Brad Ferry, Director of Business Development, Circuit Technology Center

The electronics manufacturing industry is entering a pivotal year defined by accelerating complexity, tighter production demands, and a growing need for faster knowledge transfer. In 2026, SMTA is meeting that challenge with the launch and continued evolution of Max, our AI-powered knowledge assistant built exclusively for the electronics manufacturing community.

Unlike general-purpose AI systems, Max is trained directly on SMTA's extensive library of technical papers, research, standards insights, and event content. He understands the real-world challenges faced by process engineers, reliability specialists, materials experts, and production teams because he is built on the same trusted resources they rely on every day.

Looking ahead to 2026, our focus is expanding Max's capabilities with deeper technical reasoning, richer content from SMTA conferences and trainings, and improved outputs that help users move from question to solution more efficiently. As organizations continue navigating workforce turnover, skill gaps, and cost pressures, Max offers a reliable and always-available way to preserve expertise and strengthen decision-making.

SMTA's outlook for 2026 is one of empowerment. Through Max, we are helping professionals access accurate knowledge instantly, driving efficiency and innovation across the electronics manufacturing ecosystem.