diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-coverage.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-coverage.yml
index adc1abc..7f01650 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-coverage.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-coverage.yml
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ on:
         description: "Whether to set up MLIR"
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      mlir-assertions:
+        description: "Whether the MLIR SDK should retain assertions"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
       llvm-version:
         description: "The LLVM version to set up (formatted as 'major.minor.patch') or commit hash (minimum 7 characters, e.g., 'a832a52')"
         default: "21.1.8"
@@ -71,9 +75,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up MLIR
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-mlir }}
-        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@3f32263ce571a8b745068980f30f188b6e800763 # v1.4.2
+        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@dae31adab96bf01540439d2d2f8226464294f2f3
         with:
           llvm-version: ${{ inputs.llvm-version }}
+          assertions: ${{ inputs.mlir-assertions }}
 
       - name: Set up sccache
         if: ${{ inputs.use-sccache-gha }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-linter.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-linter.yml
index af76afa..d767d8e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-linter.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-linter.yml
@@ -58,6 +58,10 @@ on:
         description: "Whether to set up MLIR"
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      mlir-assertions:
+        description: "Whether the MLIR SDK should retain assertions"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
       llvm-version:
         description: "The LLVM version to set up (formatted as 'major.minor.patch') or commit hash (minimum 7 characters like 'a832a52')"
         default: "21.1.8"
@@ -101,9 +105,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up MLIR
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-mlir }}
-        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@3f32263ce571a8b745068980f30f188b6e800763 # v1.4.2
+        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@dae31adab96bf01540439d2d2f8226464294f2f3
         with:
           llvm-version: ${{ inputs.llvm-version }}
+          assertions: ${{ inputs.mlir-assertions }}
 
       - name: Set up sccache
         if: ${{ inputs.build-project && inputs.use-sccache-gha }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-macos.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-macos.yml
index 4c680f7..e3ba372 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-macos.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-macos.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ on:
         description: "Whether to set up MLIR"
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      mlir-assertions:
+        description: "Whether the MLIR SDK should retain assertions"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
       llvm-version:
         description: "The LLVM version to set up (formatted as 'major.minor.patch') or commit hash (minimum 7 characters, e.g., 'a832a52')"
         default: "21.1.8"
@@ -92,9 +96,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up MLIR
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-mlir }}
-        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@3f32263ce571a8b745068980f30f188b6e800763 # v1.4.2
+        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@dae31adab96bf01540439d2d2f8226464294f2f3
         with:
           llvm-version: ${{ inputs.llvm-version }}
+          assertions: ${{ inputs.mlir-assertions }}
 
       - name: Install the latest version of uv
         uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@20cfd1bf945f4377ade1205e4dbc17946fc9a30d # v10.0.1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-ubuntu.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-ubuntu.yml
index 1580b97..c5867bf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-ubuntu.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-ubuntu.yml
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ on:
         description: "Whether to set up MLIR"
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      mlir-assertions:
+        description: "Whether the MLIR SDK should retain assertions"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
       llvm-version:
         description: "The LLVM version to set up (formatted as 'major.minor.patch') or commit hash (minimum 7 characters, e.g., 'a832a52')"
         default: "21.1.8"
@@ -92,9 +96,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up MLIR
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-mlir }}
-        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@3f32263ce571a8b745068980f30f188b6e800763 # v1.4.2
+        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@dae31adab96bf01540439d2d2f8226464294f2f3
         with:
           llvm-version: ${{ inputs.llvm-version }}
+          assertions: ${{ inputs.mlir-assertions }}
 
