BlueCollar 101: Precision & Power in Machine Tooling & Modern Manufacturing

This event is held in national solidarity with National Manufacturing Day (MFG Day)

What actually allows the modern physical world to be built with sub-thousandth-of-an-inch precision? Who engineers the complex CNC machines, integrates cutting-edge automation, programs the robotics, and maintains the industrial equipment that powers everything from aerospace and medical devices to automotive technology and green energy?

For this special edition of Blue Collar 101 in recognition of National Manufacturing Day, we are bringing together application engineers, automation specialists, and industry experts from Sudbury-headquartered Methods Machine Tools, Inc. Panelists will walk us through what the field of precision manufacturing actually looks like today: the mechanics of advanced CNC machining, the integration of robotics on the shop floor, the rigorous quality tolerances required for high-stakes industries, and the diverse career pathways into this high-tech workforce. It is a story with deep local roots – this is where the legendary Waltham Watch Company first pioneered precision machining at factory scale, establishing a legacy of micro-tolerances that continues in modern CNC manufacturing today.