Contact us to apply to speak!
2023 now agenda available! Contact us to review agenda.
We are always looking for inspiring stories of tech-led innovation!
If you are interested in sharing your experience with other manufacturers please contact us.
Before the pandemic, most manufacturers could focus primarily on market growth, and now the focus for many is how to address supply chain problems, raw material shortages and the broken components of logistics.
Join and gain immense insights from this data analytics leader, responsible for driving operational efficiencies within ABB’s manufacturing plant and supply chain, as well as solving customers’ challenges. Hear the latest on how to leverage data and analytics when tackling the supply chain issue, discover which partners you need to help with inventory management and planning, and how to transform teams and processes.
Meet to hear different perspectives from those who have done it already, and those who have helped them, as they address the important ‘Ps’ to help you get started with tech-led smart manufacturing, or to help reevaluate, your digital transformation strategies.
Questions to be answered include…
PEOPLE: How to address labor shortages, and build the right teams? Which roles should collaborate to ensure implementation does not fail
PLAN: Where do you start? And how do you win over skeptics to gain buy-in? Why is automation investment crucial now more than ever?
PROCESSES: How do you get your ERP, MES, and PLM seamlessly communicating? How do you automate business processes for more seamless change management?
PARTNERS: How do you ensure you choose a vendor that suits you? Which platforms, tools, systems, etc. work together well and can scale?
This panel brings together large, medium, and small-sized manufacturers to focus on how to get started with digitalization. Hear stories on how manufacturers took their first steps away from manual, pen and paper, analog management, and implemented real-time digital tools and leveraged the power of data.
Panelists discuss where they drew inspiration for digital transformation and what they learned along the way. Take away lessons in:
• Gaining buy-in for digital initiatives.
• How to run pilots while avoiding downtime and avoid purgatory.
• Coaching, and getting people behind new technology.
• How to coordinate across different teams and plants, without stunting creativity.
• The technologies they started with, and initial results.
• Where they are today, and where they want to be.
Join this large, global manufacturer to understand what the later steps of digital transformation can bring. Understand how data is enabling manufacturers to deliver the service, not just the product.
Begin by exploring the term ‘Servitization’. And get details of what IoT has allowed manufacturers' suite of products and services?
Dig deep into how to leverage the data yielded from 5G connectivity and IoT to create end-to-end experiences e.g., customization, upgrades, repairs, platforms, and user communities.
Join to hear this digitalization journey within Boeing; discover the steps and sore points of going from a whiteboard to company standard.
See the full lifecycle of removing a paper chain to creating a full digital kit, cutting down administration time and utilizing data effectively. Hear how to get business buy-in, what it involves when taking plans from the factory floor to IT adoption.
Digitalization of manufacturing operations is and will continue to be a top priority in coming years for most of manufacturing organizations. The traditional path with silos of multiple solutions and application stacked in different parts of the business poses multiple challenges. Challenge examples include – higher time to deploy, innovation cost, and overall achievement of potential of benefits. To achieve the transformation goals and speed up incremental benefits achievements, it is:
• Critical to have one integrated data flow from initial Product Design through Planning and Manufacturing and Delivery including all Operational processes that support each phase.
• Important to also have integrated processes that span across business functions from the design in an engineering department, to production on the shopfloor, on-time logistics/traceable material flow and finally maintenance and service operations – until an asset is sunset as a single digital thread.
• Key to enable these processes work on common taxonomy to achieve a cohesive approach to production and intralogistics processes, while also empowering workers for better productivity through bi-directional machine to machine, person to person and machine to person connectivity.
In this session, you hear examples of companies who have enabled factory and plant process transformations at enterprise scale with an approach towards Industry 4.0 best practices. This comprehensive, yet simple approach helps mitigate innovation challenges for customers looking to reinvent production, intralogistics, quality, maintenance, and service processes to build the journey toward Intelligent factory and plants and to embark on journey which creates a competitive advantage, increases productivity, and – ultimately – improves business performance.
The digital transformation of business has a huge impact on IT, and often barriers are faced when it comes to IT integration. IT/OT Convergence is the biggest pain point for manufacturers as they digitalize and embrace Industry 4.0. Tying together teams, solutions, partners, and infrastructure components, requires a lot of analysis around better ways of working.
In this session we will take a high-level view of Business Agility and the concept of migrating from a Project Mindset to a Product Mindset. Business Agility is the ability to compete and thrive in the digital age by quickly responding to market changes and emerging opportunities with innovative, digitally enabled business solutions. We will look at balancing our transformation from Projects to Products, focusing on types of teams, work, and people. The goal is to give you a starting point for each of the important concepts to help you in your specific journey.
