The Best Manufacturing Practices (BMP) Program continually explores new ideas and networks with professionals from other industries to solve manufacturing problems in its mission to make the U.S. industrial base more competitive. The SME Collaborate 2006 Conference offered a forum to support this purpose by fostering formal collaboration between automotive, aerospace, and defense manufacturers. The October 10-12 event, held in Huntsville, Alabama, was attended by industry leaders and innovators who shared best practices and discussed new technology applications and processes. BMP representatives exchanged information with other attendees about BMP’s Best Practices resource and the on-site BMP Survey process. Attendees toured Siemans VDO Automotive Electronics, J.I.T. Services, Inc., and the Boeing-Delta Launch Vehicle factory. The conference also provided cross-industry networking opportunities for attendees and dynamic presentations and keynote panel discussions that focused on technology advancements for the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries; case studies and tools; machining technology advancements; the value of lean manufacturing; rapid prototyping; additive manufacturing; life cycle management; and Toyota Kaizen events. Attendees also viewed automotive, aerospace, and defense exhibits. BMP congratulates Collaborate 2006 for being the first event of its kind.