Upcoming Events, Courses, and Talks

Sheet Metal Manufacturing Fundamentals - From Design to Production

Transform your design concepts into high-quality, manufacturable sheet metal products with this comprehensive workshop. Led by Jim Fitch, Director of Engineering & Automation at Nu-Way Industries, this session provides a complete walkthrough of the sheet metal manufacturing lifecycle—from early-stage design decisions to production-scale fabrication.

Whether you're a product developer, mechanical engineer, or startup founder looking to bring your designs to life, this workshop delivers the critical insights needed to bridge the gap between concept and production. This session explores the complete spectrum of sheet metal manufacturing, providing practical knowledge that can be applied to your projects. You'll gain insights into how Nu-Way Industries, one of the region's largest precision metal manufacturers, scales products from prototypes to full production.

The workshop emphasizes collaborative engineering approaches that accelerate time to market while maintaining quality standards. You'll learn how strategic design decisions early in the process can significantly reduce costs and improve manufacturability throughout production.

Who Should Attend:

• Mechanical engineers and industrial designers
• Hardware startup teams and product managers
• Anyone involved in turning sheet metal concepts into real-world parts and assemblies
• Entrepreneurs seeking to understand manufacturing processes for better design decisions
• Product developers looking to optimize their supply chain and reduce costs

This session provides both strategic guidance and tactical knowledge to help you make informed decisions, collaborate more effectively with manufacturing partners, and ultimately bring better products to market faster.

About the Instructor 

Jim Fitch serves as Director of Engineering & Automation at Nu-Way Industries, bringing over 40 years of manufacturing experience to his role. As a senior business leader, Jim has dedicated his career to building, running, and working with manufacturing companies across diverse industries.

His expertise spans strategic planning, sales process refinement, financial forecasting, lean manufacturing processes, and human resource management. Jim specializes in maximizing market value and operational potential for companies at all stages of growth. His experience includes working with companies in distress, managing turnaround conditions, handling strained banking relations, and addressing damaged corporate culture.

Jim's comprehensive background also extends to consolidations, liquidations, M&A work, succession planning, and positioning companies for sale. This breadth of experience gives him unique insights into the complete manufacturing lifecycle and business optimization strategies. His practical approach focuses on helping companies achieve operational excellence while building sustainable competitive advantages in their markets.

About the Organization

Nu-Way Industries is one of the largest precision metal products manufacturers in the region. Founded in 1968 and employing over 275 staff members, the Des Plaines, Illinois-based company combines manufacturing expertise with innovative technology including laser welding cells and robotic assemblies. Nu-Way creates end-to-end solutions for customers across all economic sectors, from heavy-duty enclosures to intricate components and interactive displays. The company helps customers succeed through agility, proven quality, and a vision for the future of manufacturing, demonstrating continuous innovation in precision metal fabrication.