October 6th

3:00 pm

Badge Pick Up

3:55 pm - 4:55 pm WELCOME DAY SPECIAL CONTENT: PANEL

Panel: Shopfloor Safety – Understanding the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of Plant-Level Operations

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Safety in food manufacturing touches nearly every aspect of our businesses. Join our panel of leading manufacturers to hear their report from the shopfloor and how they are developing and advancing their safety procedures and policies.

  • Achieving a single source of truth and increased visibility into everyday operations in order to:
    • Monitor real-time processes
    • Document procedure and policies
    • Use these aids in traceability and accountability
    • Provide actionable reporting and analytics
5:00 pm - 6:00 pm WELCOME DAY SPECIAL CONTENT: PANEL

Panel: Four Big Ideas for Operational Leadership in Food Manufacturing

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  • Empowering Employee Engagement: Effective engagement is more than just morale; it’s about creating an environment where employees take ownership of their roles. We’ll discuss strategies for fostering open communication, recognizing contributions, and aligning individual goals with organizational success. Key challenges like overcoming resistance to change and bridging generational workforce gaps will be addressed.
  • Securing Buy-In for Digital Tools: Implementing new technologies often meets resistance on the shop floor. This session will explore how to present digital tools as enablers, not threats, by involving employees early, addressing fears of job displacement, and emphasizing practical benefits like improved safety, efficiency, and productivity. Training programs and peer advocacy will also be covered to ensure seamless adoption.
  • Building Skills for Tomorrow: Upskilling is critical to prepare your workforce for industry 4.0 and beyond. We’ll identify the technical and soft skills most in demand for 2025, strategies for integrating ongoing learning into daily operations, and how to overcome the challenge of knowledge gaps in a fast-evolving landscape.
  • Driving Continuous Improvement: In an era of fluctuating customer demands and supply chain complexities, continuous improvement remains a cornerstone. The discussion will focus on integrating real-time data analytics, fostering a culture of problem-solving, and balancing agility with consistency to optimize performance across the production line.
6:00 pm

Drinks Reception

October 7th

Stream 1 Chair
Stream 2 Chair
7:30 am - 8:15 am

Registration & Breakfast

8:15 am - 8:20 am

Opening Remarks and Important Announcements

8:20 am - 8:30 am

Chair’s Welcome Address

8:30 am - 9:05 am KEYNOTE

Food Manufacturing Leadership as an Art, as a Science, and as a Heavy Responsibility

Magdi Batato

(Retired) EVP, Head of Operations

Nestlé

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  • Remembering that whatever our day-to-day looks like, or how the business landscape changes, we are feeding people, including our own families. We never get to take a break or cut corners, so how do we continue to excel in our work no matter what?
  • Discussing how the new generation of tools and technologies is changing how we work in the day-to-day and also changing what we are capable of in the long term. What are we as an industry doing to get the most out of these new capabilities?
  • Incorporating the best practices and lessons learned in other industry sectors to improve the productivity, quality, and reliability of food manufacturing
  • How are we positioning and futureproofing our organizations for future success? What should we be learning about and thinking about and starting right now so we will be ahead of the curve on what comes next?
9:05 am - 9:40 am KEYNOTE

Preparing Our Organizations for Disruption and Instability Ahead

Claudio Parrotta

SVP & Chief Supply Chain Officer North America

Mondelēz International

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  • Taking lessons learned from past disruptions to be proactive about our ability to respond to sudden changes in the business environment
  • Creating a diversified supply chain network to reduce dependence on single sources and bottlenecks
  • Discussing the importance of regularly assessing and reassessing supplier capabilities, resilience, and contingency plans
  • Investing in predictive analytics to anticipate and proactively address potential disruptions
  • Implementing modular production systems that allow for easy reconfiguration and scalability
9:45 am - 10:20 am Workshops
Stream One

Strategies to Enhance the Smart Factory Ecosystem

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Learn how modern Smart Factory solutions are revolutionizing manufacturing by connecting 4.0 technologies such as cloud computing, IIoT, AI, analytics, machine learning and data lake architecture with your existing systems allowing an evolution to Smart Manufacturing.

