“Moog’s Advanced Integrated Manufacturing facility is a 150,000-square-foot standalone building intended to expand the company’s precision machining operations.”

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Rochester region sees semiconductor growth from CHIPS Act investments

“Four years after the CHIPS & Science Act was signed into law, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is highlighting Rochester and other Upstate New York communities as key players in the nation’s effort to rebuild domestic semiconductor manufacturing.”

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NSF Energy Storage Engine Launches Scholars Initiative to Grow Next-Generation Battery Talent Pipeline

“Binghamton University, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University and the University at Buffalo will lead four regional coalitions spanning the NSF Engine’s service region, creating a connected talent pipeline from K–12 through university training into industry placement.”

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Students graduate from six-week Bridge to Manufacturing program

“Nine Syracuse City School District students are celebrating the completion of a six-week summer program designed to prepare them for college and careers in Central New York’s growing advanced manufacturing industry.”

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“The Business Council said it received 38 applications from manufacturers in every region of the state for this year’s contest.”

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Infusd has opened beverage manufacturing facility in New York

“Infusd has opened a beverage manufacturing facility in Geneva, New York. The company, which develops formulation technologies and manufactures consumer packaged products, has opened the facility to support commercial-scale production for its partners.”

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Former Sumitomo site announces first manufacturing tenant since plant closure

“Nearly two years after the sudden closure of the Sumitomo Rubber manufacturing plant in the Town of Tonawanda, the property’s new owners have announced the first manufacturer planning to move into the site.”

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Supply Chain Management – Building Resilience in a Changing World

“One of the most significant trends affecting manufacturers and distributors is the growing emphasis on supply chain resilience. While companies once focused primarily on minimizing costs, today’s leaders are balancing efficiency with risk management.”

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Media Contact:

Susan Bardack – 518.867.7940 |susan@buzzmediasolutions.com

Empire State Development Supported Grants will award $650,000 to facilitate research and development, technical advancements, and process improvements for New York State manufacturers.

(Albany, NY) – FuzeHub, a not-for-profit organization providing small to medium-sized manufacturers with guided access to an extensive network of industry experts, programs, and resources to solve business growth challenges, is excited to announce the 10 collaborative project award recipients of grants through the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund. This year, FuzeHub received a record-breaking 59 applications.

The Innovation Fund, consisting of more than $1 million annually, serves as a pathway to technology transfer, adoption and implementation of new manufacturing processes, and the creation of enhanced products and services. It is made possible through funding and support from Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR).

As part of the Fund, FuzeHub offers Manufacturing Grants to New York State not-for-profit organizations, including higher education institutions, that propose innovative projects in partnership with a New York State manufacturing or technology company. Project categories cover adoption of new technology to enhance a process and/or product, prototype development, design for manufacturing, proof-of-concept manufacturing, certain equipment acquisitions, manufacturing scale-up, and other projects to advance manufacturing capabilities.

“Fresh ideas are the engine driving the economy forward,” said Ben Verschueren, executive director of Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR). “This year’s awardees represent the creativity, technical expertise, and collaboration that continue to put New York State at the forefront of innovation. Empire State Development is proud to support their projects as they take the next step toward production, and we look forward to celebrating those future successes.”

In addition, the Innovation Fund’s annual Commercialization Competition funds early-stage manufacturing and technology companies seeking to further develop their prototype. This enables them to pursue additional investment and customers as well as strengthen their “go-to-market” strategies, as they move from new product/production method to marketplace.

The 2026 Commercialization Competition is currently accepting applications, and the deadline to apply is August 10 at 11:59PM EST. Finalists will pitch live at the 2026 New York State Innovation Summit, hosted by FuzeHub, which showcases the companies and researchers at the forefront of emerging technologies and new advancements in production capabilities.

