations, including system modularity, software requirements, and future-proofing for evolving manufacturing requirements.

As manufacturing facilities move toward lights-out and highly automated production, the main throughput constraint is no longer the machine itself but the efficiency of material handling and logistics flows. While Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) provide a flexible alternative to fixed conveyor systems, integrating them into precision manufacturing environments introduces new technical challenges related to data synchronization, system interoperability, and fleet orchestration.

This technical session explores the architectural foundations required to deploy a scalable AMR framework in high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) manufacturing environments. Moving beyond basic navigation and obstacle avoidance, the discussion focuses on the critical middleware layer, analyzing how interoperability enable unified control across heterogeneous robot fleets and facilitate seamless integration with existing automation infrastructure.

The presentation will also examine the technical workflow for connecting AMR fleet management systems with Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and ERP platforms, enabling automated material requests and “call-for-parts” triggers directly from production processes. Particular attention will be given to robotic machine tending applications, including the precision docking requirements necessary for autonomous pallet exchange and raw material delivery at machine tool interfaces.

Finally, attendees will gain practical insights into industrial deployment considerations, including floor-load capacity for heavy-payload AMRs, battery management strategies for continuous 24/7 operations, and cybersecurity requirements for robots operating within shared industrial networks.

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

Insights into machining of medical parts utilizing the correct type of tools for the application. This includes proper live tool implementation and usage.

Keep the conversation going at the Job Shops Workshop Reception, where you can enjoy complimentary refreshments while networking with peers, speakers, and industry leaders. Warp up the day by turning fresh insights into meaningful connections with the people shaping the future of manufacturing.
 

Join us for the invite-only IMTS Investor Summit Reception in the Prairie Room at the Hyatt for networking with fellow investors, founders, and industry leaders.

Automated Non-Contact EMAT Thickness Measurement for Aerospace Metals in CNC Milling

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

Lace up and run to fund STEM education.

Industrial robotics has historically relied on rigid programming and specialized, single-purpose models. The next leap in manufacturing requires robots that can adapt and process the real world in real-time. In this session, Google explores how multimodal AI—capable of simultaneously processing vision, audio, code, and machine telemetry—is bridging the gap between digital intelligence and physical motion.

Description:

Modern manufacturing industries face increasing demands for precision, reliability, and efficiency—especially in sectors where material performance and structural integrity are critical. Traditional inspection methods, such as cutting or disassembling components, are often impractical for complex assemblies and advanced materials. This presentation will explore how 3D X-ray imaging technologies, such as computed tomography (CT), are revolutionizing industrial quality inspection by providing non-destructive insights into the internal structures of components, materials, and assemblies.

Enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning algorithms, these technologies enable advanced defect detection, 3D data reconstruction, and the creation of digital twins. This shift from reactive to predictive and adaptive quality assurance models is helping manufacturers improve product reliability, reduce waste, and optimize workflows across industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical devices, additive manufacturing, and new energy material solutions.

Key Topics Covered:

Computed Tomography (CT): Learn how CT captures high-resolution volumetric data to visualize internal structures without damaging the component.
AI and Deep Learning: Discover how advanced algorithms automate defect detection, improve accuracy, and enable detailed 3D data reconstruction.
Digital Twins: Understand how CT data can be used to create virtual models for design optimization and production management.
Real-World Applications: Explore case studies from industries such as aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical devices, additive manufacturing, and energy solutions, demonstrating how intelligent X-ray technologies solve critical manufacturing challenges.

This session will provide actionable insights into deploying intelligent 3D X-ray imaging technologies to address common manufacturing challenges, such as detecting hidden defects, validating designs, optimizing tooling, and ensuring structural integrity during production. Attendees will gain practical knowledge on integrating these systems into existing workflows and leveraging inspection data to drive process improvements, reduce costs, and enhance product reliability.

Key Takeaways:

Best practices for implementing intelligent X-ray systems across various industries.
Strategies for optimizing deep learning models for specific applications.
Insights into using preventative data from CT scans to support predictive quality inspection.
Examples of how these technologies improve product development, production, and quality assurance.

This presentation is ideal for professionals in aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical devices, additive manufacturing, and energy sectors.

Attendees will leave knowing how to apply AI-enhanced CT technology to:

Enhance defect detection: AI-driven automation increases accuracy by up to 50%, enabling early identification of voids, dimensional variations, and structural issues.
Optimize workflows: CT supports First Article Inspection during ramp-up, batch sampling in production, and digital twin creation for predictive quality assurance.
Solve industry-specific quality challenges: Real-world examples will showcase transformative impacts in aerospace, automotive, electronics, medical devices, additive manufacturing, and energy solutions.
 

Gain practical insights to enhance productivity, improve product performance, and maintain a competitive edge in the global manufacturing landscape.

Kickstart your day with the IMTS Morning Show on the IMTS+ Main Stage! Each episode features lively interviews with industry experts, main-stage keynote speakers, manufacturers, and social media influencers. Get the scoop on must-see events and key insights to make the most of your day at IMTS.

Manufacturing demand is surging, work is coming back onshore, and yet the skilled workforce continues to shrink. The pressure to do more with less has never been greater.

