Webinar Recordings
GROW TO LEAD: Building Stronger Leaders to Drive Results
A session designed to give you a high-level overview of our Leadership Development Series and how it will impact your organization.
Success Stories
Meyer Tool & Manufacturing, Inc.
Fueled by lean principles and daily commitment to improvement, Meyer Tool is building on small wins to achieve record-breaking results, and cultivating a culture where every employee’s voice drives long-term success.
Success Stories
Header Die and Tool, Inc.
With a long-standing commitment to Lean Manufacturing and a decades-long partnership with IMEC, Header Die and Tool continues to transform its workforce and operations through hands-on simulation training. By reintroducing Lean tools and skills to its team, the company fostered shared learning, reduced costs, and laid the foundation for continuous improvement.
Webinar Recordings
AI AT WORK: Transforming the Factory Floor with Smarter AI
This session delivers practical insights and live demonstrations designed to help manufacturing leaders modernize their operations and prepare for the next wave of innovation.
Blogs
The Power of Your Data: Simple AI Dashboards for Smarter Decisions
As AI in manufacturing becomes common, there are many tools for better insight into factories or warehouses. Learn more about digital dashboards and what they do for manufacturers.
News
Budzinski wants to protect manufacturing extension partnership amid proposed federal cuts
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski led a roundtable at Wagner Machine Company in Champaign to champion the critical role of the MEP program, administered in Illinois by IMEC, and to voice strong opposition to proposed federal funding cuts that threaten small manufacturers’ growth and resilience.
Blogs
Work Standards, Standard Work, and Standardized Work: Breaking Down the Confusion
Confused by the terms Work Standards, Standard Work, and Standardized Work? You’re not alone—this article breaks down the subtle differences and shared purpose behind these often-interchanged concepts to bring clarity and alignment to your continuous improvement efforts.
Whitepapers, Reports & Executive Briefs
AI on the Shop Floor
Artificial Intelligence is no longer the domain of tech giants, small and mid-sized manufacturers (SMMs) across Illinois are already using AI to solve real challenges on the shop floor. From predictive maintenance to defect detection and digital twins, AI offers accessible, practical tools that increase productivity, reduce downtime, and free up skilled workers for higher-value tasks.
News
Smart policy for manufacturing: Why support for small firms pays off
Small and mid-size manufacturers are the foundation of American industry. They make up 99% of all manufacturing companies, provide good jobs in every community and anchor supply chain resilience. Yet, […]
Webinar Recordings
ASSESS THE RISK: Robotics Safety and Risk Assessment
This webinar provides an overview of robotics safety, with a focus on the risk assessment process essential to identifying and mitigating hazards in robotic systems.
Webinar Recordings
OPPORTUNITY MEETS CAPABILITY: Navigating Supplier Matchmaking at the Global Aerospace Summit
This webinar will walk you through the matchmaking process, show you how to prepare, and share tips to help you turn 1:1 meetings into long-term business wins.
Blogs
Coaching for Impact: What Leadership Development Can Learn from Manufacturing Final Acceptance Trials
Leadership development, like manufacturing, thrives on continuous testing, learning, and adaptation—and coaching is the key to unlocking that impact.
Blogs
Your First AI Project: How to Choose One That Pays Off Fast
Getting started with AI in manufacturing can be intimidating. IMEC is here with clear guidance and a checklist to make sure you pick a successful first AI project.
Webinar Recordings
DIGITAL GAME PLAN: Strategies to Drive More Revenue
This session introduces The Digital Game Plan for Manufacturers, a proven, no-fluff framework that helps traditional manufacturers transform their online presence into a trusted resource.
Webinar Recordings
STAYING AHEAD GLOBALLY: 2025 Mid-Year Trade & Tariff Update
2025 has been the most challenging time since Covid to manage global sales, supply chains and procurement. Learn from an expert on where we are as of now, and make some predictions for the future.
Blogs
Lead the Shift: Coaching Through Supply Chain Volatility with Strategic Clarity
In today’s manufacturing landscape, supply chain volatility is not a passing disruption—it’s the new normal. When timelines, throughput, and customer commitments are at stake, unpredictability challenges even the most seasoned […]
Discover Reliable Suppliers and Strengthen Your Supply Chain
Our cutting-edge supply chain center is designed to connect Illinois manufacturers with suppliers across the United States. Tailored specifically to support the Buy America Initiative, this initiative fosters local sourcing and empowers manufacturers to access a diverse network of reliable suppliers.
Career Pathways in Manufacturing
We created Career Pathways in Manufacturing to strengthen workforce and economic competitiveness, securing a resilient economy for the future.