Stream Two

Improved Performance by Investing in your Performers – Workforce Development Programs as an Engine for Positive Change

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  • Building and operating a hands-on training system of use to every facet of your organization
  • Creating opportunities for your workforce to learn and grow as individuals, as leaders, and as part of a team
  • Educating your team to identify waste and impediments to productivity and generate value
  • Learning from your team to find the real KPIs that determine productivity, technological capabilities, environmental performance, and cost savings
  • Building capabilities that drive integrated improvements across quality, service, and cost outcomes
  • Demonstrating the ROI of investing in training
10:25 am - 12:05 pm Pre-Arranged One-To-One Meetings Arrow Icon

These mutually agreed-upon conversations are arranged and facilitated by Executive Platforms staff to ensure attendees have valuable discussions about their top-of-mind questions, challenges, and opportunities.

  • 10:30 am – 10:50 am: Meeting Slot 1/Networking
  • 10:55 am – 11:15 am: Meeting Slot 2/Networking
  • 11:20 am – 11:40 am: Meeting Slot 3/Networking
  • 11:45 am – 12:05 pm: Meeting Slot 4/Networking
12:10 pm - 12:45 pm Case Studies
Stream One - Manufacturing Strategy

The Importance of Strong Leadership in Turbulent Times

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  • Guiding the development of robust strategies to address challenges such as supply chain disruptions, regulatory changes, and market demands
  • Demonstrating how leaders foster a culture of compliance and accountability to uphold the highest standards in food safety protocols and manufacturing operational excellence
  • Discussing how leadership has evolved and how to effectively influence the culture of our organizations
  • How are we identifying, developing, and supporting the future leaders and rising talent we will need in the future?
Stream Two - Manufacturing Operations

Why Do Lean Programs Fail, and What Can We Do About It?

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  • Seeking the root causes behind why Operational Excellence programs often fail to meet their objectives
  • Proving that lean thinking only works if it starts from the top while building from the bottom
  • Demonstrating that progress is made through evolution, not revolution
  • Incorporating these truths into project planning and workforce development thinking
12:45 pm - 1:45 pm THEMED LUNCH DISCUSSIONS

Explore this year’s themed lunch discussions led by industry leaders, where executives engage in focused conversations over a meal, discussing topics they’re passionate about alongside their peers.

Manufacturing’s Contributions and ROI from Integrated Business Planning (IBP)

From Fear to Excitement: Getting Operators Onboard with AI

Understanding Asset Lifecycle Management to Control Costs and Maximize Productivity

Discussing Safety Management’s Big Three: Behaviors, Processes, Environments

Integrating Risk Management into Quality Management and Automated Systems

How to Drive Affordable Automation

1:45 pm - 2:20 pm Case Studies
Stream One - Manufacturing Strategy

Driving Operational Excellence: Lessons in Efficiency, Automation, and Leadership

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  • Enhance production processes with cutting-edge technologies and data-driven decision-making.
  • Implement sustainability initiatives that reduce waste, improve efficiency, and meet evolving regulations.
  • Adapt to shifting consumer demands through agile manufacturing and strategic innovation.
  • Drive operational excellence by optimizing global supply chains and streamlining workflows.
Stream Two - Manufacturing Operations

Effective Labor Negotiation in a Changing Workforce Landscape

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  • Understanding the evolving expectations of the modern workforce and how to address them in negotiations
  • Navigating union relationships to create mutually beneficial agreements that support business objectives
  • Developing negotiation strategies that foster collaboration and long-term workforce stability
  • Addressing workforce challenges, including skills shortages and generational shifts
2:25 pm - 3:00 pm Workshops
Stream One

Transformation Simplified: Creating a Sustainable Culture of Connectivity, Clarity, and Consistency

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  • Embracing a sensible and business-focused leadership methodology that promotes employee involvement and empowerment
  • Understanding the roles process and personality have in powering your organization’s performance
  • Making collective accountability visible and personal to transform and inspire workforce engagement
  • Creating a communication cadence that drives focus, urgency, and accountability
  • Discussing working leadership tools to promote ongoing improvement in communication, productivity, employee satisfaction, and bottom-line business results
  • How do you plan to build a leadership legacy of accountability rather than dependency?
Stream Two

A Journey into Smart Factory Implementation

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  • Highlighting the significance of integrating advanced technologies to streamline production processes
  • Offering practical solutions for real-time monitoring and data analytics enable quick decision-making
  • Utilizing smart sensors at various stages of the production line ensures consistent quality control by continuously monitoring critical parameters like temperature, humidity, and ingredient proportions
  • Integrating AI-powered tools in the manufacturing process to enhance worker productivity and safety
3:05 pm - 4:15 pm Pre-Arranged One-To-One Meetings Arrow Icon

These mutually agreed-upon conversations are arranged and facilitated by Executive Platforms staff to ensure attendees have valuable discussions about their top-of-mind questions, challenges, and opportunities.

