Agenda - North American Manufacturing Excellence Summit

Stream One Chair

Daniel Myers

Former EVP Integrated Supply Chain at Mondelēz International, Senior Fellow at Haslam School of Business at University of Tennessee

Stream Two Co-Chair

Johan Beukema

Managing Partner

BCI Global

Stream Three Co-Chair

Nick Haase

Co-Founder

Maintain X Inc

2:00pm

2:30pm - 3:30pm

Panel: Shopfloor Safety Advancements/Avoidances – A Strategic Report Reviewing Plant Level Operations

Peter Henderson

Vice President Nitrogen Manufacturing

Dyno Nobel

Terry Secrest

EVP Manufacturing

RoyOMartin

Ravi Mydur

Vice President of Manufacturing

SLB

Brandon Freeman

Director EHS

Tesla

Session Details

Safety in manufacturing touches nearly every aspect of the business. Despite its costs, it must remain a priority. 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

3:35pm - 4:10pm

Unlocking your Most Powerful Tool – Your People

Executive to be Announced

Avanade Inc

Session Details

Deliver effective employee learning that drives performance, engagement and builds business-critical skills quickly and at scale
Close skill gaps and future-proof your workforce
Drive performance and propel careers, turning employees into brand advocates who attract top talent

4:10pm - 5:00pm

Panel: Auto Manufacturers Strategies Looking Forward – The Transformation and Transition to Electrification and Its Impact on Global Value Chains: Inter-Plant Competition, Employment and Supply Chains

Manny Bansi

Vice President, Logistics

Toyota

Session Details

How are you integrating and innovating your production processes with the latest advancements in technology (EV, AV, AI)? And how are you bringing people along the technology journey?
Automotive insights into approaches to sustainable production operations
What’s next? And how do we ready our workforce and facilities to accelerate electrification and technological innovation?
How can we utilize external partners and suppliers to increase efficiency

5:00pm - 5:35pm

Leading Through the Chaos: Driving Performance & Engagement

Jeff Pehler

Partner, Consumer & Industrial Products

West Monroe

Session Details

Overcoming the daily challenges of manufacturing leadership to drive real impact
Breaking the cycle of failed performance initiatives and creating lasting momentum
Applying behavioral science-backed strategies to boost engagement and results
Practical leadership approaches that work in high-pressure manufacturing environments

5:35pm - 6:25pm

Panel: Operational Leadership in Manufacturing: Winning Strategies for 2025

Myrna Macias

SVP Supply Chain Latam

PepsiCo

Adaora Nelson

Vice President of Quality & CORE

Raytheon

Valerie Blatt

Global Head of SAP Business Network Customer Success & Go-to-Market

SAP America

Rebecca Barta

Sr Director Material Operations, Infrastructure

Valmont Industries

Session Details

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.

6:30pm

7:15am - 8:15am

8:15am - 8:30am

Opening Remarks, Important Announcements and Chair’s Welcome Adress

Daniel Myers

Former EVP Integrated Supply Chain at Mondelēz International, Senior Fellow at Haslam School of Business at University of Tennessee

8:30am - 9:05am

How to Succeed in an Ever-Changing Manufacturing Environment: Setting Expectations – Do Ordinary Things Extraordinarily Well

Manny Bansi

Vice President, Logistics

Toyota

Session Details

Keeping focus on functional excellence and the critical importance of back to basics
Building resiliency and agility across networks – how can we react faster and get stability and keep it that way quickly
Creating your playbook – set of known knowns and how to make them as fast as possible while being prepared for the known unknowns

9:05am - 9:40am

Lockheed Martin – Transforming Operations in Defense

Tom Carrubba

Vice President of Production Operations

Lockheed Martin

Session Details

Creating a collaborative, connected and flexible environment designed to enable rapid development and deployment of manufacturing solutions and training for teams
Staying ahead of ready – how to quickly implement changes on the factoring floor by fostering collaboration amount production and advanced manufacturing teams
Transforming the enterprise – developing and deploying the Future “Smart” Factory elements across the enterprise

9:45am - 10:20am

Addressing the Top 4 COO Challenges for 2025

Shawn Smith

Director, Business Development - North America

Performance Solutions by Milliken

Session Details

How to deliver maximum end-to-end PERFORMANCE with minimal effort
How to enable problem solving at SCALE with cross-functional teams
How to RETAIN your people by enriching their work day and sense of purpose
How to leverage a zero loss mindset to build in excellence LONGEVITY

In this session Performance Solutions by Milliken (PSbyM) will show you how the best organizations are thriving in the current challenging landscape and how their teach-coach-mentor model of partnership helps these organizations engage their employees to excel with rapid ROI.