       - name: Set up mold as linker
         uses: rui314/setup-mold@7e4f20ad28a2e8ca6fd0892ccf72e2abb706b9c3 # v1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-windows.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-windows.yml
index 4397d43..1738747 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-cpp-tests-windows.yml
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ on:
         description: "Whether to set up MLIR"
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      mlir-assertions:
+        description: "Whether the MLIR SDK should retain assertions"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
       llvm-version:
         description: "The LLVM version to set up (formatted as 'major.minor.patch') or commit hash (minimum 7 characters, e.g., 'a832a52')"
         default: "21.1.8"
@@ -167,9 +171,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up MLIR
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-mlir }}
-        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@3f32263ce571a8b745068980f30f188b6e800763 # v1.4.2
+        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@dae31adab96bf01540439d2d2f8226464294f2f3
         with:
           llvm-version: ${{ inputs.llvm-version }}
+          assertions: ${{ inputs.mlir-assertions }}
           debug: ${{ inputs.mlir-debug }}
 
       - name: Install the latest version of uv
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-python-linter.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-python-linter.yml
index cafbd78..0203d31 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-python-linter.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-python-linter.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ on:
         description: "Whether to set up MLIR"
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      mlir-assertions:
+        description: "Whether the MLIR SDK should retain assertions"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
       llvm-version:
         description: "The LLVM version to set up (formatted as 'major.minor.patch') or commit hash (minimum 7 characters, e.g., 'a832a52')"
         default: "21.1.8"
@@ -77,9 +81,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up MLIR
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-mlir }}
-        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@3f32263ce571a8b745068980f30f188b6e800763 # v1.4.2
+        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@dae31adab96bf01540439d2d2f8226464294f2f3
         with:
           llvm-version: ${{ inputs.llvm-version }}
+          assertions: ${{ inputs.mlir-assertions }}
 
       - name: Install the latest version of uv
         uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@20cfd1bf945f4377ade1205e4dbc17946fc9a30d # v10.0.1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-python-packaging-wheel-cibuildwheel.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-python-packaging-wheel-cibuildwheel.yml
index 99452b8..8d0b435 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-python-packaging-wheel-cibuildwheel.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-python-packaging-wheel-cibuildwheel.yml
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ on:
         description: "The runner image to test on"
         default: "ubuntu-24.04"
         type: string
+      use-sccache-gha:
+        description: "Whether to use sccache with the GitHub Actions cache backend"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
       setup-z3:
         description: "Whether to set up Z3"
         default: false
@@ -27,6 +31,14 @@ on:
         description: "Whether to set up MLIR"
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      mlir-assertions:
+        description: "Whether the MLIR SDK should retain assertions"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
+      xcode-version:
+        description: "Exact Xcode version for macOS wheel builds; empty uses the runner default"
+        default: ""
+        type: string
       llvm-version:
         description: "The LLVM version to set up (formatted as 'major.minor.patch') or commit hash (minimum 7 characters, e.g., 'a832a52')"
         default: "21.1.8"
@@ -54,6 +66,11 @@ jobs:
     name: 🎡 ${{ inputs.runs-on }}
     runs-on: ${{ inputs.runs-on }}
     env:
+      CMAKE_C_COMPILER_LAUNCHER: sccache
+      CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_LAUNCHER: sccache
+      SCCACHE_GHA_ENABLED: ${{ inputs.use-sccache-gha }}
+      SCCACHE_IDLE_TIMEOUT: 0
+      SCCACHE_GHA_RW_MODE: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' && 'READ_WRITE' || 'READ_ONLY' }}
       IQM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.IQM_TOKEN }}
       IQM_QC_ALIAS: ${{ secrets.IQM_QC_ALIAS }}
       AWS_S3_BUCKET: ${{ secrets.AWS_S3_BUCKET }}
@@ -66,6 +83,15 @@ jobs:
           fetch-depth: 0
           persist-credentials: false
 
