Forge5 Recap: A Bold Look at Manufacturing’s Future | | |
Forge5 featuring Smart Xchange, hosted by the Metals Hub, Daley College MTEC and M3 Chicago, brought together manufacturers, innovators and technology leaders on October 22 for a dynamic look at Cook County manufacturing and Industry 5.0’s impact on the future of production.
Panelists emphasized AI’s growing value in saving companies time and money, while underscoring that human ingenuity remains at the core of manufacturing.
Smart Xchange offered attendees a marketplace of technology solutions—from interactive vendor demonstrations to VR experiences—showcasing tools that are shaping what’s next in the sector.
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MxD Threat Modeling Workshop
9 AM - 5 PM
Location: Chicago, IL
Presented By: MxD
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Threat modeling is the “measure twice, cut once” of cybersecurity, key to anticipating threats in a structured, systematic, and comprehensive way.
In partnership with Shostack + Associates, MxD is offering a free two day training (valued up to $4,200), designed to give manufacturers hands-on cybersecurity threat modeling.
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Partnering with DuPage County Procurement
10 AM - 11 AM
Location: Online
Presented By: Connect DuPage
| | Interested in taking part in DuPage County’s open procurement process managing over $636 million in annual purchases? Join this webinar led by Connect DuPage and learn how to begin the procurement process with DuPage County. | | | | |
How To Hire The Right People: Challenges & Company Culture
8 AM - 10 AM
Location: Schaumburg, IL
Presented By: TMA
| | In today’s competitive job market, finding and keeping the right people is one of the toughest challenges for manufacturing leaders, HR teams, and small business owners. Join the Technology and Manufacturing Association as they discuss the most common hiring challenges in manufacturing from labor shortages and high turnover to skill gaps and generational differences and explore how clear communication, leadership alignment, and a strong workplace culture can turn these challenges into opportunities. | | | | |
Investing In Tomorrow - Navigating Innovative Equipment Financing Strategies
2 PM - 3 PM
Location: Chicago, IL
Presented By: mHUB
| | Cash is king for hardware startups, but essential equipment can drain your runway faster than any other expense. This in-person event at mHUB introduces innovative equipment financing strategies that allow you to preserve capital and maintain equity while accessing the technology and machinery critical to your growth. | | | | |
2nd Annual Holiday Procurement Expo
4 PM - 8 PM
Location: Chicago, IL
Presented By: IL APEX Accelerators
| | Join your local Illinois APEX Accelerators at Chinese Mutual Aid Association's 2nd Annual Holiday Procurement Expo, a no-cost festive gathering of government agencies and prime contractors! Join dozens of government organizations, prime contractors, and resources available for manufacturers and small businesses to meet with and explore procurement opportunities. | | | | |
Understanding Potential Solutions to Advance Casting & Forging through Digital Manufacturing
8:30 AM - 5 PM
Location: Chicago, IL
Presented By: MxD
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MxD is developing a technology roadmap focused on how digital manufacturing technologies can benefit the Casting and Forging industry.
MxD invites companies interested in participating in a series of three workshops to join to share their expertise in the industry, their experiences with digital manufacturing technologies and how they might be better utilized throughout the casting and forging lifecycle.
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Illinois Manufacturers' Association
2025 Annual Luncheon Virtual Breakout Session - Economic Outlook
10 AM - 11 AM
Location: Online
Presented By: IMA
| | Global economic and supply chain pressures continue to force manufacturers to rethink production and investment strategies. Supply chains are improving but still haven’t returned to pre-pandemic norms, making resilience planning a priority and the uncertainty of the tariff landscape and trade policy is just starting to be clearer. Join IMA for this webinar designed to help navigate economic uncertainty with confidence by sharing expert insights on inflation, global trends and how to build resilient supply chains. | | | | |
Women Makers - Chicago Paint and Sip
5 PM - 7 PM
Location: Chicago, IL
Presented By: IMA
| | Connect with trailblazing women in manufacturing, build powerful relationships, and help shape the future of the industry at IMA's Women Makers Paint and Sip event. This is your chance to be part of a growing network that’s breaking barriers and redefining what leadership looks like in manufacturing. | | Discover the SBA's Make Onshoring Great Again Portal | | |
The Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched the Make Onshoring Great Again portal, a free tool that helps businesses connect with verified domestic manufacturers, producers, and suppliers.
Designed to support onshoring, strengthen supply chain resilience, and promote American-made products, the portal allows users to search for verified U.S. manufacturers and suppliers, identify American-made goods and more. It’s an excellent tool for manufacturers sourcing components or materials, product-based businesses seeking more reliable inputs, or any small business ready to embrace domestic production. Click here to explore the portal.
| | CMMC Phase 1 Now in Effect | | |
Phase one of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification program began November 10, 2025, requiring all DoD contracts to demonstrate meeting CMMC level 1 or 2 requirements. Companies that do not meet this level of cybersecurity compliance will not be eligible for federal contract renewals or to seek new awards.
CMMC aligns with the Department of Defense’s (DoD) existing cybersecurity requirements for the defense industrial base (DIB), designed to protect the DIB from increasingly frequent and complex cyber attacks.
Need help meeting compliance? Explore helpful resources and begin your CMMC journey today:
| | MxD Membership Fee Waived for Small and Mid-Sized Manufacturers | | |
Looking to take your manufacturing business into the digital future?
MxD is dedicated to strengthening U.S. manufacturing by accelerating digital adoption, helping SMMs compete and thrive in a rapidly evolving ecosystem.
Ready to join the movement? MxD is waiving its annual membership fee for companies that complete the Digital Maturity Adoption Survey. Click here to learn more and get started today.
| | MISSION: M3 Chicago advances equitable and sustainable development by helping manufacturers expand, collaborate, network, innovate and access critical resources. M3 Chicago connects the region’s manufacturers, economic development organizations, local governments, educational and research institutions, trade associations and workforce agencies. | | | | |
