March 16, 2027

* JOIN US FOR THE PRE-EVENT HAPPY HOUR on March 15, 2027 FROM 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Sponsored by: Implementation Engineers logo
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7:00 am – 8:00 am CST

Delegate Registration and Networking Breakfast

8:00 am – 8:05 am CST

Chair's Welcome and Opening Remarks

Process Optimization

Kimberly Williams

VP, Manufacturing
The Coca-Cola Company

MODERN FACILITIES

Trip Carter

VP, Capture Operations
Lockheed Martin

Talent

Sara Raymaker

VP, Manufacturing, Quality, and Continuous Improvement
L3Harris Technologies

Innovation

Speaker TBA


SAP

Plant Management

Kevin Clark

VP, Head of Industrial Strategy, Asset Management
Siemens

8:05 am – 8:10 am CST

MAYOR'S WELCOME ADDRESS

Tom Dailly

Mayor
Village of Schaumburg

8:10 am – 8:40 am CST

Keynote

Francesco Ciancia

Chief Manufacturing Officer
Stellantis

Driving the Future of Global Manufacturing Through Lean Transformation and Industrial Innovation

  • Advancing lean manufacturing principles to improve operational consistency, efficiency, and production agility
  • Leveraging innovation and smart manufacturing technologies to modernize global production environments
  • Integrating automation and connected systems to enhance throughput, quality, and manufacturing performance
  • Strengthening continuous improvement cultures across complex, multi-site manufacturing operations worldwide
  • Aligning workforce engagement and leadership development with high-performance manufacturing transformation initiatives
  • Accelerating operational excellence through scalable lean strategies, modernization, and industrial innovation
8:40 am – 9:10 am CST

Plenary

Rebecca Teeters

SVP, Business Supply Chain and President, Chemical Operations
3M

Advancing Smart Manufacturing Through Predictive Stewardship and Data Governance

  • Embedding intelligent product stewardship frameworks across connected manufacturing and operational ecosystems globally
  • Leveraging predictive science and advanced analytics to proactively address evolving environmental and material regulations
  • Integrating real-time monitoring and advanced data governance strengthening manufacturing transparency and operational resilience initiatives
  • Aligning sustainability and compliance strategies with smart manufacturing objectives improving enterprise-wide operational performance
  • Utilizing Industry 4.0 technologies and connected systems accelerating agility, visibility, and risk mitigation capabilities
  • Building cross-functional partnerships supporting innovation, stakeholder trust, and long-term manufacturing continuity and growth
9:10 am – 9:40 am CST

Plenary

Sundeep Ravande

Chief Executive Officer
Innovapptive

From Execution Gaps to Frontline Intelligence: Connecting Workers, Assets and Operations with AI

  • Reducing execution latency by connecting maintenance, operations, and supply chain workflows in real time
  • Enhancing workforce productivity through standardized digital workflows and AI-powered connected worker technologies
  • Improving asset reliability and operational performance with real-time visibility, mobile execution, and predictive insights
  • Strengthening data integrity and governance to support advanced analytics, automation, and smarter decision-making
  • Integrating frontline workers, assets, and enterprise systems to improve collaboration, safety, and operational consistency
  • Scaling connected manufacturing operations across global sites through intelligent automation and seamless system integration
9:45 am – 11:25 am CST

Refreshments, Networking, and Pre-Arranged 1-2-1 Meetings

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11:30 am – 12:00 pm CST

Sessions

Process Optimization

Jamie Engstrom

Chief Information Officer and SVP, Information Technology
Caterpillar

Digitizing Manufacturing to Enable Connected, Responsive Supply Chain Orchestration 

  • Connecting manufacturing, IT, and supply chain systems to improve enterprise-wide operational visibility
  • Leveraging real-time data to strengthen order-to-delivery responsiveness and decision-making speed
  • Integrating ERP, infrastructure, and digital platforms to support scalable manufacturing transformation
  • Aligning technology strategy with business priorities across complex global manufacturing operations
  • Strengthening data governance, cybersecurity, and risk management across connected enterprise environments
  • Enabling supply chain orchestration through digitized workflows, trusted data, and cross-functional collaboration

Modern Facilities

Raul Samaniego

VP, Global Supply Chain and Manufacturing
Ecolab

Building Future-Ready Manufacturing Facilities Through Connected Operations and End-to-End Supply Chain Excellence

