Manufacturing Extension Partnerships, state organizations that help small and medium-sized manufacturers, have been in the news in recent months as some saw their federal funding suspended or delayed. Things are looking better in the latest round of awards, however, as the funds have been delivered on time, and suspended funding was restored to Ohio.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Carrie Hines of the American Small Manufacturers Coalition talks about the future of the MEP program and the services that these centers provide.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Smart Industry's Sarah Mattalian and Nancy Majure, the head of product for Adaptive ERP at QAD, explore how manufacturers can scale AI without adding headcount by improving real-time visibility, data quality and workflow integration. They discuss the role of ERP as a foundation for governed AI, along with the risks of fragmented data, shadow AI and bolt-on tools. The conversation also looks ahead to how contextualized data and AI-driven decision-making could help manufacturers optimize operations and manage complex trade-offs.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Chuck Orzechowski and Josh Renicker of the COO Forum discuss how operations leaders are navigating AI-driven disruption and workforce change. They explore the importance of human-centric leadership, strong teams, and culture as new technologies reshape manufacturing. The conversation also examines how closing gaps between engineering and production can support operational excellence at a moment where the post-AI age is on the horizon.