Your Only Opportunity to Learn From Aerospace & Defense 4.0 Experts in a Collaborative Setting
Delivering Precision at Scale, Speed without Compromise, and Excellence as Standard
26 October 2027
Chicago, IL, USA
“Leading this event allowed me to connect with industry innovators, facilitate meaningful discussions, and witness firsthand the incredible advancements in aerospace manufacturing.
The experience not only deepened my appreciation for the industry’s challenges but also reinforced my commitment to fostering resilience and growth in this sector. I am grateful for the opportunity and look forward to future collaborations inspired by this experience.
The AMG World Team is an absolute pleasure to work with and run an incredibly efficient conference. I welcome any opportunities forward continued collaboration and partnership.”
Kristen Pope, General Manager, Gates Machine Tool Repair, 2024 Conference Chairperson
Aerospace & Defense manufacturers are at a pivotal juncture. Rising geopolitical risk, increased defense spending, and rapidly evolving mission requirements are driving demand for greater manufacturing capabilities and supply chain resilience.
To keep pace and meet shifting customer expectations, A&D manufacturers must adapt quickly by embracing digital transformation across their assets, processes, and workforce.
However, achieving smart manufacturing while ensuring compliance and resilience requires more than incremental change; it demands a coordinated, enterprise-wide approach to digitalization.
AI, automation, robotics, data science, digital thread, and MBSE are reshaping defense-grade manufacturing by shortening innovation cycles, reducing lead times, lowering costs, improving supply chain visibility, and enabling faster responses to evolving requirements.
Join industry leaders at the Smart Manufacturing for Aerospace & Defense Summit to discover how to deploy smart technologies, modernize operations, and build resilient, Industry 4.0-enabled A&D manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.
2026 Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing Expert Speakers Included
Kevin Maring
Fellow - Advanced Manufacturing Technologies, and Operations Transformation
Lockheed Martin
Warren B. Smith
Sr. Principal Systems Engineer and Digital Twin Principal Investigator
General Dynamics Mission Systems
Deepak Sachdeva
DoD Advisor & Former CIO - Kessel Run
United States Air Force
Hafeez Syed
Senior Manager, DigitalTechnology, DigitalTransformation Strategy
Pratt & Whitney
Steven Trebatoski
Quality and Manufacturing Engineering Manager
Modular Power & Data
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Key Themes:
- Digital Thread & Data-Centric Manufacturing: Establishing an end-to-end digital manufacturing backbone, connecting engineering, production, supply chain, and sustainment across product lifecycles.
- AI, Intelligent Automation & Advanced Systems: Leveraging AI, automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing technologies to increase precision, scalability, and operational resilience
- Digital Plant & Operational Excellence at Scale: Creating a connected, performance-driven manufacturing ecosystem that drives continuous improvement, resilience, and enterprise value
- Future-Proofing Manufacturing with Continuous Innovation: Overcoming adoption, implementation, and integration barriers with scalable transformation initiatives that maximize ROI and value creation
- Workforce Enablement & Empowered Transformation: Managing change, knowledge transfer, and stakeholder transition to embrace the data-driven, tech-enabled future of A&D manufacturing
Who you will meet:
VP’s, Directors, Global Heads and Managers of:
- Digital Factory / Smart Factory / Connected Factory / Intelligent Factory
- Digital Technologies
- Factory Automation / Test Automation / Robotics / Cobots
- Advanced Manufacturing / Additive Manufacturing / Digital Manufacturing
- Digital Thread / Model Based Digital Thread
- IIOT / Industrial Internet of Things
- Digital Product Lifecycle
- Cloud
- Cybersecurity
- AI / Machine Learning
- XR/VR/AR
- Manufacturing Data
- Operations Excellence
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Continuous Improvement
Our sponsors, technology & solution providers include:
- IIoT
- Industrial Robots / Intelligent Robotics / Cobots
- VR/ AR
- Vision Systems
- Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing
- Simulation & Digital Twin
- PLM
- Cybersecurity
- Cloud Computing
- Edge
- MES
- ERP
- ML / Predictive Analytics
- RPA
- Visualisation software
- Blockchain
- Digital SCM Solutions
- Wearables
Sponsorship Opportunities
The Smart Manufacturing Technology vendor landscape is vast. New entrants are innovating rapidly. It is therefore a prerequisite that solution providers acquire a granular understanding of the industry’s needs in order to develop those bespoke solutions that are critical to winning new business. Showcase your technology solutions to senior decision makers across roles in industry 4.0, manufacturing technology, and data & analytics.
2026 Sponsors
2026 Media Partners
Testimonials
Complimentary Resources
Smart Manufacturing for Aerospace & Defense 2026 Sponsorship Pack
Complete the form to find out more about the exhibitor, partnership, and sponsorship opportunities for the upcoming Smart Manufacturing for Aerospace & Defense Summit 2026 in Chicago, IL, USA, on 27 October.
Metal AM Magazine Spring 2026 Edition
Ahead of our Smart Manufacturing for Aerospace & Defence Summit, our event partner Metal AM have released their latest spring issue, which offers a clear view of how metal Additive Manufacturing is being applied in industry today—supported by insights from many of the sector’s leading voices. From real-world applications to the challenges shaping future adoption,… Read more »
Additive Manufacturing and Defence: A Critical Opportunity
In this article from the Summer 2025 issue of Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine: As global threats mount, Europe is falling behind the US and China in deploying Additive Manufacturing as a defence capability. While these powers integrate AM to enhance readiness and resilience, Europe risks being outpaced by fragmented efforts and slow adoption. Calum Stewart,… Read more »
Building the Aerospace & Defense Factory of the Future With Lockheed Martin & Collins
As the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry continues to evolve, the path to a smart factory is no longer a question of if, but how. At the 2024 edition of Smart Manufacturing for Aerospace & Defense, industry leaders outlined a 5-step roadmap to guide organizations through this transformation. Now, ahead of the 2025 edition and… Read more »
Complimentary Recording: Bridging the IT/OT Divide
We recently spoke with Smart Manufacturing and Operational Technology experts to debate and discuss key strategies to overcome the traditional IT/OT divide, ensure comprehensive visibility across interconnected systems, and build resilient and compliant security architectures. Panelists include: Niels Helkov, VP Smart Industries and Digital Solutions, Orange Business Americas Anthony Huffman, Enterprise Architecture Strategies, Industry 4.0,… Read more »