  • Integrating manufacturing, planning, logistics, procurement, and quality to improve facility-wide execution
  • Modernizing plant and warehouse operations through stronger visibility, standardized processes, and operational discipline
  • Strengthening responsiveness across multi-site manufacturing networks in volatile regional and global markets
  • Optimizing material flow, inventory, distribution, and production planning to support cost, service, and resilience goals
  • Embedding continuous improvement practices that improve productivity, accountability, and operational consistency
  • Leading multicultural teams across regions to scale high-performance manufacturing and supply chain operations

Talent

Peter Shearstone

VP, Chief Quality Officer
Johnson & Johnson MedTech

Elevating Quality and Regulatory Talent as Strategic Business Partners Driving Enterprise Value

  • Positioning quality and regulatory organizations as proactive contributors supporting enterprise growth and operational strategy
  • Integrating regulatory expertise within product development processes to accelerate market readiness
  • Translating compliance and quality priorities into measurable business outcomes
  • Utilizing advanced analytics and operational insights to strengthen collaboration across manufacturing
  • Turning evolving regulatory requirements into sustainable competitive manufacturing advantages
  • Cultivating adaptable leadership capabilities that strengthen accountability, collaboration, and long-term organizational

Innovation

Matt McCullough

VP, Global Manufacturing Excellence and Industrial Performance
Estée Lauder

Orchestrating High-Velocity Luxury Manufacturing: Balancing Artisanal Quality with AI-Driven Operational Agility

  • Scaling autonomous planning systems to synchronize global production with rapid-fire social media trends
  • Integrating advanced vision-inspection AI to ensure uncompromising prestige quality at high-speed throughput
  • Leveraging modular manufacturing cells to accelerate the launch of complex, multi-component luxury products
  • Transforming traditional supply-demand planning into a real-time, sensor-driven reactive ecosystem
  • Empowering global plant leaders with predictive industrial performance analytics to eliminate micro-bottlenecks
  • Sustaining brand equity by embedding zero-defect manufacturing principles into every digital process

Plant Management

Noah Buntman

VP, 3rd Party Manufacturing
3M

Transforming Global Manufacturing Through Third-Party Networks

  • Leading global third-party manufacturing transformations to drive cost, service, and resilience improvements
  • Designing operating models that align external partners with enterprise performance and growth objectives
  • Optimizing supplier networks to improve flexibility, responsiveness, and risk mitigation across global operations
  • Integrating data, governance, and accountability frameworks to elevate external manufacturing performance
  • Driving EBITDA improvement through strategic sourcing, network design, and operational discipline
  • Scaling partner ecosystems to support innovation, speed-to-market, and long-term enterprise value creation
12:05 pm – 12:35 pm CST

Workshops

Room 1

Ron Nachum

Chief Executive Officer
Sapien

Unlocking Operational Agility with AI-Driven Financial Intelligence

  • Breaking down silos between finance, operations, and supply chain
  • Gaining real-time visibility into costs, margins, and performance drivers
  • Leveraging AI for proactive scenario planning and variance analysis
  • Transforming finance into a strategic partner for operational decisions
  • Accelerating financial insights from weeks to minutes to enable faster operational decision-making

Room 2

Bradford Wallis

Senior Director, Solution Consulting
Redzone

Enhancing Quality Assurance Practices to Meet Evolving Industry Demands

  • Clarifying practical AI manufacturing applications by separating measurable operational impact from emerging industry buzzwords
  • Leveraging real-time shop floor visibility to identify performance gaps, coaching opportunities, and hidden manufacturing capacity
  • Delivering actionable operational insights directly to frontline teams through connected workforce collaboration technologies
  • Connecting AI-powered operational intelligence with workforce engagement, accountability, and measurable manufacturing productivity improvements

Room 3

Mark Fodsike

Chief Executive Officer
Datch

AI Diagnostics in Asset Maintenance

  • Addressing the challenge of a retiring workforce by leveraging tribal knowledge and historical maintenance insights to upskill new workers
  • Empowering frontline workers with AI Diagnostics to accelerate troubleshooting and improve maintenance repair times
  • Leveraging Agentic AI and adaptive learning to enhance root cause analysis and first-time-right fixes
  • Utilizing connected operational data to predict equipment failures and reduing unplanned downtime across facilities
  • Strengthening maintenance decision-making through real-time diagnostics, guided workflows, and actionable operational intelligence

Room 4

Crispin Panyard

VP, Sales Engineering
Eyelit Technologies

Closing the Loop Between Optimized Planning & Execution

  • Aligning production planning and execution workflows through connected manufacturing and supply chain intelligence platforms
  • Leveraging AI-driven scheduling capabilities to improve responsiveness, throughput, and operational decision-making performance outcomes
  • Integrating MES, APS, ERP, and IoT systems to strengthen enterprise-wide manufacturing visibility initiatives
  • Utilizing predictive operational insights to proactively optimize labor, materials, inventory, and equipment utilization strategies
  • Enhancing cross-functional collaboration through real-time operational dashboards supporting agile manufacturing execution capabilities

Room 5

Shane Yount

Chairman and Founder
Competitive Solutions Inc.