When and how do you decide to take the leap with a technology investment? Join Eric Borowicz, General Manager of AFL Accessories in South Carolina, to understand the complexities of a build to order job shop, and which technologies are helping to assist systems, and bring time and cost savings. Benefit from a 360 view of the delivery and implementation of a new technology investment. And then, gain real life examples of the advantages brought to the operations of a ‘spaghetti shop’, and a view of the new possibilities automated processes bring to customer service.
To get true ROI from your technology investment, you need to take your people with you and gain buy-in at all levels. However, this is much easier said than done, especially in a time of labor shortages and skills gaps.
This broad range of panelists bring a mix of perspectives and tips on people management, answering questions and discussing:
• What does Manufacturing X.0 management look like? Coaching and leading through change.
• Which do core competencies are required in the digital age, and how do you train, and assess?
• What is the best way to fill a skills gap- do you build your own ‘digital brain’ or outsource?
• Steps to inclusive recruitment and diverse teams.
This session will consist of 3 x 10-minute pitch-style presentations focused on how new, innovative vendors’ products or platforms are bringing savings and efficiencies, followed by comments and questions from our judging board, and audience vote.
The winner will be announced at the beginning of Day 2 of the conference.
• 4.50 pm – Judge’s Intro
• 4.55 – 5.05 pm PITCH 1: CHRISTOPHER LEWIS, SENIOR DIRECTOR, SOLUTION CONSULTING, INFOR
5.05 – 5.10 pm Judges’ Q&A
• 5.10 – 5.20 pm PITCH 2: AMANDA DOTTEN, SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, SYMPHONY INDUSTRIAL AI
5.20 – 5.25 pm Judges’ Q&A
• 5.25 – 5.35 pm PITCH 3: JASON ADAIR, VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES, AIRGAP NETWORKS INC.
5.35 – 5.40 pm Judges’ Q&A
Transforming operations and augmenting human capabilities to drive scalable value. There can be no success without a vision. Join Peggy Gulick, a renowned smart factory leader as she shares her invaluable insights on:
• There can be no success without a vision
⦾ Evolution vs revolution
⦾ Rethinking how we work
• Culture eats strategy for breakfast and technology for lunch
⦾ Continuous Innovation, the new continuous improvement
• When you have the ideas, but the plants have the money
• Millennials, meet the Gen Z workforce
⦾ Upskilling for factory of the future
Learn about the history of 3D model-based engineering (MBE), which some years ago fostered the creation of the Digital Thread and enabled improved integration between engineering, manufacturing, suppliers, and sustainment. Gain further knowledge of the plethora of advanced manufacturing technologies such as automation, optical projection, and non-contact metrology.
Then examine Digital Twins, a close relative of the digital thread, and how the digital representations of physical or virtual assets engendered the use of modeling and simulation to reduce the cost and span for product development and testing.
Analyze how together these technologies comprise Digital Transformation, focused on increasing enterprise speed, agility, insight, and competitiveness, and what distinct advantages they can bring to your business.
Join this session and leave with key takeaways in:
1. Defining the OT, IoT, IIoT, XIoT and why securing it is critical to the uptime and safety of your OT environment.
2. Best practices for getting started with an XIoT asset visibility program.
3. Common pitfalls other manufacturing teams have faced in their journey to gaining visibility into the XIoT, and how you can avoid them.
4. Next steps in the journey to securing the XIoT once you gain visibility.
5. How to measure the success of your XIoT visibility program.
• Hear how regional bodies can support manufacturers’ plans to advance their manufacturing processes and people through technology investment.
• Learn the moves being taken to overcome labor shortages, attract and upskill talent and investment in South Carolina.
• Dig into the resources available for small and midsize industrial producers.
• Ask your questions directly to the panel, to pinpoint how local partners can back your business goals and lower the risk of your investment.
The use of mixed reality in manufacturing has become more and more prevalent in production and design, and now XR tools are starting to transform the industrial workforce training and development, driven undoubtedly in part by the widespread shift to work from home policies. Join this expert to determine how XR training can help you overcome the challenges of a retiring workforce, the skills gap, and safety concerns when returning to the plant and office.
Work with fellow manufacturing attendees, share ideas, challenge ideas, and have fun!
• Join one of three groups.
• 60 minute engaging and interactive sessions.
• Discussion is led and facilitated by subject experts.
• Summarize the key conclusions you will take back to the office.
Group discussion centered around:
1. What did you come to learn at the conference?
2. Where are you up to in your digital transformation journey, and did you have a specific problem to solve?
3. Which application of Industry 4.0 impressed you the most? Why?
4. What is one discovery from the conference that you will be taking back to your company that will be a quick win to improve business results?
5. Who have you met at the conference that you will reach out to after the conference? And for what purpose?
We are now placing speakers for the September 2024 agenda.
