Conference Sessions

Schedule subject to change. Please check back for additional updates.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

8:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Plant Tour

Take advantage of this unique opportunity to observe award-winning automotive assembly in action! 

Tours of SIA highlight the Stamping processes, where you will observe giant presses turning raw coils of steel into the vehicle's metal structure. From there, you will see these panels expertly welded together by over 1,671 robots in our Body Assembly area. Following the Paint Shop, you will see Associates bring the vehicles to life as they assemble over 2,000 parts into and onto each vehicle in Trim and Final. Finally, viewing our Tester Line will prove our commitment to quality and safety. Ultimately, you will see what makes a Subaru a Subaru.

8:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Plant Tour

See how Allison Transmission, a more than century-old company, is transforming itself into the market leader for hybrid and electric powertrain systems for commercial trucks in buses.  

Allison Transmission is the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and is a leader in hybrid-propulsion systems for city buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications, including refuse, construction, fire, distribution, bus, motorhomes, defense and energy. Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. With a market presence in more than 80 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil as well as manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Hungary and India.

11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Workshops & Solution Spotlights

COO Forum® panel members will discuss the challenges and opportunities for current and aspiring COOs in today's business environment filled with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA). You will hear how seasoned executives are dealing with these challenges both personally and professionally, as well as how they are addressing these challenges within their organization. You will walk away with fresh insights and actionable steps you can immediately put to use within your own careers and companies

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM
Plant Tour

Witness how Endress+Hauser USA manufactures flowmeters with a focus on ethically sourced materials, strict quality control and a consistent focus on efficiencies. Observe their use of cutting-edge robotics technology to support operators with the assembly process.

See how the process of flowmeter assembly begins with the materials we use. Quality control and our sourcing quality policy ensure that we only use ethically sourced materials. Our inbound freight team receives, inspects, and places into stock materials used in the production of flowmeters. Throughout the assembly process, quality control measures are upheld to ensure the efficiency and quality of our process.

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM
Workshops & Solution Spotlights

Process intelligence gives you a living digital twin of your business processes, end-to-end. For the first time, everyone has a common language for how your business is running, visibility into where value is hiding, and the ability to capture it. 
In this session, Manufacturing leaders will learn the basics of process intelligence and see real-life examples of how leading organizations are using it to beat disruption, improve margins, and boost productivity and efficiency levels.

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM
Workshops & Solution Spotlights

In this workshop, we'll delve into proven methodologies and best practices that empower manufacturers to optimize workforce management, enhance employee experiences, and drive innovation. From identifying skill gaps to maximizing productivity and prioritizing worker well-being, you'll gain actionable insights to elevate your operations and stay ahead in a competitive market.

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM
Workshops & Solution Spotlights

These in-depth, hands-on sessions will illustrate how select solutions providers are solving challenges for customers just like you. They’ve each passed IndustryWeek’s strict editorial guidelines to ensure there’s valuable content in each specific session. Check back soon for more information.

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM
Workshops & Solution Spotlights

Today’s manufacturers understand the urgency to improve digital and analytics maturity by balancing operational modernization and resilience. A quick way to respond to this need is by integrating lean and technology deployment to ramp up operational efficiencies, uncover opportunities, and mitigate risk.

4:45 PM - 5:30 PM
 

Join us for an Opening Night Reception where we’ll toast the launch of the event, set the lens for what we’re here to achieve, and network in a way that creates important connections. Welcome to the Summit!

 

Thursday, June 27, 2024

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
 

Check-in or register, grab a cup of coffee, visit with our solutions providers, and get ready for a day full of information-sharing.  The Summit is a must-attend for anyone responsible and accountable for manufacturing operations!

 
 
 
9:00 AM - 9:05 AM
 

Join IndustryWeek's Editor-In-Chief Robert Schoenberger as he welcomes us, sets the lens for the Summit, and kicks off 36 hours of "Get It Done".

Robert Schoenberger

 
9:05 AM - 9:50 AM
Keynote

Brett Wood, Toyota Material Handling North America's President & CEO, enlightens the audience on Genchi Genbutsu – the Japanese principle of firsthand observation – and shares vital leadership advice that has fueled his success.

Brett Wood

Sponsored by: 

Indiana Ballroom (E,F,G)
10:10 AM - 10:50 AM
General Session

Surveys show recruiting new employees has been the No. 1 challenge for manufacturers across the country, with many saying they’re losing out on growth opportunities...

Nicole Otte
 
Indiana Ballroom (E,F,G)
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
General Session

Learn from the best! Attend this session to hear directly from past and present winners of the IndustryWeek Best Plants Awards competition...

Jill Jusko Tom Lego Aaron Christ Tony Topencik Ben Johnson
 
Indiana Ballroom (E,F,G)
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
 

Roundtables are structured, moderated discussions between you and your manufacturing peers. When you register, select the topics that are most important to you and then on-site you'll be seated with other Operations professionals you can help, and who can help you! 

