About the Program
The EMAC Workforce Development and Student Technical Sessions bring students and industry professionals together to explore the technologies and skills shaping electronics manufacturing.
Hear workforce insights, take part in interactive conversations, and discover resources for hiring, internships, training, and career development. Focused technical presentations connect emerging technologies with opportunities to learn and grow.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
At SMTA International
For students and industry professionals
Connect around careers, skills, and workforce needs.
Learn, participate, and connect
Keynote insights, interactive tables, and student technical sessions.
Workforce Development & Student Technical Sessions
Take a closer look at AI, electronics tooling, and UHDI through three focused technical presentations.
11:30am
Electronics Manufacturing & Assembly Collaborative (EMAC) Program Update
Recent accomplishments, partner recognition, and a look ahead
Tara Dunn
Director of Training and Education, SMTA
1:00pm
AI in Electronics Manufacturing: From Data to Better Decisions
Mukund Shenoy
Founder & Principal, Abakai LLC
1:30pm
3D Printing for Electronics Tooling
Pradeep Lall
MacFarlane Professor & Director, Auburn University
2:00pm
Small Circuits, Big Impact: The Cool Tech Behind UHDI
John Johnson
Director of Quality & Advanced Technolog, American Standard Circuits
2:30pm
EMAC Community of Interest Discussion
Industry • Training • Students • Academia
Electronics Manufacturing
& Assembly Collaborative
3:30pm
Prize Drawing and Wrap-Up
Raffle winners announced
Electronics Manufacturing
& Assembly Collaborative
What to Expect
Workforce insight and practical conversations, with opportunities to participate.
Emerging Technology Keynote
Explore emerging technologies alongside workforce data and trends from recent SMTA events.
EMAC Update
Hear about recent accomplishments, academic and business partners, upcoming initiatives, and Back to Basics content.
Interactive Learning
Join table conversations and activities designed to connect workforce challenges with practical resources.
Find Your Next Step
Whether you’re exploring a manufacturing career or developing the people who will move the industry forward, bring your questions and join the conversation.
For Students & Emerging Talent
▶ Explore career paths in electronics manufacturing
▶ Connect with companies and industry professionals
▶ Learn about internships and training opportunities
▶ Discover emerging manufacturing technologies
For Industry & Education
▶ Discuss hiring challenges and skills needs
▶ Explore ways to build effective internships
▶ Find technical training resources
▶ Connect around talent pipelines and development
Conversations You Can Put to Work
Explore planned table activities built around the questions students, employers, and educators are asking.
Hiring & Internships
Discuss hard-to-fill roles, identify gaps in your hiring pipeline, and explore what makes an internship work. Connect with EMAC around candidate sourcing, training, curriculum, and regional initiatives.
Training & Skills
Explore training opportunities through EMAC and SMTA, including technical options for engineers and others developing their electronics manufacturing skills.
Student Career Exploration
Try a career path matching activity and use the “What’s Your Next Step” board to explore careers, find internships, or connect with companies.