“FuzeHub’s mission is to strengthen New York’s manufacturing base by supporting the technologies and products that move entire industries forward,” said Patty Rechberger, innovation fund manager at FuzeHub. “This cohort represents exactly the kind of practical, high-impact innovation we look for – solutions that will make a real difference for businesses, workers, and the communities they anchor. Watching these projects grow from ideas into industry impact is the most rewarding part of this work.”

Watch the video announcement here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZYgKoR3XWE

FuzeHub is pleased to announce the grantees. Each awardee will receive $65,000:

Center for Economic Growth / Air Cleaning Blowers (Capital Region)

Air Clean Blowers Spiral Design Innovation

Most industrial air cleaning systems rely on filter media that clog over time, consume more energy, and create waste that must be handled and disposed of – sometimes containing hazardous materials. These systems can be costly to maintain and become less effective as they age.

Air Cleaning Blowers is developing a newly patented technology that cleans air without using filter elements at all. Instead, it uses a spiral design that separates dust, particles, and even liquid droplets from the air through motion, delivering clean air while avoiding the buildup and disposal issues associated with traditional systems.

With support from the Capital District Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Rochester Institute of Technology, this project will validate and refine the design to bring it to market.

The result will be a more energy‑efficient, lower‑waste solution that improves air quality in workplaces such as manufacturing facilities, laboratories, and healthcare environments. By reducing energy use and eliminating disposable filters, the technology has the potential to lower costs, improve safety, and support more sustainable industrial practices across New York State and beyond.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Center for Architectural Science and Ecology (RPI CASE) / Cottrell Paper Company (Capital Region)

Prototyping and Manufacturing of Sustainable House and Building Wrap

The Cottrell Paper Company, Inc., a 100-year-old NY-based specialty paper mill and the only manufacturer of hemp paper in the Americas, is looking to expand into building materials. A joint 12-month project between Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Cottrell aims to develop Hemp Wrap, i.e. a durable hemp paper treated with chemically modified plant oils (e.g., from spent coffee grounds), as a direct replacement for synthetic house wraps for customers seeking a greener alternative. All commercially available house wraps, which constitute a nearly $4B market in the U.S. alone, are made from petroleum-derived plastics and have to be landfilled at the end of life. HempWrap performance will be compared with the industry leading product, DuPont’s Tyvek, for water resistance, breathability, tear strength and durability, UV resistance, recyclability/compostable, and carbon footprint.

TDO / Hidden Level (Central New York)

Next-Generation Modular Production Architecture for High-Rate Sensor Manufacturing

Drones are becoming more common, more capable, and harder to track, creating new safety and security challenges for airports, public events, military sites, and critical infrastructure. Hidden Level, a growing Central New York technology manufacturer, builds sensor systems that help customers understand low-altitude airspace by detecting the radio signals drones use without sending out signals or interfering with other systems. Demand for this technology is growing quickly, but Hidden Level’s production process was built for lower volumes. Sensor systems valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars are still assembled using legacy carts and fixtures that require repeated two-person handling, take up valuable floor space, and have sometimes forced work-in-process units onto foam on the production floor just to keep work moving. Through this project, Hidden Level and TDO will identify, select, and integrate safer modular manufacturing systems, ergonomic handling tools, work tracking, and better staging of parts and equipment. The project will help Hidden Level scale from 3–8 sensor systems per week to 30, deploy critical airspace awareness technology faster, and support up to 46 high-quality manufacturing jobs as production grows in Central New York.

The Arc Chemung-Schuyler / Glen Copack (Southern Tier)

Food packaging promotes independence for persons with cognitive disabilities.

The Arc Chemung-Schuyler, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities with dignity and empowerment at its core, is pioneering a new assistive technology initiative to promote independent living. By pairing smart ovens with an innovative meal packaging design, the organization’s team will transform how meals are prepared and delivered across residential settings.

The system uses barcode-reading technology to match pre-programmed oven functions, simplifying meal preparation for both residents and staff. This streamlined approach is designed to expand access to nutritious meals while enhancing quality of life for individuals across The Arc’s residential programs.

