SMART MINI
SOUTHEAST Product:
SOUTHEAST Product:
SOUTHEAST Exhibitor:
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: David Babcock, Director of Technical PreSales, Ashling Partners
SOUTHEAST Session: The widening skills gap in manufacturing continues to challenge educators, employers, and policymakers striving to cultivate a future-ready workforce. This session examines how strategic partnerships between education and industry can elevate experiential learning to better align student preparation with real-world workforce demands. Through the integration of hands-on training, industry-recognized credentials, and work-based learning opportunities, these collaborations create meaningful pathways from the classroom to the production floor. Ultimately, the session highlights how experiential learning—anchored in authentic industry collaboration—serves as a powerful catalyst for bridging the manufacturing skills gap and building a sustainable talent pipeline.
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Steve George, Senior Manager Product Engineering – Solid Rounds, Kennametal
SOUTHEAST Session: "The Manufacturing Leader's Playbook for Surviving Tariffs, Taxes, and Tech Turm," explores strategies for mitigating the effects of taxes and tariffs on manufacturing businesses through the use of modern business software. It covers key financial and operational factors such as OBBA, tariffs, and technology, highlighting how these elements impact R&D credits, clean energy credits, bonus depreciation, and potential savings. The presentation also delves into the benefits of ERP software, emphasizing the need for high-quality data ingestion, cost accounting, supplier diversification, customer prioritization, and predictive analytics to enhance profitability and market share. Additionally, it provides an example of a modern ERP platform and discusses the integration of Acumatica Manufacturing ERP, which combines financials, planning, and scheduling to support diverse manufacturing strategies and deliver real-time insights.
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Elise Jones, Head of Corporate Marketing, Tulip Interfaces
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Enrique Herrera, Senior Principal, Strategy & Business Development, Zebra Technologies
SOUTHEAST Session: This fireside chat will explore the role of ecosystems in accelerating smart manufacturing. Together, Elise and Enrique will discuss how manufacturers can break down silos, connect cloud, IoT and frontline technologies, and drive meaningful value through collaboration. Drawing on Tulip's composable software and Zebra's expertise in real-time visibility and automation, the conversation will highlight practical examples and a forward-looking vision of ecosystems in action.