  • 3:05 pm – 3:25 pm: Meeting Slot 5/Networking
  • 3:30 pm – 3:50 pm: Meeting Slot 6/Networking
  • 3:55 pm – 4:15 pm: Meeting Slot 7/Networking
4:20 pm - 4:55 pm KEYNOTE

Strengthening Financial Resilience in Food Manufacturing

Amy Haigler

Vice President, Americas Supply Chain Operations

McCormick & Company

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  • Identifying cost-saving opportunities in production processes without compromising quality
  • Optimizing capital investment in automation, facility upgrades, and workforce development
  • Managing raw material and supply chain costs to improve financial stability
  • Leveraging financial forecasting and data analytics to drive operational efficiency
  • Implementing lean financial strategies to enhance profitability in a competitive market
4:55 pm - 5:30 pm KEYNOTE

The Future of Smart Manufacturing – Harnessing Emerging Technologies

Ricardo Moreira

Chief Supply Officer

AB InBev

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  • Exploring the impact of AI-driven predictive maintenance to minimize downtime and reduce costs
  • Leveraging digital twins for real-time simulation and optimization of production processes
  • Integrating blockchain for enhanced supply chain transparency and traceability
  • Utilizing autonomous robotics and cobots to streamline labor-intensive operations
5:30 pm - 5:35 pm

Chair’s Closing Remarks

5:35 pm

Drinks Reception

October 8th

7:30 am - 8:20 am

Registration & Breakfast

7:45 am - 8:20 am breakfast workshops
8:25 am - 8:35 am

Chair’s Opening Remarks

8:35 am - 9:10 am KEYNOTE

Optimizing Food Manufacturing Through Digital Innovation

Venkatesan Santhirahasan

Senior Vice President of Engineering

PepsiCo

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  • Discover strategies to streamline operations, adapt to market shifts, and optimize supply chains in real time
  • Learn how to harness predictive analytics and digital twins to improve quality control and operational performance
  • Uncover innovative solutions that minimize resource consumption, reduce emissions, and enhance profitability
9:10 am - 9:45 am KEYNOTE

Improving Manufacturing Performance Through Standardized Global Operating Systems

Francisco Camacho Beltrán

CEO

Grupo Lala

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  • As we rethink our supply chains and add regional autonomy into our business strategies, let’s remember good ideas found anywhere can work everywhere. How do we make sure our best practices are applied throughout our organizations?
  • Creating and implementing a scientifically rigorous model to control both short- and long-term planning and execution of work
  • Highlighting the role of people as the catalysts and drivers of change within an organization
  • Standardizing business practices across global operations and encouraging a culture of Continuous Improvement
  • Illustrating process optimization in action and discussing what the next steps will look like
9:50 am - 10:25 am Case Studies
Stream One - Manufacturing Strategy

Managing Energy Consumption and Costs is Easier and More Impactful Than You Think

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  • Showcasing examples of easy wins and quick victories that eliminate waste and improve efficiencies in energy usage that convince people positive changes can be achieved
  • Encouraging input from all levels of the workforce and translating local successes into global best practices
  • Creating a system where success is reinvested into further efficiencies and improvements
  • Demonstrating how incremental improvements and ongoing changes in workforce culture can produce an enormous return over time
  • Offering ways to take these examples and lessons learned and apply it to your own operations
Stream Two - Manufacturing Operations

Beyond Compliance: Building a Proactive Environmental, Health and Safety Culture

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  • Moving from reactive compliance to a proactive safety culture that prioritizes prevention and employee well-being
  • Integrating sustainability and environmental considerations into everyday operations
  • Implementing cutting-edge safety technology to minimize risks and ensure regulatory adherence
  • Exploring the role of leadership in fostering a safety-first mindset across all levels of the organization
10:25 am - 11:15 am Pre-Arranged One-To-One Meetings Arrow Icon

These mutually agreed-upon conversations are arranged and facilitated by Executive Platforms staff to ensure attendees have valuable discussions about their top-of-mind questions, challenges, and opportunities.