Once fully implemented, the project is expected to reduce the staff time required for meal preparation, improve safety and efficiency, strengthen user independence, and lower overall service costs, reflecting The Arc Chemung-Schuyler’s ongoing commitment to innovative, person-centered care.

Cornell University, Praxis Center for Venture Development / IVSonance Biomedical (Southern Tier)

SOUND™: Manufacturing of a Deployable Acoustic Device for IVF Automation

One in six couples worldwide will require fertility treatment, yet in the United States, more than 75% of patients who need IVF never receive it. IVF clinics are struggling to meet demand, and the tools they rely on have not changed significantly in decades. Nearly every step in the IVF laboratory is still performed by hand, making the process slow, inconsistent, and difficult to scale.

IVSonance Biomedical, a Cornell University spinout based in Ithaca, NY, is changing that. The company has developed SOUND™, the world’s first device to use sound waves to automate a critical IVF procedure, gently and consistently, giving IVF labs the tools they need to always perform at their best. This allows clinics to see more patients and give more families a real chance at parenthood. Together with Cornell University’s Praxis Center for Venture Development, and supported by the FuzeHub Manufacturing Grant, IVSonance is manufacturing the first clinic-ready versions of SOUND™, bringing this technology one step closer to having a real impact in the clinic and bringing more families together.

Cornell University, Center for Life Science Ventures / Persista Bio (Southern Tier)

Manufacturing of Nanofiber Capsules for Cell Therapy

Emerging cell therapies for chronic conditions need to be designed to protect and support the therapeutic cells. Currently, cell transplants for type 1 diabetes (T1D) require taking immunosuppressive drugs for life, which means only ~5% of the US’s two million (2M) T1D patients are eligible for this high-risk treatment. Persista Bio is developing a fully implantable membrane encapsulation system to hold and support therapeutic cells to provide curative treatments without immunosuppression. The system includes in situ oxygen supply to give energy to the cells. This will enable a broad T1D patient population to have a cell therapy to replace the missing function of the pancreas with a convenient, fully-implanted system. The system is implanted under the skin and is designed to be about the size of a credit card. This will enable patients to live life like they don’t have diabetes. Cell therapies will improve both day-to-day quality of life as well as enable a healthy lifespan. In this grant, Persista Bio is adding the capability to manufacture custom cell capsules for cell therapy partners to explore a range of cell therapy treatments for conditions including metabolic diseases, hormone and enzyme replacement, chronic pain, and inflammatory conditions.

RF SUNY CNY Biotech Accelerator/ Ergami Endoscopy (Central New York / New York City)

Low-cost robotic colonoscope insertion device to improve procedure productivity

Colon cancer causes over 50,000 deaths each year in the US (12% of total cancer deaths). It is increasingly showing up in younger people, and is now the deadliest cancer in young people under the age of 50. Colonoscopy is the most effective procedure for diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer, and there are over 20 million colonoscopies each year in the US alone. However, looping during colonoscope insertion causes significant challenges in colonoscopy including mucosal stretching and patient pain, endoscopy related injuries in endoscopists and nurses, and prolonged and variable insertion time. Ergami Endoscopy is developing a low cost robotic colonoscope insertion solution to improve procedure productivity; reduce patient pain and need for sedation; and reduce endoscopy-related injuries in endoscopists and nurses.

Custom Collaborative / Uncaged Innovations

Scaling Color and Finish Innovation for Plant-Based Leather

The fashion industry is under growing pressure to transition away from animal leather, but brands and designers struggle to find sustainable alternatives that look, feel, and perform like the real thing. Uncaged Innovations has developed a plant-based leather made from grains and is working toward commercial scaling by solving one critical challenge: achieving the range of colors and surface finishes that brands actually want.

