According to Manufacturing AUTOMATION, SME has appointed Brett Conner as its first chief manufacturing officer, effective October 27, 2025. The nonprofit organization based in Southfield, Michigan created the CMO role to align its mission with evolving industry needs, with Conner bringing 25 years of experience including recent work supporting the Office of the Secretary of Defense. This strategic appointment signals deeper changes within the manufacturing landscape that merit closer examination.
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Table of Contents
Understanding the CMO Role Evolution
The creation of a chief manufacturing officer position within a major industry organization represents a significant evolution in how manufacturing leadership is conceptualized. Unlike traditional roles focused narrowly on production efficiency, this position appears designed to bridge multiple domains including technology strategy, workforce development, and cross-sector partnerships. The timing is particularly noteworthy given that SME approaches its centennial anniversary, suggesting the organization recognizes that traditional approaches to manufacturing advancement require fundamental restructuring. This move reflects broader industry trends where manufacturing leadership increasingly requires integration of digital technologies, supply chain innovation, and talent development under unified strategic vision.
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Critical Analysis of Strategic Implications
While the appointment signals forward-thinking strategy, several challenges merit consideration. Conner’s background in defense manufacturing, while valuable for understanding advanced technologies, may create blind spots regarding the needs of traditional small and medium-sized enterprises that form the backbone of American manufacturing. The defense sector operates with different constraints, funding mechanisms, and innovation timelines than commercial manufacturing, potentially creating misalignment in priorities. Additionally, the success of this role will depend heavily on SME’s ability to translate high-level strategy into practical programs that directly address the workforce shortages and technology adoption barriers facing manufacturers today. The real test will be whether this position can drive measurable impact beyond symbolic leadership.
Industry Impact and Competitive Landscape
This appointment occurs during a period of intense competition for manufacturing leadership across multiple fronts. The creation of a CMO role positions SME as a potential central coordinator in an increasingly fragmented ecosystem of manufacturing initiatives. With government programs like Manufacturing USA, corporate innovation centers, and academic research institutions all vying for influence, SME’s ability to strengthen partnerships across these domains could either create valuable synergies or add another layer of bureaucracy. The emphasis on aligning innovation with workforce development suggests recognition that technology adoption cannot succeed without corresponding investments in human capital—a lesson many manufacturers have learned the hard way during the digital transformation era.
Outlook and Strategic Assessment
The success of this initiative will likely be measured by SME’s ability to demonstrate tangible improvements in technology adoption rates and workforce readiness across the manufacturing sector. Given Conner’s background, we can expect increased focus on defense-to-commercial technology transfer and potentially greater government engagement in SME’s programs. However, the organization must balance this with maintaining relevance to its core constituency of manufacturers who may not have defense contracts or access to advanced R&D resources. The reference to “meaning in making” suggests a philosophical approach that could resonate broadly, but must be backed by concrete programs that address the cost barriers and implementation challenges that typically hinder technology adoption among smaller manufacturers. If successful, this model could establish a new template for how industry associations structure leadership to drive meaningful transformation.
