Brandon Neustadter
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Brandon Neustadter, Vice President, Datature
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Brandon Neustadter, Vice President, Datature
SOUTHEAST Session:
SOUTHEAST Session:
SOUTHEAST Session:
SOUTHEAST Session: Your next efficiency breakthrough isn't hiding in a machine learning algorithm. It's walking around your shop floor right now. While manufacturing obsesses over AI, 85% of operations still depend on human expertise. The CNC programmer who knows exactly when to adjust spindle speeds. The veteran welder who spots perfect joints in seconds. The setup technician whose alignment cuts cycle times. These operators don't just run your processes, they've mastered them. They hold the institutional knowledge that separates good production from great production. But your systems can't see what they know, creating a costly blind spot. Mid-market manufacturers nationwide face the same challenge: valuable knowledge trapped in individual heads instead of being scaled digitally. The result is lost efficiency because operator expertise can’t integrate with core systems. Companies overcoming this aren’t layering more machine learning. They’re building systems that amplify human intelligence. They digitize workflows, connect teams to real-time data, and create interfaces designed around how operators think and work, not the other way around. In this session, Docket will reveal how shop floor digitization platforms close the gap between operator expertise and digital execution. You’ll gain practical insights into smart manufacturing systems that support your frontline, enabling faster setups, higher accuracy, and smoother production. At a time when manufacturers chase the next big overhaul, don’t overlook the team that got you here. The goal isn’t replacing human insight, it’s designing systems that can multiply it.
SOUTHEAST Session: Maintenance is one of the most powerful levers manufacturers can pull to reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and stay competitive in a world where reliability is everything. Yet too many organizations remain trapped in a reactive cycle, addressing equipment failures only after they occur. This presentation will explore how smart teams are moving beyond “fix it when it breaks” to build the foundation for AI-enabled maintenance. Attendees will learn how to apply predictive strategies, leverage IIoT data, and adopt mobile-first CMMS tools to unlock insights that prevent failures before they happen. We’ll cover practical change management tactics that ensure technology investments deliver results, plus real-world examples of how manufacturers are using digital workflows to streamline operations and reduce costs. Participants will leave with actionable steps to transform maintenance from a cost center into a strategic advantage — and a clear roadmap to prepare their teams for an AI-driven future in manufacturing.
SOUTHEAST Session: Many small and medium-sized manufacturers feel overwhelmed by the hype around artificial intelligence yet struggle to see where to begin without significant disruption or cost. This talk will present a practical, proven framework that helps owners, operators, and engineering managers adopt AI in a step-by-step approach. Real case studies will be shared, including a sales order entry automation initiative that reduced manual effort by 60% through the use of a third-party AI solution, allowing employees to focus on higher-value customer service and informed decision-making. Attendees will gain a clear roadmap to identify high-impact opportunities, pilot small projects, and scale AI solutions that deliver measurable ROI and strengthen long-term competitiveness. This session provides actionable strategies and dispels common myths, demonstrating that digital transformation does not have to be complex or out of reach for smaller manufacturers ready to take the first step.
SOUTHEAST Session: Manufacturing is undergoing rapid digital transformation—driven by predictive maintenance, AI-driven insights, and smart factories. Yet IT/OT convergence is not achieved in strategy documents; it is lived daily through remote access, where people, vendors, and data cross into critical environments. This presentation explores the unique challenges CISOs and OT teams face—legacy patching debt, vendor access sprawl, ransomware pressure, and compliance demands—and why secure OT remote access is the essential bridge to efficiency, resilience, and productivity. Through industry case studies, we’ll examine how leaders are standardizing connectivity, reducing downtime costs, and enabling AI-driven operations—while ensuring security never falls behind transformation.
SOUTHEAST Session: Modern Swiss machining continues to evolve through advanced software that combines digital twin technology with AI-driven automation. This presentation explores how the latest tools in ESPRIT EDGE are transforming how complex, multi-axis kinematic machines are programmed - enhancing precision, adaptability, and overall efficiency - while also empowering the workforce with intuitive, intelligent solutions that simplify complexity, support upskilling, and help manufacturers attract and retain skilled talent in an evolving industry. Key Points: • Intelligent digital twin • Comprehensive setups • Simplified programming • Accurate simulation and G-code output
SOUTHEAST Session: Manufacturing leaders face unprecedented cybersecurity challenges as technology accelerates. This session provides a clear view of the current cybersecurity landscape, practical strategies to build visibility, strengthen IT reliability, and safeguard against emerging risks like Shadow AI. Cybersecurity expert Ryan Benson will cut through the myths of AI, highlight governance as a critical defense, and outline the key actions you should prioritize today to help you navigate cybersecurity.