Through a partnership with New York-based tanneries and Custom Collaborative, Uncaged is running pilot production and finishing trials to develop at least three commercially viable finishes, including metallics, that meet rigorous durability standards. Custom Collaborative, a workforce development organization that trains low-income women to build careers in fashion, will tap its talent network to construct prototype garments and accessories using the new material, while documenting fabrication techniques to help future designers work with it confidently.

The result is a scalable, animal-free leather with proven finishes, real-world product validation, and a growing network of designers equipped to bring it to market.

RF SUNY on behalf of University at Buffalo, Business and Entrepreneur Partnerships / Ampullae (Western New York)

Printed Sensor Integration for Force-Sensing Catheters: A Prototype Development Program

Fewer than 3% of stroke patients worldwide receive timely endovascular treatment — not because the procedures don’t work, but because patients are too far from centers that can perform them. Endovascular robotics is beginning to close this gap, enabling remote intervention across hundreds of miles. But a critical barrier remains: operators cannot feel vessel interaction or detect early signs of injury, limiting safe remote use.

Ampullae’s work is led by Founder and CSO, Rick Ducharme. Supported by the UBCAT program and incubated at The Rookery Labs on Buffalo’s Northland Campus, Ampullae has developed the only guidewires with patented force sensing that translate device-tissue interaction directly to the clinician. The company is now extending this platform to catheters used in brain clot removal and other endovascular procedures via a thin printed sensing layer that augments existing devices without requiring full redesign thus lowering adoption friction for device partners.

Ampullae is collaborating with Joanneum Research to refine a reproducible sensor fabrication process and onshore production to Buffalo, leveraging the region’s precision thin-film manufacturing heritage for a higher-value, regulated medical device manufacturing pathway.

Research Foundation of the City University of New York on behalf of the Advanced Science Research Center (CUNY ASRC) / Astrabeam (New York City / Mid-Hudson)

Advanced Multi-modal Sensor Fusion for Heavy Machinery Functional Safety

Small and medium-sized construction firms often lack the advanced safety tech found in large-scale operation fleets, leaving operators to rely on mirrors and cameras that fail in dust, rain, and low light. To solve this, Astrabeam has partnered with the CUNY ASRC Sensor CAT to develop a cost-effective, all-weather safety system. By fusing millimeter-wave radar with AI-driven vision, the project delivers a “bolt-on” 360-degree shield for existing machinery. This collaboration prioritizes New York workers, manufacturing life-saving technology locally to ensure every operator goes home safe.

The 2026 Commercialization Competition finalists will pitch live at the Buffalo Convention Center on October 27 & 28 during the NYS Innovation Summit. Those interested in attending this event can get more information at https://nysinnovationsummit.com/. 

For more information about the Jeff Lawrence Innovation Fund, visit www.fuzehub.com/innovation-fund/ or contact Patty Rechberger, innovation fund manager at patty@fuzehub.com.

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About Jeff Lawrence

During his more than 20 years at the Center for Economic Growth, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) affiliate in the Capital Region where he served as executive vice president and MEP Center Director, Jeff Lawrence directed programs of direct assistance to manufacturers and technology companies to increase their competitiveness. He is remembered for being an invaluable and generous mentor to many in the area’s business community and a tireless advocate for manufacturing innovation throughout New York.

About FuzeHub

FuzeHub is a not-for-profit organization that connects New York’s small to medium-sized manufacturing companies to the resources, programs, and expertise they need for technology commercialization, innovation, and business growth. Through our custom assessment, matching, and referral platform, we help companies navigate New York’s robust network of industry experts at Manufacturing Extension Partners centers, universities, economic development organizations, and other providers. FuzeHub is the statewide New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) center, supported by Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology & Innovation.  For more information on FuzeHub, visit www.fuzehub.com.

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York’s chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state’s 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state’s world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

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DUB Therapeutics is developing small interfering RNA (siRNA) that stop the production of disease-causing proteins. For fibrosis that involves scarring of the cornea, this could dramatically simplify treatment—and preserve vision. It’s a significant reason the company won a $50,000 Commercial Competition award from FuzeHub in 2023.

