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Winning with AI: The Manufacturer’s Guide to a Successful AI Journey

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.

Learnings from SAP Migration at Prym

SOUTHEAST Session: This presentation showcases the successful migration of Prym Consumer USA from a local SAP ERP to the Prym Group’s global SAP platform, a transformation that redefined core manufacturing and supply chain operations. Completed in just eight months, the project modernized order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, finance, warehouse management, and returns processes while aligning with Prym’s fiscal year change. To address manufacturing challenges, advanced automation solutions, including Pick by Light and a Loose Item picking sorter were implemented to boost accuracy and efficiency in logistics. Seamless EDI integration via Seeburger connected Prym with leading U.S. retailers such as Walmart and Amazon, while Shopify integration expanded direct-to-consumer sales. Delivered on time, under budget, and with minimal disruption, this case study offers a clear roadmap for manufacturers seeking to harmonize global processes, adopt automation, and strengthen supply chain resilience in today’s competitive landscape.

Tyler Boykin

Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Tyler Boykin, Vice President, Orases

Andy Henderson

Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Andy Henderson, President & Chief Executive Officer, Hendtech LLC

Manufacturing’s Next Shift: Rethinking Experience in the Age of Workforce Transition

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.

Reducing Energy Waste & Downtime: ​A Smarter Approach to Manufacturing Maintenance​

SOUTHEAST Session: Manufacturers face a dual challenge: reducing unplanned downtime while also addressing rising energy costs and sustainability targets. Traditional Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) has focused on asset reliability and uptime, but it often overlooks the significant energy wasted when machines operate in a fault state, up to 20% more electricity. This presentation introduces Energy-Centered Maintenance (ECM) , a next-generation approach that combines predictive maintenance with energy efficiency. By monitoring key parameters of rotating equipment, ECM helps manufacturers detect early signs of inefficiency, prevent failures, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Attendees will see real-world case studies, including how a pharmaceutical manufacturer deployed over 140 sensors across global facilities to save 136 hours of downtime and $42,000 in excess energy usage. The session will demonstrate how ECM strategies deliver measurable ROI, improve operational excellence, and align maintenance practices with corporate sustainability goals

Chris Pickett

Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Chris Pickett, Chris Pickett, MASS Group, Inc.