The Smart Machine Platform Initiative (SMPI) is an industry, government, and academic program to develop the enabling technologies necessary to allow manufacturing equipment to make decisions based upon acquired knowledge to produce a first part correct without unscheduled delays.

Technology developments being considered for this program span all areas of equipment design and control (i.e. software, materials, sensors, etc.)

The program is in the early stages of development and is based upon a continuing progression of activities by NIST and NSF The initiative is currently in the planning stage of developing a research agenda for these efforts. All members of AMT can participate and are encouraged to help in this phase of planning.  For more information contact Paul Warndorf, Vice President - Technology, at 703-827-5291 or pwarndorf@AMTonline.org. 

November 13, 2007 Update - In a major victory for AMT, President Bush has signed into law the FY 2008 Defense Appropriation which includes $3 million in 2008 funding for the Smart Machine Platform Initiative (SMPI).

January 2006 Update - Smart Machine program wins funding
TechSolve Inc., Cincinnati, in support of AMT and the Coalition on Manufacturing Technology Infrastructure, has received $2 million in federal funding through the Dept. of Defense. The funds will allow startup of the multi-year Smart Machine Platform Initiative to address intelligent machining processes working toward manufacture of a defect-free component from the first part to the last. TechSolve will manage the program and has established an advisory group to guide the effort.

Read more about the Smart Machine program:

TechSolve

"Making Machine Tools Smarter" - Industry Week article by John Teresko, January 1, 2007