 
 
 
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Continuous Improvement Track

What is a business excellence system, and how can it improve manufacturing operations...

Eric Lussier David Higgs
 
Kentucky
Technology Adoption Track

In this presentation, hear how Sean O'Meara's Girtz Industries is starting to use artificial intelligence to cut down on paperwork.

Sean O'Meara
 
Tennessee
1:35 PM - 2:05 PM
Continuous Improvement Track

As manufacturing companies grow and expand into multiple facilities and locations, complexity increases, communication becomes more challenging...

Randy Morehouse Gene Mussel
 
Kentucky
Technology Adoption Track

How Ford is leveraging real-time vision detection systems and artificial intelligence to improve manufacturing quality.

Jason Ryska
 
Tennessee
2:10 PM - 2:40 PM
Continuous Improvement Track

IndustryWeek’s Jill Jusko will interview a panel of presenters for a more in-depth discussion about how to create a continuous improvement culture...

Jill Jusko David Higgs Eric Lussier Gene Mussel Randy Morehouse
 
Kentucky
Technology Adoption Track

Join IndustryWeek’s Scott Achelpohl as he interviews presenters who are successfully leveraging AI for their operations.  A Q&A will follow to get your specific AI-questions answered!

Scott Achelpohl Jason Ryska Sean O'Meara
 
Tennessee
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Continuous Improvement Track

Unlock the full potential of your operations team with continuous improvement strategies aimed at talent optimization. We'll explore how a strategic focus on talent development...

Sarah Tilkens
 
Kentucky
Technology Adoption Track

Getting the most out of industrial data requires a solid strategy, not a piece-meal approach...

John Harrington Joshua Pomeroy

Tennessee
3:35 PM - 4:05 PM
Continuous Improvement Track

Now that you are making progress, how do you make it stick? This session will discuss how to maintain and sustain your lean successes…

Carl Livesay David Rizzardo
 
Kentucky
Technology Adoption Track
 
Craig Zehrung Drew Patel
 
Tennessee
4:10 PM - 4:40 PM
Continuous Improvement Track

Join IndustryWeek’s Robert Schoenberger as he interviews Sarah Tilken of GE Healthcare and Carl Livesay from Mercury Plastics to gain their insights on the importance on talent optimization…

Robert Schoenberger Sarah Tilkens Carl Livesay
 
Kentucky
Technology Adoption Track

Tracking every piece of equipment in a factory and every task performed can give manufacturers granular levels of detail on how things are going...

Scott Achelpohl Josh Renicker
 
Tennessee
4:45 PM - 5:30 PM
Roundtables

Roundtables are structured, moderated discussions between you and your manufacturing peers. When you register, select the topics that are most important to you and then on-site you'll be seated with other Operations professionals you can help, and who can help you! 

 
 
 
5:30 PM - 6:15 PM
 

It's been a day of learning best practices from IW Best Plant winners, understanding how AI is improving operations, and getting your questions answered in the Q&A's. You've surely earned the opportunity to share your thoughts and insights with others including the vendor partners over a libation at the afternoon reception.

 
 
 

Friday, June 28, 2024

7:00 AM - 8:00 AM
 

Time to finish strong with a kick-off breakfast and some networking with vendors in the solutions provider area.

 
 
 
8:00 AM - 8:50 AM
Keynote
 
Philip Powell
 
Indiana Ballroom (E,F,G)
9:00 AM - 9:50 AM
General Session

Most manufacturers face two basic problems with solutions that often feel like they’re at odds with each other—getting as much high-quality product out of the door as possible...

Elizabeth Parra Jason Lipscomb
 
Indiana Ballroom (E,F,G)
10:10 AM - 10:40 AM
Continuous Improvement Track

The pressure to address sustainability in the industrial sector is greater than ever before and rising costs, workforce disruption, and supply insecurity are challenges...

Colin Henry

Kentucky
Technology Adoption Track

Approximately 98% of American manufacturing consists of small to medium-sized businesses. There is a real need to equip these midsized factories for a productive future…

Ryan Kuhlenbeck Greg Whitt
 
Tennessee
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
Continuous Improvement Track

Leadership is the key. The culture of an organization is what the leadership either creates or allows. An organization without a disciplined culture…

Marty Hallman
 
Kentucky
Technology Adoption Track

The more that employees know about and understand your operations, the more productive they can be…

Raj Polanki
 
Tennessee
11:20 AM - 11:50 AM
Continuous Improvement Track

A lean culture can't flourish without support from an organization's leadership. Join IndustryWeek's Jill Jusko as she interviews Timken's Marty Hallman and Sam McPherson...

Jill Jusko Marty Hallman Sam Mcpherson
 
Kentucky
Technology Adoption Track

Join Smart Industry Managing Editor Scott Achelpohl as he interviews a panel of experts who are seeing significant, substantial benefits…

Scott Achelpohl Greg Whitt Ryan Kuhlenbeck Raj Polanki Jerry Grunewald
 
Tennessee
12:00 PM - 12:15 PM