Fuji America Corporation will present at the upcoming SMTA STAR Forum, taking place July 15–16, 2026 at the Embassy Suites Kansas City Olathe in Olathe. Chris Dayney, Technical Marketing Manager at Fuji America Corporation, will deliver the presentation titled “The Evolution of Factories: 1.0 to 4.0 and the Smart Factory” on Thursday, July 16 at 3:15 p.m.
Hosted by SMTA, the STAR Forum (Strategic Technology Advancement Research) brings together industry professionals to explore critical topics at the intersection of trade, research, and technology. The 2026 program will address advancements in electronics manufacturing, artificial intelligence, automation, supply chain resilience, and sustainable global trade practices.
Dayney’s presentation will examine the transformation of manufacturing from early mechanization through today’s connected, data-driven smart factories. Attendees will gain insight into how Industry 4.0 technologies—including automation, digitalization, and intelligent systems—are reshaping production environments to improve efficiency, flexibility, and quality.
“Understanding how factories have evolved provides important context for where manufacturing is headed,” said Dayney. “Smart factory initiatives are no longer theoretical—they are actively driving improvements in productivity, traceability, and decision-making across the electronics industry.”
The session will highlight practical considerations for implementing smart factory strategies, including integration challenges, data utilization, and aligning technology investments with business goals.
The STAR Forum offers a collaborative environment for sharing knowledge and addressing emerging challenges in global manufacturing and trade. Fuji America’s participation underscores its ongoing commitment to advancing innovation and supporting customers in navigating the next generation of manufacturing technologies.
About Fuji America Corporation
Fuji America Corporation is a recognized leader in SMT pick and place solutions and smart factory automation. The company is committed to advancing modern manufacturing through high speed, high precision placement machines and intelligent software. With decades of innovation in vision processing and part recognition, Fuji’s robotic electronic component mounters continue to set industry standards for quality, performance, and reliability.
Website: www.fujiamerica.com
FUJI SMT Website: https://smt.fuji.co.jp/en
