SESSION SCHEDULE
Registration, Networking Breakfast, Partner Showcase
Opening networking for all attendees across industries.…Opening networking for all attendees across industries.Opening networking for all attendees across industries.Opening networking for all attendees across industries.Show MoreClick the title to see all details
Intelligent Manufacturing at Scale: AI and the Reinvention of Complex Assembly
Manufacturing is entering a decisive new chapter, defined not by incre…Manufacturing is entering a decisive new chapter, defined not by incremental improvement, but by a fundamental rewiring of how plants plan, operate, and compete. Performance pressure is intensifying. OEE losses, unplanned downtime, scrap and rework…Manufacturing is entering a decisive new chapter, defined not by incremental improvement, but by a fundamental rewiring of how plants plan, operate, and compete. Performance pressure is intensifying. OEE losses, unplanned downtime, scrap and rework, and excess working capital continue to erode margins in complex assembly environments. Many manufacturers have invested in digital platforms, yet fragmented MES, SCADA, ERP, and PLM systems still li…Manufacturing is entering a decisive new chapter, defined not by incremental improvement, but by a fundamental rewiring of how plants plan, operate, and compete. Performance pressure is intensifying. OEE losses, unplanned downtime, scrap and rework, and excess working capital continue to erode margins in complex assembly environments. Many manufacturers have invested in digital platforms, yet fragmented MES, SCADA, ERP, and PLM systems still limit real‑time decision making, creating an opportunity for AI to deliver innovative, high‑impact solutions. This session will focus on how AI is reshaping complex assembly operations and creating measurable business impact. Participants will gain insight into how intelligence embedded across the industrial blueprint can deliver competitive advantage, enhance throughput across OT and IT platforms, and improve working capital efficiency, all contributing to stronger margins and operational resilience. Manufacturers that integrate intelligence, automation, and human capability into core operations rather than treating them as add‑ons achieve significant performance gains and sustainable competitive advantage. Why it matters Global supply chains remain structurally more volatile, driven by geopolitical shifts and fluctuating demand patterns Skilled labor is constrained and harder to upskill at scale as demographic shifts reduce available talent pools Sustainability expectations now require measurable performance improvements, not just reporting The technology stack across AI, automation, and industrial connectivity has matured to enable speed, precision, and resilience simultaneously Digital twins are expanding from isolated line simulations to enterprise‑wide decision platforms OT cybersecurity is evolving from basic IT hygiene to continuous, real‑time protection for connected production systems Learning Objectives Diagnose revenue leakage across complex assembly lines and quantify where AI can create value to improve throughput, reduce scrap and rework, and increase asset utilization Translate AI‑enabled automation into measurable gains in OEE with direct impact on margin expansion Build a scalable AI roadmap tied directly to profitability, working capital efficiency, sustainability integration, and operational resilienceShow MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Global Supply Chain Resilience: Building the Next-Generation Production Ecosystem
Global manufacturing and assembly operations are operating in an era o…Global manufacturing and assembly operations are operating in an era of unprecedented disruption, driven by geopolitical volatility, shifting trade policies, regionalization, and ongoing capacity constraints. This session examines how OEMs and suppli…Global manufacturing and assembly operations are operating in an era of unprecedented disruption, driven by geopolitical volatility, shifting trade policies, regionalization, and ongoing capacity constraints. This session examines how OEMs and suppliers are rethinking traditional supply chain models to build greater resilience, flexibility, and responsiveness. Attendees will explore how organizations are adapting to supply chain fragility by rede…Global manufacturing and assembly operations are operating in an era of unprecedented disruption, driven by geopolitical volatility, shifting trade policies, regionalization, and ongoing capacity constraints. This session examines how OEMs and suppliers are rethinking traditional supply chain models to build greater resilience, flexibility, and responsiveness. Attendees will explore how organizations are adapting to supply chain fragility by redesigning production ecosystems that balance cost, risk, speed, and reliability across regions and tiers. Through a cross‑industry lens, this discussion will focus on strategies for building diversified supplier networks, improving multi‑tier visibility, and strengthening risk management frameworks. Panelists will address rising expectations for transparency, data sharing, and collaboration between OEMs and suppliers, and how these expectations are reshaping procurement, quality, and operational decision‑making. The session will provide actionable insight into how manufacturers can future‑proof their supply chains while maintaining performance, compliance, and customer trust.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Quality Without Compromise: Achieving Zero-Defect Manufacturing in High-Spec Industries
