Chris Pickett
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Chris Pickett, Chris Pickett, MASS Group, Inc.
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Chris Pickett, Chris Pickett, MASS Group, Inc.
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Anton Thomas, Director, Michelin North America, Inc
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.
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
SOUTHEAST Session: "From Crisis to Control: Offset Impact of Taxes & Tariffs with Modern Mfr. Business Software," 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: Rupal Nanavati, Digital & IoT Transformation Leader, Sutherland
Speaker at SOUTHEAST: Robert Jacobs, Digital Growth Director, CliftonLarsonAllen
SOUTHEAST Session:
Step into the shoes of a frontline operator. This immersive, hands-on experience brings continuous digital transformation to life. The Pop Up Factory showcases how Tulip’s composable ecosystem empowers manufacturers to deploy human-centric solutions.
The Corporate & Institutional Member Roundtable is an exclusive, invitation-only program bringing together leaders from manufacturing companies and universities to address one of the industry’s most urgent challenges: preparing graduates who are ready to excel in today’s manufacturing workplace.