The Secret Superpower of High Functioning Leaders: How Process Intelligence Creates Aligned, Accountable Teams

  • Turning leadership consistency into a competitive advantage through
  • Leveraging process intelligence and performance software to transform leadership consistency into competitive advantage
  • Aligning frontline execution to enterprise priorities with clear, visible expectations
  • Converting data into leadership discipline that improves accountability and decision quality
  • Enabling focused executive and plant level conversations grounded in real time insight
  • Strengthening operational reliability across safety, quality, and productivity
  • Scaling high functioning leadership behaviors across plants, regions, and the enterprise
12:40 pm – 1:40 pm CST

Lunch & Learn Roundtable Discussions and Open Seating Lunch

Benefit from additional learning by joining a moderated roundtable discussion on pressing issues in the industry. Registration is required, and attendance for moderated roundtables on Day 1 is limited to attendees and speakers. Choose from:

Shan Muthuvelu

Chief Executive Officer
UCBOS

Empowering Smart Manufacturing with Real-Time Data, Strategy, and AI Integration 

Bradford Wallis

Senior Director, Solution Consulting
Redzone

Empowering Frontline Manufacturing Teams Through AI-Driven Visibility, Engagement, and Connected Workforce Intelligence

Glenn Archer

VP, Sales and Marketing
Melton Machine & Control

Boosting Manufacturing Performance with Smart Welding Systems

Tom Roberts

VP, Strategic Industry Development
QAD

Transforming Manufacturing Operations Through Intelligent Execution, Real-Time Visibility, and Adaptive Decision-Making

Speaker TBA


Worximizity

Improving Manufacturing Performance Through Real-Time Production Visibility and Connected Operational Intelligence

Noel Hollingsworth

Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder
Uncountable Inc

From Siloed Labs to a Closed-Loop Enterprise: Unifying R&D, QC, and Manufacturing Data

Todd Donzelli

Senior Director, Solution Consulting
Infor

AI at Work: 4 Real Life Generative AI Manufacturing Stories

Doug Wenninger

Chief Executive Officer
Alliance Automation

Preparing for Automation: Are you Ready?

Susan Anderson

Senior Director, Strategic Sales
Express Employment Professionals

Strengthening Manufacturing Workforce Performance Through Strategic Staffing, Retention, and Operational Readiness

Gregg Boschetti

Director, Enterprise Sales
Squint

Empowering Frontline Manufacturing Teams Through AI-Driven Knowledge Capture and Intelligent Workforce Execution

Speaker TBA


SiteVu.AI

Eliminating Operational Blind Spots in Safety, Labor, and Workforce Performance Management

Speaker TBA


Dozuki

Leveraging Industrial AI to Build a Future-Ready Connected Workforce

Candi Robison

VP, Enterprise Asset Management Strategy & Innovation
Ultimo

Beyond the Algorithm: Why Human Capability Is the Real Competitive Advantage in the Age of AI

Speaker TBA


SMW Autoblok, Corp.

Advancing Precision Manufacturing Through Intelligent Workholding and Automation-Ready Clamping

Willem Sundblad

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Oden Technologies

Scaling AI-Driven Process Intelligence Across Modern Manufacturing Operations

Speaker TBA


Neptune Software

Closing Execution Gaps Through AI Agents and Connected Applications

Speaker TBA


Implementation Engineers

Closing Manufacturing Execution Gaps Through Operational Excellence and Implementation Discipline

Speaker TBA


Limble

Empowering Frontline Technicians Through Connected Workflows, Visibility, and Mobile Maintenance Execution

1:45 pm – 2:15 pm CST

Sessions

Process Optimization

Steve Maddocks

VP, Global Manufacturing, Tools and Outdoors
Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

From Data to Decisions: Using Artificial Intelligence to Drive Clarity, Speed, and Action in Manufacturing