In industries where failure is not an option, achieving zero‑defect pe…In industries where failure is not an option, achieving zero‑defect performance requires more than inspection—it demands a disciplined, system‑wide approach to quality embedded across design, manufacturing, and operations. This session explores how l…In industries where failure is not an option, achieving zero‑defect performance requires more than inspection—it demands a disciplined, system‑wide approach to quality embedded across design, manufacturing, and operations. This session explores how leading organizations operationalize zero‑defect strategies in high‑reliability environments, focusing on daily management practices, error‑proofing techniques, validation frameworks, and advanced qual…In industries where failure is not an option, achieving zero‑defect performance requires more than inspection—it demands a disciplined, system‑wide approach to quality embedded across design, manufacturing, and operations. This session explores how leading organizations operationalize zero‑defect strategies in high‑reliability environments, focusing on daily management practices, error‑proofing techniques, validation frameworks, and advanced quality metrics. Attendees will gain insight into how manufacturers prevent defects before they occur, strengthen process capability, and leverage real‑time data to drive continuous improvement while maintaining strict compliance and performance standards. This session will be led by Ian Hooley, Senior Director of Quality at Zimmer Biomet, who brings extensive experience overseeing global post‑market engineering, medical device quality systems, and product lifecycle performance in a highly regulated MedTech environment. With a career spanning quality assurance, product development, manufacturing, and continuous improvement, Ian has led initiatives across validation, audit readiness, CAPA, and acquisition integration to ensure consistent, high‑quality outcomes at scale. Drawing on his experience managing complex quality ecosystems, Ian will share practical strategies for aligning engineering, manufacturing, and supplier performance to deliver zero‑defect results—and how organizations can use data, governance, and disciplined execution to sustain quality in the most demanding applications.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Engineering Reliability at Scale: Ensuring Performance in Critical Joints
As products and systems grow more complex and performance requirements…As products and systems grow more complex and performance requirements tighten, ensuring reliability at the joint and connection level has become a defining challenge across aerospace, automotive, medical, semiconductor, and other high‑spec industrie…As products and systems grow more complex and performance requirements tighten, ensuring reliability at the joint and connection level has become a defining challenge across aerospace, automotive, medical, semiconductor, and other high‑spec industries. This session examines how manufacturers design, validate, and sustain reliability in safety‑critical joints—where failure can compromise performance, safety, and brand trust. Attendees will explore…As products and systems grow more complex and performance requirements tighten, ensuring reliability at the joint and connection level has become a defining challenge across aerospace, automotive, medical, semiconductor, and other high‑spec industries. This session examines how manufacturers design, validate, and sustain reliability in safety‑critical joints—where failure can compromise performance, safety, and brand trust. Attendees will explore how different industries define and measure reliability, and how those definitions translate into engineering decisions, material selection, fastening strategies, and validation methodologies. Through a cross‑industry discussion, this panel will highlight common failure modes observed at scale and the engineering strategies used to mitigate risk across the product lifecycle. Topics include tolerance management, process control, verification and validation, and the role of manufacturing and field feedback in improving joint performance over time. The session will provide practical insight into how organizations align engineering rigor, quality systems, and supplier capabilities to achieve consistent, repeatable reliability—moving beyond isolated design excellence to performance that holds up in real‑world conditions.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Workforce 2030: Upskilling Engineering Talent for Advanced Manufacturing
