Show Floor Happy Hours
SOUTHEAST Session:
SOUTHEAST Session:
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.
SOUTHEAST Session: Are you getting the most out of your operations? Many manufacturers leave performance on the table due to outdated CNC machining processes, practices and programming. In this expert panel presentation, FANUC America’s Executive Director of Aerospace and Defense Rick Schultz will lead a discussion about how to take advantage of new technologies, create automation strategies, and utilize IOT and digitalization software to drive operational success. Audience Takeaways: -Learn growth strategies on how to keep machining operations competitive and profitable. -Hear from industry leaders on their realistic approaches to AI for impactful ROI. -How to mitigate pain points with optimizing equipment and taking advantage of advanced machining functionality. -Best practices on setting up shops to support more flexible and effective operations. -Using cutting-edge CNC technology, IoT, digitalization and other tools to drive operational success. -Phasing in newer technologies into existing production lines. -Planning and preparing for your next CAPEX for the best ROI. -How to be effective and productive while facing a tight labor market and a growing skills gap. -Steps to a more self-reliant company using in-house capabilities. -Developing meaningful partnerships in the industry.
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Robert Longfellow, CTO, Juxtum Inc.
SOUTHEAST Session: As global manufacturing enters the next wave of industrial transformation, the convergence of digital threads and IoT is reshaping the way products are designed, built, and maintained. A digital thread creates a seamless flow of data across the product lifecycle — from design and engineering to production and aftermarket service. When paired with IoT-enabled smart factories, this integration unlocks unprecedented operational visibility, agility, and intelligence. This session explores how manufacturers are leveraging IoT to create connected ecosystems that power predictive maintenance, real-time quality control, autonomous operations, and closed-loop decision-making. We will discuss practical frameworks for implementing digital threads and highlight ROI-driven success stories from discrete and process manufacturing.
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Len Reo, President, AttivoERP
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Patrick Ives, Head of Operations, PRYM
SOUTHEAST Session:
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Errol Burrell, National Product Manager, Matsuura USA
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Michelle Leon, Operations Manager, Levil Technology