Kenneth Cowan
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Kenneth Cowan, Vice President, Paperless Parts
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Kenneth Cowan, Vice President, Paperless Parts
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Robert Jacobs, Digital Growth Director, CliftonLarsonAllen
SOUTHEAST Session:
SOUTHEAST Session: Manufacturing faces an unprecedented workforce transition as the “silver tsunami” of retiring Baby Boomers and Gen X workers accelerates. Decades of institutional knowledge are leaving with them, forcing companies to scramble for ways to preserve expertise while managing increasingly complex operations. Many facilities now schedule critical work around the availability of a single seasoned technician, while others bring retirees back at premium wages just to keep production running. At the same time, new hires arrive with expectations shaped by consumer technology—anticipating smartphone-level intuitiveness—yet encounter manufacturing systems that feel stuck in the 1990s. This presentation will share field-tested insights on how modern manufacturing systems must be transparent, modular, and designed to evolve with their users. It will also explore how manufacturers can fundamentally rethink “experience” for a new era—moving from legacy tools to adaptive, intelligent platforms that empower rather than frustrate. Attendees will see a detailed case study of 3D Glass Solutions, Inc., where strategic MES implementation boosted yield, reduced downtime, and created systems that engaged the workforce instead of alienating it. The conversation will break down the real-world challenges, adoption strategies, and critical success factors that make the difference between results and setbacks. The session concludes with a first look at Project Phoenix, MASS Group’s next-generation platform built for the realities of today’s manufacturing floor—without the complexity of yesterday’s enterprise software.
SOUTHEAST Session: Most manufacturers begin their AI journey with high expectations, yet research shows that 95 percent of GenAI projects fail to create real business value. A common trap is the shiny object syndrome, where leaders and empowered employees chase trendy tools that look impressive but do little to address core operational challenges. This is why only 5 percent of enterprise-built AI tools ever make it into production. The companies that succeed take a different path. They delve into the business itself, uncovering where AI can make the most significant difference. Predictive maintenance that prevents costly downtime, quality control that reduces waste, and supply chain optimization that improves resilience are just a few areas where measurable impact becomes possible. What often separates success from failure is expertise. Internal teams, no matter how skilled, can be limited by organizational bias, resource gaps, and familiar ways of thinking. That is why internal builds succeed only a third of the time. Third-party AI experts, on the other hand, bring fresh perspectives that identify blind spots, challenge assumptions, and apply proven frameworks that raise the success rate to nearly 70 percent. With the proper guidance, AI stops being an expensive experiment and becomes a powerful, revenue-generating asset. For manufacturers, this shift marks the difference between falling behind and building a sustainable competitive edge.
SOUTHEAST Session: Are you confident that your machine monitoring solution can scale with your evolving data needs? Many manufacturers adopt IIoT solutions only to realize too late that rigid connectivity architectures limit their future growth. As manufacturing technology advances and data-driven decision-making becomes essential, off-the-shelf monitoring solutions and short-term fixes may seem convenient but often create long-term limitations. Manufacturers need a scalable, secure, and interoperable connectivity framework to maximize IIoT investments and ensure seamless data flow across their operations. At Juxtum, we help manufacturers bridge the gap between machine connectivity and actionable intelligence. In this webinar, Juxtum’s IIoT experts will uncover the most common mistakes companies make when selecting a machine monitoring platform and provide a roadmap to choosing a future-ready solution that delivers ROI while supporting long-term digital transformation.
SOUTHEAST Session: Job shops, mid-size machine shops, and contract manufacturers power much of the world’s production, yet they face persistent constraints: skilled labor shortages, rising complexity, and pressure to deliver faster at lower cost. While AI adoption has taken root in large enterprises, the greatest untapped potential lies with small and mid-sized manufacturers. This session will cover how practical AI solutions can compress programming time, improve productivity and reskill existing and onboard new employees and attract a new generation of talent.
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Steve George, Senior Manager Product Engineering – Solid Rounds, Kennametal
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Ryan Benson, Vice President of Security, CompassMSP
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Rupal Nanavati, Digital & IoT Transformation Leader, Sutherland