A Founder’s Journey

Tere Williams’ personal and professional journey demonstrates a breadth of vision. A Virginia Tech alumna, she was drafted in 2001 by the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Later, she moved to Montreal, Canada, where she sang in jazz bands. After returning to the United States, she volunteered in a lab centered on regenerative medicine at Boston University.

The hours spent within that laboratory ecosystem reignited her scientific interest. That led to completion of her undergraduate degree, a 2-year NIH-funded research training program, and, later, entering a PhD program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. During COVID, she realized a career in academia wasn’t her long-term goal and started SPK Consulting, a life-science consultancy that quickly gained traction.

A colleague then introduced her to Dr. Audrey Bernstein, a corneal biology expert at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse. Dr. Bernstein had invented a promising siRNA technology but needed someone with immunology expertise, business acumen, and the ability to commercialize a therapeutic platform. Williams was well-suited for the role.

She decided to help—with the agreed-upon first step of teaching the lab how to work with mice and develop murine immunology assays for more mechanistic research. Later, she co-founded DUB Therapeutics in March 2022 to further develop the technology. Her motivation was both scientific and personal. Her father, a police officer, had died from a rare fibrotic heart condition in 2014. Williams also understood how rare it was for someone who looked like her to be asked to lead a venture of this scale.

“I knew I had the skills, the curiosity, and the tenacity,” she says. “Most importantly, I knew this technology deserved a chance to reach patients.”

The Problem: Scarring That Steals Sight

Fibrosis, the excessive build-up of tough, fibrous connective tissue, typically occurs as a healing response to repeated injury or chronic inflammation. Over time, however, excess scar tissue can stiffen organs and impair their normal function. In the human eye, scarring of the cornea from injuries, infections, or inflammation can cause severe vision loss.

Current treatments for fibrosis often require six doses of anti-inflammatory eye drops for months. Many patients rely on steroids that carry long‑term risks, and there is no FDA-approved drug that directly addresses corneal fibrosis. As the eye’s primary focusing element, the cornea is critical because it bends incoming light to form clear images on the retina.

Scarring in the retina prevents those signals from being received and prevents clear images from being stitched together in regions of the brain. Vision impairment, and more severe blindness, is a major indicator of morbidity. Not only are patients more at risk of falls and accidental prone deaths, but patients are less likely to visit clinics for other diseases, less likely to adhere to treatment regimens and have significantly lower quality of life. In short, people who lose their vision have a shortened life-span as a result.

The Technology: Self‑Delivering siRNA

DUB Therapeutics’ technology uses synthetic siRNA with a lipid attachment to enter cells without viral vectors or nanoparticle carriers. This “self‑delivery” mechanism reduces the risk of toxicity and its room-temperature stability improves logistics and simplifies manufacturing. No bacterial or cellular systems are required, and the platform is more scalable and less expensive than biologics.

Importantly, its long-acting performance supports once-per-treatment/one-two dose treatment dosing regimens instead of multiple daily applications. For patients who treat their eyes six times a day for durations lasting three months, the technology could be life-changing. A partnership with Nitto Denko Avecia, a global leader in siRNA manufacturing, is advancing substance development and scale ahead of clinical trials.

Together, DUB Therapeutics and its contract manufacturer have scaled research-grade material and completed GLP manufacturing. DUB Therapeautics is now preparing for GMP production ahead of dosing the first patient(s). Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) refers to the standards used before human trials. Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) applies to clinical-grade and commercial-grade drug manufacturing.

DUB Therapeutics’ first clinical target is corneal fibrosis, but its technology has broad potential. Through academic collaborations, the company is exploring proof-of-concept data for other corneal surface diseases, retinal fibrotic disease, neurodegeneration, and systemic fibrosis—kidney fibrosis, liver fibrosis, and other fibrotic conditions. While the basic science is still fascinating, if academic collaborators generate compelling data that have commercial potential, DUB Therapeutics reserves the right for further developing those opportunities.