  • 10:30 am – 10:50am: Meeting Slot 8/Networking
  • 10:55am – 11:15am: Meeting Slot 9/Networking
11:20 am - 11:55 am Workshops
Stream One

Overcoming the Challenges and Realizing the Potential of Automated Inspection Systems

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  • What does it take to design a system that can handle the variability of the food industry?
  • Investing in automation technologies allows people to be problem-solvers, not button pushers
  • Addressing the issues of adapting these systems to unforeseen changes which may be time-consuming and costly, limiting its flexibility
  • Offering solutions to ensure that new technology complies with industry regulations and standards
Stream Two

Generate Value from Plant Floor Data with AI and the Digital Twins

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  • Why do some food manufacturers continue to struggle to extract useful information from the data available?
  • Illustrating the power digital twins can offer food manufacturers
  • Understanding the role of AI and digital twins in making plant floor data actionable in real-time
  • Demonstrating real-world use cases with measurable ROI
12:00 pm - 12:35 pm Case Studies
Stream One - Manufacturing Strategy

Driving Operational Excellence: Lessons in Efficiency, Automation, and Leadership

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  • Establish a Framework for Success: Learn how to create and implement standardized best practices to drive consistency and efficiency.
  • Harness the Power of Automation: Discover ways to integrate automation into operations to enhance productivity and streamline workflows.
  • Improve Visibility and Decision-Making: Explore how data-driven approaches can improve traceability, coordination, and overall performance.
  • Navigate Challenges and Drive Change: Gain insights into overcoming common obstacles and leading successful operational transformations.
Stream Two - Manufacturing Operations

Shop Floor Efficiency as the Foundation for a Culture of Continuous Improvement

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  • Revisiting the tried, tested, and true Lean Manufacturing principles that minimize waste and streamline processes
  • Updating our Lean toolbox to include the latest digital and automated systems to take repetitive tasks off our people’s workload while enhancing speed and accuracy
  • Discussing how smart technologies such as sensors and robotics improve production line efficiency, and how our teams will interact with them on a daily basis
  • Remembering that success is driven by a culture. How do we build and maintain a culture that wants to do better every day?
12:35 pm - 1:35 pm THEMED LUNCH DISCUSSIONS

Explore this year’s themed lunch discussions led by industry leaders, where executives engage in focused conversations over a meal, discussing topics they’re passionate about alongside their peers.

Packaging Innovations: The Future of Sustainable and Smart Packaging Emerging

Investing in Next-Generation Talent: The Role of Apprenticeships and Training Programs

Cyber Risk Management in Connected Food Manufacturing Environments

1:35 pm - 2:10 pm KEYNOTE

The Leader’s Role in Cultivating an Engaged, Dynamic Workforce

Ewan Andrew

President, Global Supply Chain & Procurement and Chief Sustainability Officer

Diageo

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  • Examining the unique role and responsibilities of leaders in transforming the culture and results of an organization
  • Demonstrating the power of Servant Leadership – Putting people first and expecting them to be extraordinary
  • Introducing practical leadership approaches that compel and empower the participants to move their organization beyond the constraints of the past and go to the next level of performance
  • Winning support through early successes, ongoing training, and a clear path forward for your workforce
  • Illustrating the value of soft skills of change management and effective communications to leaders of OpEx programs
  • Discussing different ways to bridge the gap between leaders and their teams
2:10 pm - 2:45 pm KEYNOTE

From Strategy to Execution in Supply Chain and Manufacturing

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  • Align operational strategy with long-term business objectives across diverse markets
  • Streamline global manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and reduce complexity
  • Adapt to supply chain disruptions with data-driven decision-making and scenario planning
  • Advance sustainability and innovation across operations while maintaining performance
2:45 pm - 2:50 pm

Chair’s Closing Remarks

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