Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies

Jason Jones, co-founder and CEO of Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies, leads with visionary innovation and relentless curiosity. He and his team pioneered hybrid additive manufacturing by fusing 3D printing with CNC milling. Initially this was achieved by securing millions in research grants and then by establishing patent coverage around the globe. Since then, his focus turned to empowering industry giants, such as GE, which achieved the first certified jet engine component repair by leveraging this combined technology.

In an interview with CIOReview, Jones discussed his journey into manufacturing and the challenges of balancing legacy equipment with new technologies.

Hybrid Innovation Rooted in Manufacturing Experience

My journey into manufacturing began long before my formal career. I started by building things from wood, model making, and learning how components fit together. I took a part-time job as a machinist to help fund my undergraduate engineering degree, and those two worlds shaped everything that followed.

As I progressed, I moved from manufacturing to design. Having firsthand experience with manufacturing limitations allowed me to design in ways that leveraged those processes. I later worked with a large industrial equipment distributor before transitioning into research, where 3D printing became my primary focus. Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies was spin-out from my research nearly 15 years ago.

Quality as the Non-Negotiable Foundation

In manufacturing, innovation, speed and reliability all matter. However, quality comes first. You must at least match, and ideally exceed, the quality of current accepted practices. Compromising on quality isn't an option. It’s the foundation upon which all other advancements must align. If quality falls short, adoption becomes extremely difficult.

When translating engineering solutions to customers, clarity is the key. Rather than simply explaining the technology, we distill innovations into a small set of clear outcomes: cost, time, quality, and safety. This approach ensures that customers understand the value, and they stay motivated to embrace the changes associated with adopting new manufacturing techniques.

Balancing Legacy Systems with Modern Innovation

Equipment-based businesses have a unique duality. Companies operate high-value equipment that often runs for 15 to 20 years, but new technologies continue to emerge that promise better capability, efficiency and insight.

You need a strategy that supports existing capital while also enabling access to new capabilities. This dual thinking is rare and particularly challenging in advanced manufacturing, where refresh cycles for equipment are long, and capital investment decisions carry significant weight.

We are actively augmenting existing metal cutting and metal working equipment with advanced capabilities that go far beyond their original design. This approach allows us to strike a balance between maintaining current equipment fleets and gaining the benefits of modern technology. By enhancing existing machines, we can extract data, enable automation and integrate intelligent tools without requiring full replacement. This optimized path allows manufacturers to advance faster while avoiding the cost and disruption of significant capital investments.

Mastering Adaptability and Strategic Scaling

Looking ahead three to five years, adaptability will be the defining skill for manufacturers. The ability to quickly adopt new techniques and integrate them into workflows is essential.

Equally important is the ability to think at multiple scales simultaneously— managing the big operational picture while leveraging targeted, small-scale advantages. That ability to operate across various scales and manage the balance between existing and new capital will become increasingly critical.

Advice for Building Resilient Manufacturing Systems

In manufacturing, success relies on viewing the system as a group of equipment that must function seamlessly together. My advice is to take a holistic approach. Understand how each component interacts, anticipate integration challenges and simplify outcomes. Thoughtful integration builds stronger, more resilient systems. With the right strategy this can be done cost-effectively and does not need to be put off until a large budget is secured.

I am also optimistic about where the industry is headed. We are entering a golden age of manufacturing, driven by data and real-time responsiveness. The changes over the next couple of decades will be significant.