If you are interested in sharing your experience with other manufacturers please contact us.
*Manufacturer Passes are awarded at the discretion of LCA Content & Events. Manufacturer Passes are available for approved manufacturers now using, purchasing or exploring technology solutions and working within a manufacturing company in roles including Continuous Improvement, Data Analytics & Science, Digital Transformation, Engineering, Field Services, HR, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation , IT, Manufacturing Operations, Plant Facilities & Management, Procurement, Product Development, R&D, Security, Technology Development, Supply Chain & Logistics. A LinkedIn profile URL or business card are required to register for the Manufacturer Pass. Those working within Marketing, Sales, Account Management, PR and other client facing roles are required to purchase the Solution Partner Pass.Academic/ Association/Not-for-Profit organization complimentary passes are also awarded at the discretion of LCA Content & Events.We thank you for your understanding and cooperation and if you have any questions please email info@mx0events.com
Contact us to apply to speak!
Bio Coming Soon...
VP Advanced
Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement, Energy |
KOHLER Co.
Bio Coming Soon...
Brian Perlstein is the Digital Manufacturing Innovation Leader at Owens Corning, a world leader in insulation, roofing, and fiberglass composites. He is a member of Owens Corning’s Manufacturing Digital Transformation organization focused on identifying and deploying solutions that help drive operational transformation in the manufacturing environment.
Perlstein was appointed to his current role in 2022. With Owens Corning since 2018, Perlstein has worked to advance its digital transformation, leading programs such as the Early Warning Diagnostics process health program, and a strategic initiative to safely empower its workforce with information, knowledge, and expertise by making digital information more accessible through a variety of technologies and approaches.
Prior to joining Owens Corning, Perlstein held various roles, including Director of GE Digital’s Brilliant Factory Digital Lab, that helped to shape his knowledge and thought leadership in the Industry 4.x/ Smart Manufacturing space.
He earned two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Michigan - Dearborn, and a master’s certificate in lean manufacturing from the University of Michigan.
Digital Manufacturing Innovation Leader |
OWENS CORNING
Sarah Morgan is currently Director Digital Supply Chain Kellogg North America, driving strategy and execution of digital transformation across manufacturing. She has over 25 years of experience with roles in IT, engineering and operations leading teams to develop and deploy technology solutions supporting operations and coaching the work systems to support adoption. Prior to Kellogg, she worked in the healthcare industry digitally transforming patient records.
Sarah is passionate about championing women in tech and has served as a mentor for NextUp, judge for Society of Women Engineers scholarships, and is an active BERG community partner for Women of Kellanova+.
Sarah studied Business Management at Concordia University and holds certification in Design Thinking from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, and in Health Informatics from ASHIM.
Director Digital Supply Chain |
KELLANOVA NORTH AMERICA
With over 20 years of manufacturing transformation experience in Electronic Solutions, Medical Device, and Aerospace & Defense industries, Tony leads Enterprise Architecture Strategy for Industry 4.0 at Koch Industries. During his tenure at Koch and Molex, Tony has established cutting edge smart manufacturing, operational excellence, and digital supply chain capabilities in more than 20 manufacturing sites, spanning across 12 countries.
Embracing Agile Methodologies in a VUCA environment, Tony has been able to establish the latest in modern MES/MOM, IIOT, Unified Namespace, Industrial Data Fabric, Digital Worker, and Advanced Analytics (ML/AI) Technologies.
He holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Iowa State University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University.
Enterprise Architecture Strategist, Industry 4.0 |
KOCH INDUSTRIES
Susan Murray Carlock serves as Executive Vice President for Yorktown, IN-based Mursix Corporation, a leading supplier of precision components to the automotive, alternative energy, medical, appliance, security, and other markets. Ms. Carlock is responsible for developing new business opportunities and partner relationships in both domestic and international markets. Pivot Manufacturing was founded in 2020 and works with entrepreneurs in R&D and prototyping for manufacturability.
With thirty years of business experience in medicine, human resources, corporate relations, safety/risk management, and new business development, Ms. Carlock has served in various positions with Mursix Corporation and other business entities in Indiana. Upon joining Mursix in 2011, she was responsible for designing and implementing the company’s Defined Contribution Benefits Program, which has successfully provided Mursix employees with expanded healthcare benefit choices and helped to control the company’s escalating healthcare costs. As Vice President of Business Development, she re-engineered the company’s sales effort to better position the company to diversify its customer base and capitalize on its position in the growing vehicle electrification segment.