On-machine inspection gives manufacturers a way to meet that challenge head-on -- catching errors in-process, reducing scrap, and eliminating the costly guesswork of offline inspection. The tools to make this possible may already be sitting under your roof.

This session is for manufacturing leaders looking to get more out of the hardware they already own -- particularly those operating in aerospace, military, and large-precision-workpiece environments where tolerances are tight and the cost of a mistake is high.

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

AMDT research shows a persistent “reality gap” inside industrial organizations: executives are highly confident in their OT security and stability, while the teams closest to the equipment see frequent disruptions, human error, and growing cyber exposure. This session helps manufacturers close that gap by combining data from US plants with a practical playbook for unifying leadership, engineering, and OT around a single source of truth for configurations, changes, and incidents. 

Close out the day with IMTS Unwind on the IMTS+ Main Stage! Each episode features lively interviews with industry experts, main-stage keynote speakers, manufacturers, and social media influencers. Get the scoop on must-see events for the next day and key insights to make the most of your IMTS.

As machinery engineers push toward lights-out production, predictive maintenance and AI-driven optimization, one design choice is becoming mission-critical: when and how connectivity is engineered into the machine. 

For decades, connectivity — the delivery of power, signal and data between subsystems — has been treated as a late-stage integration task. Core mechanical and process modules were prioritized first, with cables and interfaces addressed after the fact. Today, that approach is no longer sustainable. Shrinking footprints, rising performance expectations, predictive maintenance requirements and remote service demands mean that connectivity must be embedded at the earliest stages of machine design. 

This session will explore why thinking about connectivity upfront fundamentally changes what a machine can do. 

Moving away from hardwired point-to-point systems toward connectorized, modular architectures reduces build and commissioning time, simplifies expansion and improves overall serviceability. Hybrid connectors that combine power, signal and data into a single, compact interface enable faster assembly, error-proof installation and easier subsystem replacement. This modularity reduces mean time to repair and minimizes both planned and unplanned downtime — a critical advantage in high-value production environments. 

Early-stage connectivity design also unlocks lights-out operation. Reliable, diagnostic-rich connectors enable continuous data acquisition, automated control loops and real-time optimization. Machines can monitor flow rates, temperatures, and other critical parameters without direct human intervention — feeding predictive analytics platforms that anticipate drift, prioritize maintenance and protect yield. Every connection becomes a data pathway, supporting traceability, remote diagnostics and intelligent decision-making. 

Beyond uptime and performance, connectivity-driven architectures improve sustainability and safety. Precision monitoring allows dynamic resource management and reduced waste, while automated, sensor-enabled systems limit human exposure to hazardous tasks. In a lights-out environment, humans remain essential — but are deployed strategically for complex, high-value interventions rather than routine oversight. 

As machines become more compact and complex, connector size, reliability, error-proofing and lifecycle durability directly impact performance and maintainability. Designing connectivity early enables scalable, flexible platforms that adapt to new processes, new regulations and new production demands — without costly redesign. 

Session takeaways: 

• Why designing connectivity at the earliest stages of machine development is critical to performance, scalability and uptime. 
• The advantages of connectorization over hardwiring in modular machine architectures. 
• How connectivity enables lights-out manufacturing through real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance. 
• How compact, error-proof connector design supports optimization, safety and future-ready machinery. 

The talk would be based on the article below, with updates for new developments. Additions would be examples of specific improvements, such as new thread and asymmetric feature inspection capabilities, as well as recent data formatting, reporting, control, and networking protocol additions.

https://www.qualitymag.com/articles/98197-advancing-capabilities-of-backlit-video-metrology

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

The Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network (CRMN) is a new initiative at the Department of War to broaden domestic manufacturing capability and capacity in the defense industrial base during wartime by providing companies incentives and other considerations during peacetime, as inspired by the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF).  This session will provide information on the DoW CRMN Implementation Plan, and more importantly, solicit feedback and ideas from the manufacturing community on what types of incentives would be attractive for such a program and what barriers exist for a company interested in participating.  The presentation will be followed by “office hours” where DoW representatives will be available to answer questions not covered during the session.

Paper, classroom or hands-on hours – an honest take on which one actually moves your career forward.

Five days, miles of show floor. By Friday, one question remains: of everything at IMTS 2026, what actually matters for your shop? The MakingChips hosts and guests break down the tech that mattered, debate what's next, and place their bets. We'll also announce who won the DN Solutions + Kennametal Machine Giveaway at the end.

Explore innovations in machining, additive, automation, digital solutions, quality and more.

See a live, end-to-end manufacturing system operating continuously on the show floor.

Your front-row seat to the people shaping the industry.

Have a particular manufacturing challenge? Have a seat and discover solutions.

Kickstart your day with the IMTS Morning Show on the IMTS+ Main Stage! Each episode features lively interviews with industry experts, main-stage keynote speakers, manufacturers, and social media influencers. Get the scoop on must-see events and key insights to make the most of your day at IMTS.

Discover the ideas and innovations transforming manufacturing. This Main Stage session will feature industry experts sharing insights on emerging technologies, workforce trends, and the future of the industry.

Women aren’t waiting for an invitation to shape the future of manufacturing. This candid conversation brings together women from across the industry to talk about getting in, staying in, and stepping up — from the shop floor to leadership — and what needs to change to build the next generation of manufacturing.