This session will focus on the two of the most critical risks facing t…This session will focus on the two of the most critical risks facing the international defense manufacturing sector: a widening talent gap at a time of unprecedented technological change and a declining manufacturing work force. As the industry confr…This session will focus on the two of the most critical risks facing the international defense manufacturing sector: a widening talent gap at a time of unprecedented technological change and a declining manufacturing work force. As the industry confronts a wave of retirements from its most experienced engineers, it must simultaneously integrate complex Industry 4.0 technologies like AI, digital twins, and advanced automation. This creates a perfe…This session will focus on the two of the most critical risks facing the international defense manufacturing sector: a widening talent gap at a time of unprecedented technological change and a declining manufacturing work force. As the industry confronts a wave of retirements from its most experienced engineers, it must simultaneously integrate complex Industry 4.0 technologies like AI, digital twins, and advanced automation. This creates a perfect storm where massive capital investments in technology are at risk of being underutilized due to a workforce unprepared for the future. Moving beyond a simple technical overview, this session provides a strategic roadmap for turning this challenge into a competitive advantage. We will dissect the four essential pillars for building a resilient and agile future workforce: workforce upskilling and recruitment, modernized training with industry-relevant credentialing, and adaptive culture with visionary Leadership. This session frames talent development not as an HR function, but as a core business and national security imperative for any organization seeking to lead in the 2030 manufacturing landscape. Attendees will leave this session with a clear framework to: · Identify the critical gaps between current engineering competencies and the skills required to effectively leverage advanced manufacturing technologies. · Evaluate innovative training models—including modern apprenticeships and continuous upskilling programs—needed to build a culture of perpetual learning. · Define the essential role of leadership in championing cultural transformation and driving the adoption of new skills while driving recruitment into critical manufacturing sessions · Connect strategic investments in workforce development directly to improved operational resilience, risk reduction, and long-term business success. Intended Audience: This briefing is essential for senior leaders and decision-makers responsible for the strategic direction and operational readiness of their manufacturing organizations, including: · C-Suite Executives and Business Unit Leaders · VPs and Directors of Engineering and Manufacturing · Human Resources and Talent Management Professionals · Government and Defense Program ManagersShow MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Executive Roundtable Discussions
Guided discussions and open-seating lunch.Guided discussions and open-seating lunch.Guided discussions and open-seating lunch.
Sustainable Engineering: Materials, Circularity and the Carbon Challenge Across OEMs
As OEMs face increasing pressure to reduce carbon impact while maintai…As OEMs face increasing pressure to reduce carbon impact while maintaining performance, reliability, and profitability, sustainable engineering has moved from aspiration to operational imperative. This session explores how leading manufacturers are a…As OEMs face increasing pressure to reduce carbon impact while maintaining performance, reliability, and profitability, sustainable engineering has moved from aspiration to operational imperative. This session explores how leading manufacturers are advancing sustainable materials, embedding circularity into product design, and responding to global decarbonization mandates without compromising quality or innovation. Attendees will gain insight int…As OEMs face increasing pressure to reduce carbon impact while maintaining performance, reliability, and profitability, sustainable engineering has moved from aspiration to operational imperative. This session explores how leading manufacturers are advancing sustainable materials, embedding circularity into product design, and responding to global decarbonization mandates without compromising quality or innovation. Attendees will gain insight into how sustainability is being engineered directly into products, manufacturing processes, and supply chains—shaping the next generation of high‑performance, low‑impact systems. This session will be led by Kristen Siemen, Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company and former Chief Sustainability Officer and Global Product Development & Engineering Executive at General Motors. Kristen has led sustainability, electrification, energy systems, and advanced manufacturing initiatives at global scale, overseeing the integration of sustainable materials, lifecycle design, and carbon‑reduction strategies across complex OEM portfolios. Drawing on her experience driving enterprise‑wide transformation in automotive and industrial manufacturing, Kristen will share practical, executive‑level perspectives on designing for circularity, navigating regulatory and market pressures, and aligning sustainability goals with engineering, quality, and business performance.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
The New Manufacturing Playbook: Integrating Robotics, Data and Automation Across the Factory Floor