  • Transforming complex manufacturing data into clear, decision-ready insights for operational leaders
  • Leveraging AI to identify risks, surface priorities, and accelerate real-time decision-making
  • Enhancing communication and alignment across manufacturing through AI-driven clarity
  • Deploying AI copilots and digital workers to support faster, more consistent execution on the plant floor
  • Reducing latency in decision cycles across inventory, production, and quality management processes
  • Building a culture of curiosity and continuous improvement to maximize AI-driven operational intelligence

Modern Facilities

Daniel Crain

VP, Manufacturing
Beckman Coulter Diagnostics

Driving Lean Manufacturing Transformation Through Operational Excellence and Continuous Improvement

  • Applying Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate waste and improve operational efficiency
  • Leveraging value stream mapping to align manufacturing strategies with enterprise business objectives
  • Building accountability-driven cultures through KPI visibility from frontline operations to executive leadership
  • Standardizing operational excellence frameworks across multi-site global manufacturing and distribution networks
  • Optimizing manufacturing footprints through centers of excellence, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives
  • Strengthening workforce engagement through coaching, structured leadership development, and performance-based management

Talent

Katie Holman

VP, Manufacturing and Engineering
General Mills

Developing Agile Manufacturing Teams to Strengthen Resilient and High-Performance Supply Chain Operations

  • Building agile manufacturing teams capable of driving operational excellence across complex global supply networks
  • Strengthening cross-functional collaboration between planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and logistics teams for improved responsiveness
  • Equipping employees with digital tools and data visibility to accelerate operational decision-making capabilities
  • Embedding continuous improvement cultures that enhance workforce engagement, efficiency, and long-term operational sustainability
  • Developing adaptable leadership strategies supporting transformational change across evolving manufacturing and supply chain environments
  • Aligning workforce development initiatives with scalable growth, operational resilience, and customer-driven manufacturing performance

Innovation

Lynn Blake

VP, Automotive and eMobility
Schneider Electric

Innovating and Scaling eMobility Through Digitalization and Intelligent Operations

  • Enabling automotive and semiconductor manufacturers through digital transformation and connected technologies
  • Driving cost optimization using data-driven manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and asset performance insights
  • Leveraging predictive energy management to improve efficiency and support sustainable production goals
  • Supporting scalable eMobility growth through smart infrastructure, automation, and digital factory solutions
  • Integrating sustainability and electrification strategies to accelerate progress toward net-zero operations
  • Empowering cross-functional collaboration to deliver agile, high-impact solutions across complex ecosystems

Plant Management

Kevin Kerr

VP, Manufacturing
Anduril Industries

Scaling Greenfield Manufacturing Operations for Rapid Growth, Quality, and Resilience 

  • Building scalable production systems supporting rapid ramp-up without sacrificing manufacturing quality
  • Designing greenfield facilities around future capacity, automation, and operational flexibility
  • Integrating manufacturing engineering, quality, and operations early to accelerate launch readiness
  • Balancing speed, capital deployment, and process discipline during complex facility start-ups
  • Establishing performance systems identifying constraints before they disrupt production growth
  • Developing frontline leadership capabilities sustaining accountability through high-growth manufacturing environments
2:20 pm – 2:50 pm CST

Workshops

Room 1

Carter Lloyds

Chief Marketing Officer
Indeavor

Eliminating Labor Inefficiencies with Smart Scheduling and Absence Management

  • Automating employee scheduling to reduce manual workloads and improve supervisor productivity
  • Integrating real-time workforce data with ERP and HCM systems for end-to-end labor visibility and control
  • Ensuring compliance, reducing absenteeism, and optimizing labor deployment with smart scheduling
  • Case Study: Reducing Overtime Costs and Increasing Labor Efficiency at a Dairy Processing Plant

Room 2

Tom Roberts

VP, Strategic Industry Development
QAD

From Systems of Record to Systems of Action: Optimizing Manufacturing. Procurement, Quality, and the Shopfloor for a Smarter Future

  • Manufacturing: Predictive and Prescriptive Planning
  • Procurement: Building Resilient and Intelligent Supply Chains
  • Quality: The Path to Zero-Defect Manufacturing
  • Workforce: Empowering the Connected Frontline

Room 3

Don Ryan

VP, Sales
AssetWatch

Maximizing Asset Performance with Real-Time Condition Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance Insights

  • Leveraging AI-powered monitoring to proactively identify critical equipment failures before production disruptions
  • Utilizing predictive maintenance insights to reduce downtime and improve asset reliability performance
  • Integrating real-time operational data with CMMS platforms improving maintenance execution and responsiveness
  • Empowering maintenance teams through expert-guided recommendations supporting faster troubleshooting and corrective actions
  • Eliminating excessive alerts through intelligent monitoring prioritizing actionable operational maintenance insights

