Manufacturing Innovation: Embracing Change in the Era of Automation

Session Overview

Advanced manufacturing exists at the intersection of robotics, automation, 3D printing, data processing, and predictive simulation. It is poised to revolutionize how we design and deliver products, creating abundant opportunities for those ready to embrace the challenges of adopting advanced manufacturing technologies. Leaders and practitioners making up this panel discussed how advanced manufacturing is unfurling in New Mexico and the United States.

Key Session Insights

The manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant transformation driven by automation, artificial intelligence, and advanced production technologies. Ms. Jennifer Sinsabaugh, CEO of New Mexico MEP, described how one tile manufacturing facility experienced a 600 percent increase in capacity through robotic automation. Despite these technological advances, as pointed out by Mr. Jeffrey Connor, Director of New Mexico Operations for the Kansas City National Security Campus, many core manufacturing processes remain firmly rooted in outdated methodologies — mechanical systems, legacy equipment, and manual workflows that have changed little in decades. This disconnect between innovation and actual production practices creates a bottleneck, preventing emerging manufacturing technologies like AI, advanced sensors, and robotics from being deployed at scale.

Adopting advanced manufacturing processes is not merely about improving business productivity — it is a national security imperative. Sandia National Laboratories Fellow Lonnie Love warned that the deterioration of domestic manufacturing capacity has created dangerous dependencies, especially in defense. The collapse of the United States’ aluminum forging industry, for example, has left the country reliant on China and Russia for a material that underpins critical defense systems. Global supply chain fragility adds another layer of urgency. Dr. Love singled out the semiconductor industry as a critical vulnerability, given its dependence on Taiwanese manufacturing. Given how crucial semiconductors are for our commercial and defense technologies, this supply chain vulnerability poses a significant threat to U.S. competitiveness.As the geopolitical environment becomes increasingly volatile, the ability to modernize and scale advanced manufacturing capabilities will directly impact the nation’s ability to respond to strategic threats and remain economically and technologically competitive.

Adapting to this new manufacturing landscape requires confronting deep-seated resistance to change. This hesitation often leads companies to delay investments until it is too late to remain competitive — or worse, to invest in technologies that are already on the verge of becoming outdated. This risk aversion can stall innovation and create strategic vulnerabilities. In this rapidly evolving environment, Ms. Sinsabaugh argued that the traditional business model, which favors stability, long-term capital investments, and a reliance on slow, incremental improvements, no longer aligns with the fast pace of technological change. Dr. Rajinder Singh, Group Leader of Materials Synthesis and Integrated Devices at Los Alamos National Laboratory, explained that manufacturers must remain agile — able to quickly integrate artificial intelligence, robotics, and novel materials — to stay competitive. This means adopting flexible strategies that allow for continuous learning, faster adaptation to new tools, and the ability to pivot quickly as technologies evolve. Furthermore, researchers should introduce U.S. manufacturers to their innovationsthrough demonstrations, thereby making them more comfortable with the new technology. Ms. Sinsabaugh proposed that New Mexico serve as a national model for technology demonstration, leveraging the capabilities of the U.S. DOE National Laboratories to provide local manufacturers with access to cutting-edge tools and expertise.

Aligning research efforts with industry needs is crucial for advancing New Mexico’s manufacturing capabilities. Mr. Connor discussed how the state’s ability to commercialize new technologies is often impeded by disconnects between research institutions, industry, and venture capital. While New Mexico boasts strong research capabilities through the U.S. DOE National Laboratories, these innovations often fail to make the leap from the lab to the marketplace due to insufficient collaboration with business and financial sectors. Bridging these gaps will be essential for driving advanced manufacturing forward. Strengthening ties between research, industry, and venture capital will ensure that emerging technologies, such as AI and robotics, are integrated into manufacturing processes and scaled for broader economic impact. Without these critical connections, New Mexico risks missing out on the opportunity to transform its innovative research into tangible, high-impact advancements in manufacturing.

Achieving this alignment, however, will require more than improved partnerships — it will demand systemic change across institutional boundaries that currently isolate innovation efforts. Ms. Sinsabaugh argued that siloed efforts — whether across industries, research domains, or government agencies — prevent the kind of integration required to unlock transformative, cross-cutting solutions. The future of advanced manufacturing will not be driven by any one technology, but by the convergence of multiple disciplines: AI, advanced materials, additive manufacturing, and smart sensors must work in concert to enable new production models. Achieving this level of integration requires deliberate coordination, shared goals, and a culture of experimentation that spans institutional boundaries.

With its strong research infrastructure — including that which is being led by Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories — and a growing base of small and mid-sized manufacturers, New Mexico is well-positioned to become a leader in advanced manufacturing. By fostering more intentional collaboration between these actors and supporting platforms for shared learning and co-development, New Mexico can more rapidly deploy emerging technologies, strengthen its industrial base, and expand its role in national innovation and security.