Customer Discovery, Market Validation, and Funding

To determine whether its technology had commercial potential, DUB Therapeutics completed regional and national NSF I‑Corps programs as part of its own early-stage diligence. This involved conducting more than 125 required interviews as part of program participation for the combined programs for customer discovery across the “three Ps”: patients, physicians, and payers (insurance companies). Physicians expressed, and continue to have, strong enthusiasm for the technology— as did the innovation ecosystem.

The year 2023 was pivotal. Within a three-month span, DUB Therapeutics become a finalist and winner of the FuzeHub Commercialization Competition, won the SUNY Startup Summer School (S4) Demo Day, secured a $1.8 million federal grant, and was accepted into the Nucleate Global Virtual Activator. The FuzeHub award played a key role in elevating the company’s visibility.

“It raised our profile,” Williams explains. “It signaled that our technology – and our team – were worth paying attention to.”

Looking Ahead

DUB Therapeutics is currently preparing for clinical trials, expanding its partnerships, and continuing to build momentum in New York State’s growing RNA therapeutics landscape. With a technology that’s safer, simpler, and more scalable than existing siRNA approaches, the company is positioned to make a meaningful impact on how fibrosis is treated—starting with the eye.

“There’s no product on the market that addresses the scarring component of ocular diseases sufficiently,” Williams says. “You dose once and, in that single treatment get the standard of care benefits, reduction of inflammation, and the necessary benefits in reduction/prevention of fibrosis and scarring and tissue regeneration that preserves vision. The six-times-a-day regimen is not only not applicable here; its antiquated.”

Steve Lockwood is the Executive Director for CITEC Consulting Group, the North Country’s regional NY MEP Center. In a recent opinion piece for the Press-Republican, he argues that workforce development and technology adoption aren’t enough. They’re important, of course, but manufacturers also need partners with access to expertise and resources.

Read the Article (Behind Paywall)

According to ESD President, CEO, and Commissioner Hope Knight, the results “show how our strategy is delivering measurable results — supporting jobs, strengthening industries and expanding economic opportunity in every region of the state.” NYSTAR Executive Director Ben Verschueren concurred, noting how “that work translates to jobs, investments, and real progress within the industries that drive our state’s economy.”

NY MEP Improves Competitiveness

The 2025 NY MEP annual report highlights the statewide network’s role in helping small and mid-sized manufacturers improve their competitiveness through technology adoption, process improvements, workforce development, marketing, and supply chain support. NY MEP includes 10 regional centers and one statewide center, FuzeHub.

During calendar year 2024, NY MEP centers:

• Generated $1.29 billion in economic impact
• Created or retained 6,858 jobs
• Served 516 companies

NY MEP is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), a public-private network with centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. In 2024, New York’s NY MEP network received nearly $7 million in federal funding, complemented by approximately $3.8 million in state support.

COEs Drive Growth

The 2025 COE Annual Report highlights the program’s role in promoting partnerships between academia and industry. New York State’s 14 designated Centers of Excellence bring together universities, researchers and private-sector partners to develop and commercialize emerging technologies, attract investment, and support innovation across key industries.

During the July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, reporting period, New York State’s COEs:

• Generated $530.8 million in economic impact
• Created or retained 776 jobs
• Served 872 companies

These NYSTAR-funded centers focus on strategic sectors such as semiconductors, life sciences, advanced materials, agriculture, and digital gaming. According to ESD, their core mission is to bridge the gap between university research and business needs to create jobs and attract private investment while providing companies with access to faculty expertise and cutting-edge resources.

“The Southern Tier project will pair smart ovens with packaging that uses barcodes to select preprogrammed oven functions, simplifying meal preparation for residents and staff across The Arc’s residential programs.”

Read more

Empire State Development Announces NYSTAR Programs Generated $1.8 Billion In Economic Impact Across New York State

“2025 Annual Reports Highlight Support for More Than 7,600 Jobs and Hundreds of New York Businesses.”