Manufacturers across industries are moving beyond isolated automation …Manufacturers across industries are moving beyond isolated automation projects toward fully integrated, data‑driven factory environments. This session explores how robotics, automation, and connected data systems are reshaping modern production—from …Manufacturers across industries are moving beyond isolated automation projects toward fully integrated, data‑driven factory environments. This session explores how robotics, automation, and connected data systems are reshaping modern production—from assembly and material handling to inspection, quality, and maintenance. Attendees will examine what a digitally connected factory floor truly looks like, including the role of robotics, intelligent au…Manufacturers across industries are moving beyond isolated automation projects toward fully integrated, data‑driven factory environments. This session explores how robotics, automation, and connected data systems are reshaping modern production—from assembly and material handling to inspection, quality, and maintenance. Attendees will examine what a digitally connected factory floor truly looks like, including the role of robotics, intelligent automation, real‑time data, and predictive modeling in driving consistency, throughput, and operational resilience. Moderated by Lisa Masciantonio, Chief Workforce Officer at ARM (Advanced Robotics for Manufacturing), the discussion will be guided by a leader deeply focused on aligning workforce development with the future of robotics and automation. She will be joined by Ani Kelkar, Partner at McKinsey & Company, who brings a strategic, cross‑industry perspective advising global OEMs on scaling AI, robotics, and advanced manufacturing systems, and Chris Caldwell, Product Manager at Yaskawa Motoman Robotics, representing the robotics OEM perspective with hands‑on experience developing and deploying industrial automation solutions across diverse manufacturing environments. Together, this panel brings a powerful combination of workforce, strategy, and technology expertise, enabling a truly cross‑industry dialogue. The session will highlight how organizations are scaling automation beyond pilots, aligning investments with long‑term business strategy, and preparing their workforce for transformation—while offering practical insight into how manufacturers can successfully integrate robotics and data to drive performance and value creation at scale.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
Designing for Precision: Integral Assembly Engineering Through Modeling and Validation
As systems across industries become more power-dense, safety-critical,…As systems across industries become more power-dense, safety-critical, and exposed to coupled thermal, mechanical, and pressure loads, assembly-level reliability becomes a dominant driver of system performance and safety. In many cases, failures do n…As systems across industries become more power-dense, safety-critical, and exposed to coupled thermal, mechanical, and pressure loads, assembly-level reliability becomes a dominant driver of system performance and safety. In many cases, failures do not originate in primary components, but at interfaces such as fasteners, seals, and joints, where tolerance stack-ups, material behavior, and assembly variation interact under operating conditions. Th…As systems across industries become more power-dense, safety-critical, and exposed to coupled thermal, mechanical, and pressure loads, assembly-level reliability becomes a dominant driver of system performance and safety. In many cases, failures do not originate in primary components, but at interfaces such as fasteners, seals, and joints, where tolerance stack-ups, material behavior, and assembly variation interact under operating conditions. This session presents a structured methodology for engineering assembly reliability through analytical modeling, simulation, and design validation. The discussion will cover how tolerance stack-ups, preload variation, thermal expansion mismatch, vibration, and pressure loading contribute to failure modes such as loss of sealing integrity, relaxation of bolted joints, fatigue, and leakage. Approaches to failure prediction will include analytical methods, finite element analysis for stress and deformation, and fluid and thermal modeling where relevant. Emphasis will be placed on identifying critical interfaces, defining boundary conditions, and understanding the limitations of modeling assumptions. The role of design validation will be addressed as a means to correlate models with physical behavior and to close the loop between design, manufacturing, and testing. Using examples from high-risk energy systems, the session will demonstrate how early identification and mitigation of assembly-level failure modes can reduce late-stage redesign, improve safety margins, and enable more predictable system performance across a range of operating conditions. Learning Objectives: Understand how assembly-level interfaces govern system reliability under combined mechanical, thermal, and pressure loading Identify key assembly-related failure modes, including preload loss, sealing degradation, fatigue, and leakage, and the mechanisms that drive them Apply analytical modeling and simulation, including finite element and thermal analysis, to predict stress, deformation, and failure initiation at critical interfaces Integrate design validation with modeling to correlate predictions with physical behavior and systematically reduce assembly-level risk early in the design process Who Should Attend This Session: Mechanical, systems, and design engineers working on complex assemblies Reliability and validation engineers responsible for product performance and safety Manufacturing and process engineers involved in assembly and quality control Engineering leaders seeking to improve design-for-reliability practices Suppliers and OEM partners supporting safety-critical or precision-driven applicationsShow MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More