+      - name: Select Xcode
+        if: ${{ startsWith(inputs.runs-on, 'macos') && inputs.xcode-version != '' }}
+        env:
+          XCODE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.xcode-version }}
+        run: |
+          developer_dir="/Applications/Xcode_${XCODE_VERSION}.app/Contents/Developer"
+          test -d "$developer_dir"
+          echo "DEVELOPER_DIR=$developer_dir" >> "$GITHUB_ENV"
+
       - name: Set up Z3
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-z3 && !startsWith(inputs.runs-on, 'ubuntu') }}
         uses: cda-tum/setup-z3@0401375ea1e34d77ef35bbeb634f6203f3bcde60 # v1.7.3
@@ -74,9 +100,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up MLIR
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-mlir && !startsWith(inputs.runs-on, 'ubuntu') }}
-        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@3f32263ce571a8b745068980f30f188b6e800763 # v1.4.2
+        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@dae31adab96bf01540439d2d2f8226464294f2f3
         with:
           llvm-version: ${{ inputs.llvm-version }}
+          assertions: ${{ inputs.mlir-assertions }}
 
       - name: Install the latest version of uv
         uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@20cfd1bf945f4377ade1205e4dbc17946fc9a30d # v10.0.1
@@ -84,10 +111,8 @@ jobs:
           enable-cache: ${{ !startsWith(inputs.runs-on, 'ubuntu') }}
           save-cache: ${{ github.ref == 'refs/heads/main' }}
 
-      # set up sccache for faster builds (non-Ubuntu only)
-      - name: Install sccache
-        if: ${{ !startsWith(inputs.runs-on, 'ubuntu') }}
-        run: uv tool install sccache
+      - name: Set up sccache
+        uses: mozilla-actions/sccache-action@fc920bf0ec8de6ee65d409111f7ec508035751ba # v0.0.11
 
       # run cibuildwheel to build wheels for the specified Python version
       - uses: pypa/cibuildwheel@1828c10ab37f080699c7b81cea34097c684a7074 # v4.2.0
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-python-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-python-tests.yml
index 68f16fc..885c198 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-python-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-python-tests.yml
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ on:
         description: "Whether to set up MLIR"
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      mlir-assertions:
+        description: "Whether the MLIR SDK should retain assertions"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
       llvm-version:
         description: "The LLVM version to set up (formatted as 'major.minor.patch') or commit hash (minimum 7 characters, e.g., 'a832a52')"
         default: "21.1.8"
@@ -183,9 +187,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up MLIR
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-mlir }}
-        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@3f32263ce571a8b745068980f30f188b6e800763 # v1.4.2
+        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@dae31adab96bf01540439d2d2f8226464294f2f3
         with:
           llvm-version: ${{ inputs.llvm-version }}
+          assertions: ${{ inputs.mlir-assertions }}
 
       - name: Set up mold as linker (Linux only)
         uses: rui314/setup-mold@7e4f20ad28a2e8ca6fd0892ccf72e2abb706b9c3 # v1
diff --git a/.github/workflows/reusable-qiskit-upstream-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/reusable-qiskit-upstream-tests.yml
index b74d8ff..ce3f51e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/reusable-qiskit-upstream-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/reusable-qiskit-upstream-tests.yml
@@ -26,6 +26,10 @@ on:
         description: "Whether to set up MLIR"
         default: false
         type: boolean
+      mlir-assertions:
+        description: "Whether the MLIR SDK should retain assertions"
+        default: true
+        type: boolean
       llvm-version:
         description: "The LLVM version to set up (formatted as 'major.minor.patch') or commit hash (minimum 7 characters, e.g., 'a832a52')"
         default: "21.1.8"
@@ -65,9 +69,10 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Set up MLIR
         if: ${{ inputs.setup-mlir }}
-        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@3f32263ce571a8b745068980f30f188b6e800763 # v1.4.2
+        uses: munich-quantum-software/setup-mlir@dae31adab96bf01540439d2d2f8226464294f2f3
         with:
           llvm-version: ${{ inputs.llvm-version }}
+          assertions: ${{ inputs.mlir-assertions }}
 
       - name: Set up mold as linker
         uses: rui314/setup-mold@7e4f20ad28a2e8ca6fd0892ccf72e2abb706b9c3 # v1