Before joining Mursix, Ms. Carlock served in various positions in various business segments and has entrepreneurial experience by assisting in the start-up of a hospital staffing company. She holds a B.S. from Marian University and is also a Registered Nurse. She serves on the board of Conexus Indiana, is vice chair of the Conexus Indiana Advanced Industries Council, Chairperson of the Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Board of Advisors, and serves on the Board of Advisors for Marian University’s Logistics and Supply Chain Management program, a division of the Byrum School of Business. Ms. Carlock is also a Women in Manufacturing and the PMA Press Club member and is active in various civic and economic development activities in Marion, Hamilton, and Delaware Counties.
Executive Vice
President |
MURSIX CORPORATION
Nate Settlemire has experience leading several areas in manufacturing. Including organizations Bosch Rexroth, Parker Hannifin, and Charter Manufacturing. Holding various Engineering, Quality, Digital, and Operations roles. Throughout his career he has led the initiatives to enable business strategy using technology. Areas of focus have been in PLM, Simulation, Predictive Maintenance, Automation, and Robotics.
In his current role as Director of Digital Transformation at Charter Manufacturing, he continues to advance business strategy through technology by developing internal and external partnerships. Nate has partnered across business units and functions including operations, quality, commercial, and supply chain, to infuse innovative and transformative solutions into the organization.
Nate has a bachelor’s degree in Electro-Mechanical Engineering from Miami University, and a Professional MBA from Ohio University. He is passionate about advancing technology in manufacturing, learning from others in this area and being a mentor to those seeking knowledge about it.
Director of Digital
Transformation |
CHARTER
MANUFACTURING
Devin is the Founder and CEO of Squint, the leading platform for digitizing a factory's procedures using Augmented Reality (AR) on a mobile device. The Squint team is laser-focused on eliminating friction in training, operations, and maintenance on the shop floor.
Founder & CEO |
SQUINT
Brian Marsh is a Digital Technology and Manufacturing Transformation Leader who works within CPG Food Companies to implement technologies in cooperation with teams implementing TPM lean principles in manufacturing. He has over 25 years working for two large food manufacturing companies and knows what truly drives manufacturing transformation. “Installing the technology is the easy part. The challenging part is transforming the factory workforce in unison. Success is measure in how well you connect with the people on the factory floor that you are trying to help and being able transform their ways of working to improve performance in the factory. That is what makes a transformation truly successful and sustainable.”
Brian is often found moderating discussions between Operation Technology Engineers (OT), Information Technology Professional (IT), and Lean Manufacturing (TPM) teams due to his diverse technical and manufacturing background. Currently he holds the role as “Senior Director, Digital Manufacturing” for Nestlé USA and leads a team of technical professionals implementing digital transformation tools and methodologies for their manufacturing facilities. He received his BS in computer science from the University of Nebraska and attended Iowa State University for Electrical Engineering. In his spare time, he enjoys doing home improvement projects and spending time with his wife and two children who are highly involved with youth-robotics-leagues.
Senior Director, Digital
Manufacturing |
NESTLE USA
Brad Bishop leads the Smart Connected Factory Program for John Deere. In his 17 years in the industry, Brad has held numerous roles in manufacturing engineering, quality engineering, material flow operations, and manufacturing operations. John Deere is a world leader in agriculture, forestry, and roadbuilding equipment with over 80,000 employees worldwide. For 185 years, John Deere has led the way in developing innovative solutions to help customers become more productive.
In his current role, Brad leads the Smart Connected Factory Program across the eight divisions of John Deere spanning 62 factory locations worldwide. The program is focused on developing and introducing technology in meaningful ways to connect factory assets, turn data to insights, and drive more productive manufacturing operations.
Smart Connected Factory
Program Lead |
JOHN DEERE
Gustavo Chohfi is the Vice President of Quality Assurance for Cornerstone Building Brands which is the largest manufacturer of exterior building products in North America.
He brings 22 years of industry experience including; leading operations, quality, manufacturing, product development, and six sigma teams for global leaders such as Whirlpool, Bosch and Siemens Home Appliances and Shark Ninja.
VP of Quality
Assurance &
Continuous
Improvement |
CORNERSTONE
BUILDING
BRANDS
Jeff Winter is one of the top Industry 4.0 thought leaders and influencers helping manufacturers digitally transform their business at scale. With over 17 years of experience working for different industrial automation product and solution providers, Jeff has a unique ability to simplify and communicate complex concepts to a wide range of audiences, educating and inspiring people from the shop floor up to the executive board room. As part of his experience, Jeff is also very active in the community of Industry 4.0. He currently is a part of the International Board of Directors for MESA (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association), the leader of the Smart Manufacturing & IIoT Division of ISA (International Society of Automation), a U.S. registered expert for IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) as a member of TC 65, and is on the Smart Manufacturing Advisory Board for Purdue University.
Director, Smart
Manufacturing |
INTERNATIONAL
SOCIETY OF
AUTOMATION