Room 4

Rick van Echtelt

Chief Executive Officer
AG5

Turning Workforce Capability Into Operational Intelligence Across Manufacturing Operations

  • Digitizing production and quality systems, while many manufacturers still rely on fragmented workforce data
  • Leading organizations establish unified standards for skills, certifications, and training across multiple plants
  • Providing real-time visibility into qualification gaps, expiring certifications, and overall workforce readiness levels
  • Leveraging frontline skills intelligence to improve production resilience and reduce operational downtime risks
  • Enhancing workforce flexibility across lines, shifts, and facilities through data-driven capability management systems

Room 5

Tanmay Agarwal

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Parallax Worlds

Accelerating Robotics Deployment Through AI-Driven Digital Twins and Predictive Factory Simulation

  • Leveraging AI-powered digital twins to identify automation failures before physical deployment begins initiatives
  • Utilizing predictive simulation environments to stress-test robotics across varying operational manufacturing conditions capabilities
  • Integrating advanced robotics, vision systems, and automation technologies within hyper-realistic factory digital environments
  • Reducing operational downtime through proactive testing identifying robotic performance gaps before implementation execution phases
  • Accelerating manufacturing automation projects through scalable AI-driven simulation and rapid deployment support strategies
2:55 pm – 4:15 pm CST

Happy Hour, Networking and Pre-Arranged 1-2-1 Meetings

4:20 pm – 4:50 pm CST

Plenary

Jon Drennan

President, Consumer Packaging, US & Canada
Smurfit Westrock

Driving Innovation through Sustainable Materials and Advanced Production Technologies

  • Accelerating the development and commercialization of next generation eco friendly packaging
  • Aligning product design innovation with scalable high throughput manufacturing processes
  • Leveraging advanced materials science to enhance package performance while reducing footprint
  • Fostering a cross functional culture that rapidly translates market trends into production reality
  • Partnering with global consumer brands to pioneer circular packaging solutions at commercial scale
4:50 pm – 5:20 pm CST

Plenary

Shan Muthuvelu

Chief Executive Officer
UCBOS

Accelerating Manufacturing Transformation Through No-Code Automation and Intelligent Connected Business Operations

  • Leveraging no-code automation platforms to streamline manufacturing workflows and accelerate digital transformation initiatives
  • Integrating enterprise systems, operational data, and connected assets through intelligent metadata-driven architectures capabilities
  • Utilizing AI-enabled process automation to improve operational visibility and support faster manufacturing decision-making processes
  • Simplifying complex manufacturing operations through connected business platforms enabling scalable cross-functional collaboration initiatives
  • Empowering operational teams with intelligent workflow automation supporting agility, efficiency, and continuous improvement strategies
5:20 pm – 6:05 pm CST

Panel Discussion

  • David Tatro

    VP, Operations
    Lockheed Martin

  • Steve Maddocks

    VP, Global Manufacturing, Tools and Outdoors
    Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

  • Derek Henderson

    VP, Quality and Compliance
    Kenvue North America

  • Noah Buntman

    VP, 3rd Party Manufacturing
    3M

  • Jay Douglass

    Chief Operating Officer
    Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing (ARM) Institute

  • Evan Buell

    VP, Engineering
    McCain Foods

Panel Discussion: Scaling Digital Manufacturing Using Data, AI, and Automation to Real Operational Impact 

  • Integrating legacy systems with modern digital technologies across complex manufacturing environments
  • Turning production data into real-time insights that drive faster, more effective decision-making
  • Scaling digital initiatives from pilot programs to enterprise-wide operational transformation
  • Enabling workforce adoption of AI, automation, and advanced digital tools on the shop floor
  • Managing cybersecurity, data integrity, and risk across increasingly connected manufacturing systems
  • Aligning digital strategy with measurable improvements in productivity, quality, and plant performance
6:05 pm – 6:15 pm CST

Chair's closing remarks

Process Optimization

Kimberly Williams

VP, Manufacturing
The Coca-Cola Company

MODERN FACILITIES

Trip Carter

VP, Capture Operations
Lockheed Martin

TALENT

Sara Raymaker

VP, Manufacturing, Quality, and Continuous Improvement
L3Harris Technologies

INNOVATION

Speaker TBA


SAP

Plant management

Kevin Clark

VP, Head of Industrial Strategy, Asset Management
Siemens

6:15 pm – 7:15 pm CST

Networking drinks reception

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