Read more

Startups Pitch Investors to Transform the Battery Industry

“Startup pitches at NSF Investor Day showcase battery innovations driving sustainability, high-performance materials, and domestic supply chain resilience.”

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Advanced chipmaking tool arrives at New York state innovation hub

“The NanoTech facility is the only one of ​its kind in North America, according to NY Creates Chief Executive Dave Anderson, and is similar in scope and focus ​to Europe’s Imec, which operates in ⁠Belgium.”

Read more

Some manufacturers are already experimenting with AI, but others aren’t sure where to begin. This article from FuzeHub outlines four practical ways that small-to-medium manufacturers can use AI to improve their operations – and not just on the shop floor.

1. Operations Performance

AI can help you eliminate chronic losses that drain performance: downtime, scrap, slow response times, and schedule churn.

• Prevent unplanned downtime: AI models can analyze equipment behavior and predict failures before they occur. Maintenance teams can use this information to plan repairs.  
• Find defects sooner: Vision systems and process-drift alerts can help inspectors spot quality issues more quickly. That means less scrap and rework.
• Accelerate troubleshooting: When there’s a problem, AI can sift through historical data and suggest root causes. That can save you hours of troubleshooting time.  
• Stabilize schedules: AI helps production planners maintain more predictable schedules with fewer last-minute changeovers.

Remember that effective implementations start small. Focus on repeat losses that happen regularly. 

2. Commercial Enablement

AI isn’t just for the shop floor. It’s increasingly valuable in front-office operations.

• Faster, more accurate quoting: AI can analyze past jobs, materials, and cycle times to help sales produce quotes with greater confidence.
• Better forecasting: Demand signals, capacity constraints, and historical patterns can be combined to create more reliable sales forecasts.
• Customer targeting support: AI can highlight which accounts are growing, which are at risk, and where sales personnel should focus their time.
• Consistent content: Marketers can produce content such as press releases and product descriptions without starting from scratch every time.

Improving efficiency across the front office can be a game-changer.

3. IT/OT Alignment and Change Risk

AI can also help bring Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) into alignment.

• Clearer handoffs: AI can summarize incidents, changes, and requests so that IT and OT spend less time in back-and-forth communications. 
• Faster incident triage: When there’s a problem, AI can identify what changed, what likely caused the issue, and what steps to take next.
• Fewer surprises from changes: With better visibility and communications, teams can deploy updates or process changes with less risk.

IT and OT have fundamentally different priorities, but AI can help bring these two teams together.

4. Workforce

Manufacturers are facing retirements, turnover, and a need to onboard new talent. AI can help.

• Faster new-hire ramp-up: AI-generated job aids, training support, and step-by-step guidance can help new employees learn tasks more quickly.
• Smarter hiring support: Screening assistance and clearer role definitions help human resources teams find the right candidates.
• Cleaner job descriptions: AI can standardize and update roles, skills, and responsibilities across departments.

When hiring, onboarding, and retention are easier, there’s more time for other pressing tasks.  

Learn More at This Year’s New York State Innovation Summit

Artificial intelligence isn’t a “tomorrow technology.” It’s practical, accessible, and is already delivering measurable value across manufacturing operations. That’s why this year’s New York State Innovation Summit will feature a dedicated AI Breakout Session. 

Whether it’s as an exhibitor or attendee, this year’s Summit is the place to showcase and discover new and emerging technologies. Register now at https://nysinnovationsummit.com/.

“New Tenant Bolsters Sunset Park’s Working Waterfront, Driving Quality Jobs, Innovation, and Inclusive Growth—Further Cementing Its Role as a Hub for Industry.”

Read more

Binghamton University opens state-of-the-art cleanroom to support advanced research and workforce training

“Facility to train 100+ students each year in advanced chip manufacturing.”

Read more

Move over Boston: The New York biotech industry is on the rise

“An executive from Empire State Development discusses New York’s ambitious future in biotech.”

