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Why Your Operators Are Still Your Best Manufacturing Investment

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.

A Connected, Organized and Process Driven Shop Floor Starts with Security

SOUTHEAST Session: This panel will discuss the importance of security in driving the ever-connected organization and supply chain. From the simple best practices of the small shop owner to the NIST and Cybersecurity Defense CMMC 2.0 requirements, this team has the history and experience to enlighten you on your journey. Join us for an engaging presentation and follow-up Q&A session that will leave you glad you took the time to hear best practices, mistakes to avoid, questions to ask, and how to position your shop to be safe well into the future. From the Top Floor to the Shop Floor - manufacturers cannot remain competitive without connectivity and transparency. Keeping you protected, connected, and systemized with process will lead to efficiency, consistency, and scalability. It is the system and service provider's job to keep you safe so you can produce good parts on time and make a profit - join us for some valuable dialog!

Are You Maximizing Your Growth Potential with Government Opportunities?

SOUTHEAST Session: The South Carolina APEX Accelerator, part of the national APEX Accelerators network administered by the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs, empowers businesses to compete in the government marketplace. This presentation provides an overview of how the SC APEX Accelerator supports companies through market research, bid-matching services, development of market materials, contract management and guidance on federal, state, and local certifications at no-cost to their clients. Attendees will learn how SC APEX Accelerator can assist them in navigating the government contracting marketplace while leveraging key programs and resources such as the Mentor-Protégé Program and Small Business Administration to expand their overall reach.

Andy Carr

Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Andy Carr, President/CEO, SCMEP

Keynote: The Workforce Development Ecosystem in the State of South Carolina

SOUTHEAST Session: This session will be held on Tuesday, October 21st from 10:00am-Noon and will begin with a keynote focused on Michelin North America’s workforce development strategies including the company’s unique Talent Campus program. The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion with workforce development leaders from the state of South Carolina, the South Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (SCMEP), and Industrial Motor Service, Inc.

Jeremy Stettin

Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Jeremy Stettin, Sales Engineer, Acquired Data Solutions, Inc.

Robotics as a Partner, Not a Replacement, for Manufacturing Jobs

SOUTHEAST Session: Manufacturers today face a critical workforce challenge. An aging labor pool, persistent skills shortages, and post-pandemic attrition have created gaps that traditional hiring alone cannot solve. These pressures demand innovative approaches to sustaining productivity and competitiveness. Robotics offers a practical, scalable solution, not as a replacement for people, but as a partner that augments human capabilities. Collaborative robots (cobots) are designed to work alongside operators, taking on repetitive, physically demanding, or hazardous tasks. This partnership allows employees to focus on higher-value activities such as quality control, process improvement, and customer engagement. Studies show that human–robot teams significantly reduce idle time and improve throughput compared to all-human work environments. Real-world examples illustrate the shift. Chipotle’s “Autocado” robot automates the tedious process of cutting and coring avocados, while staff concentrate on quality and service. On manufacturing floors, cobots assist with material handling, precision assembly, and inspection; areas where ergonomics and consistency are critical. Rather than eliminating jobs, robotics transforms them, creating safer workplaces and more sustainable operations. This session, “Robotics as a Partner, Not a Replacement, for Manufacturing Jobs,” will explore how manufacturers can strategically adopt robotics to address workforce shortages without diminishing employee value. Attendees will gain insights into the benefits of cobot integration, practical considerations for implementation, and the long-term potential of human–robot collaboration. The presentation emphasizes that the future of manufacturing is not a choice between people and machines, but a partnership that strengthens both.