Read more

From Promise to Progress: Governor Hochul Celebrates Major Milestone for Micron’s $100 Billion Investment in Central New York

“Largest Private-Sector Construction Project in New York State History Races Forward Ahead of Schedule.”

Read more

ISO 9001:2026 is now in its Final Draft International Standard (FDIS) stage with publication scheduled for September 2026. ISO 9001’s familiar structure will remain intact, but the new version strengthens expectations around quality culture, ethics, climate considerations, digitization, and risk-opportunity management. Are you prepared to meet these new expectations?

This article from FuzeHub provides an overview of what the changes in ISO 9001:2026 mean, what you can do to prepare for them now, and where you can find assistance. There’s a three-year transition period for ISO 9001:2016, but don’t wait until your ISO 9001:2015 certificate expires. After the transition window, late adopters may require full initial audits instead of simple transition audits.

Changes That Will Affect Manufacturers

The 2026 revision will directly affect manufacturers. Climate and sustainability considerations are now explicit. Companies are required to identify climate‑related risks, integrate environmental factors into supplier evaluations, and show how these issues influence quality objectives. Moreover, leaders must demonstrate quality culture instead of simply issuing a policy and setting objectives.

The new revision also treats risk and opportunity separately. Auditors will expect distinct registers and clear evidence of how each drives action. Digitization and automation receive new attention as well, including requirements for cybersecurity, stronger control of digital records, and validation of decision-making that’s based on artificial intelligence (AI).

ISO 9001:2016 also makes supply chain resilience a formal requirement. Manufacturers will need to assess disruption risks, maintain alternative sourcing strategies, and monitor supplier performance more closely. This new version pushes organizations to treat supply continuity as a core quality concern, ensuring that material shortages or supplier failures can’t compromise product reliability.

Finally, organizational knowledge requirements are expanding. They’ll include structured processes for capturing lessons learned from corrective and preventive action (CAPA), audits, and nonconformities. The purpose of this change is to encourage companies to move away from “tribal knowledge” and toward the systematic retention of actionable information.

Seven Ways to Prepare for ISO 9001:2026

Leaders who want to prepare their companies to move from ISO 9001:2015 to ISO 9001:2016 can use the following tasks as a mini-checklist.

1. Assess your current QMS gaps: Compare your current ISO 9001:2015 system against the 2026 changes. Focus on climate context, digitization, and quality culture.
2. Update leadership and culture practices Ensure leadership messaging, training, and behaviors visibly support quality culture and ethical conduct.
3. Separate risk and opportunity planning: Create distinct registers and action plans for risks and opportunities to meet the new clause structure.
4. Strengthen digital and cybersecurity controls Validate automated systems, secure digital records, and document oversight for AI or automated decision‑making.
5. Enhance supply chain resilience Add disruption risk assessments, alternative supplier strategies, and stronger monitoring of supplier performance.
6. Train your internal audit team: Prepare auditors to evaluate new requirements, especially culture, ethics, climate considerations, and digital processes.
7. Schedule your transition audit early: Avoid late‑cycle bottlenecks by booking transition audits well before the 2029 deadline.

You Don’t Have to Do It Alone

The New York Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NY MEP) can help you prepare for ISO 9001:2016. Train Develop Optimize (TDO), the NY MEP Center for Central New York, is offering a series of webinars for manufacturers across New York State. Follow the links below and register for these valuable events:

• ISO 9001:2026 – How to Identify Your Gaps Before the Transition: July 27^th at 1 PM
• Unlock New Opportunities with ISO 9001 and AS9100 Certification: August 10^th at 1 PM.

Anyone can register for these webinars – and New York State manufacturers that are based in rural locations can also apply for grants to help offset the cost of ISO 9001 certification. Use the USDA map tool to determine if you’re eligible, and request a no-cost consultation with FuzeHub if you’d like more information about how to increase your manufacturing competitiveness.