9:45am - 10:20am

Enabling the Front-Line with Data and AI

Willem Sundblad

CEO & Cofounder

Oden Technologies

Session Details

Why 47% of leading manufacturers are using AI to empower front-line workers
How turnkey AI solutions help junior operators perform like seasoned veterans, driving operational excellence
Gaining a competitive edge by lowering costs, improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), and addressing productivity gaps caused by workforce turnover
Showing how manufacturing benefits from AI and advanced analytics
Understanding common pitfalls that cause AI projects to fail and strategies to ensure successful implementation

9:45am - 10:20am

Modern Manufacturing – A New Standard for People and Processes

Matthias Mueller

Supply Chain Management Solution Advisor

SAP Americas

Session Details

Exploring how a modern manufacturing execution system (MES) runs processes for efficient operations – and so much more
Covering it’s flexibility to fit a wide range of physical equipment configurations, multiple processes and industry scenarios, and it empowers workforce decision-making
Learning how SAP integrates people and processes and ensures flexibility and consistency across a wide range of production scenarios
Discussing informed decisions, appropriate to a shift’s capabilities, create workforce and operational efficiency while aligning to overall business priorities, planning and logistics
Discussing how a modern MES combines the power of standard applications, the scalability of cloud, and a dynamic partner ecosystem, allowing manufacturers to set a new standard

10:25am - 12:05pm

Pre-Arranged One-to-One Meetings

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

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.

12:10pm - 12:45am

Securing Manufacturing’s Transition to the Cloud: Key Cybersecurity Strategies for Executives

Vinod D’Souza

Office of the CISO, Head of Manufacturing

Google Cloud

Session Details

The Cybersecurity Imperative in Manufacturing – the evolving cyber threat landscape in manufacturing, particularly concerning IT and OT convergence
Learn about the key cybersecurity challenges manufacturing companies face during cloud adoption
Develop robust cybersecurity governance frameworks that integrate risk management, compliance, and threat intelligence
Identify and implement essential strategies for securing critical assets and sensitive data in a cloud environment
Learn how to align cybersecurity strategies with business goals to ensure both security and operational efficiency
Building a cybersecurity culture within the organization

12:10pm - 12:45pm

Embracing Digital Transformation and It’s Impact on the Shop Floor

Session Details

The continued push to digitize supply chains and investment in novel technologies to drive efficiency, resilience and innovations
Challenges and successes of transitioning and implementing a variety of strategies
Reskilling and upskilling your workforce with digital tools and capabilities

12:10pm - 12:45pm

Process Intelligence (PQ): The Key to Building High Functioning Leaders

Shane Yount

CEO & President

Competitive Solutions, Inc.

Session Details

Most organizations conduct leadership training to attempt to develop and retain their leadership talent, however, the last three years have put an unprecedented strain on our leaders and organizations. Leadership fatigue is at an all-time high, the “Great Resignation” is real and relevant, and the leaders of the future must possess much more than just IQ and EQ. Learn the four “Non-negotiable Elements of PQ” that make High Functioning Leaders:

Is your organization currently suffering from “Leadership Fatigue?”
Does your current Leadership Development program only highlight IQ and EQ?
Are your emerging leaders staying or leaving the organization? Do they even know they are emerging leaders?
Do you want to create a sustainable leadership culture of Clarity, Connectivity, and Consistency?

12:45pm - 1:45pm

Overflow Lunch Seating

12:45pm - 1:45pm

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.

Digital Transformation of Indirect Spend: How Technology is Revolutionizing Manufacturing

Brent Heller

Senior Manager, Head of Manufacturing

Amazon Business

Breaking Barriers: Embracing the Future Through Mindset and Cultural Evolution

Tina Phang

Plant Director

Crenlo Engineered Cab

Upskilling and Retraining – A Manufacturing Imperative

Pedro Espinoza

Vice President of Operations

Former CRL

Manufacturing Automation, Simplified

Yvonne Smith

Vice President Global Manufacturing

Henry Schein Inc.

The Road to Zero Defects and Downtime: Real World Insights

Tom Woginrich

Principal Value Consultant, IBM Automation Platform Division

IBM Coporation

Applying Continuous Improvement Thinking to New Technology Rollouts

Darrin Perrott

Continuous Improvement Manager

Jamieson Laboratories

Indirect Procurement Strategies that Save Money and Boost Productivity

Cynthia Lapointe

Plant Manager

Kerry

Content to be Announced

Eric Behn

Director of Plant Operations

Laticrete

Focused look at Reliability and Improving Uptimes

Content to be Announced

Elliott Thornburg

Group Manager - Finished Good Operations

Milwaukee Electric Tool

Managing Through Shop Floor Redesigns

Angel Pagan

Director of Engineering & Maintenance

Monin

Maximizing the Impact of Your Existing Team with Energy-Centered Maintenance (ECM)

Kevin Clark

Chief Evangelist Officer

Nanoprecise Sci Corp

Strategies in Reducing Lead Times

Rinaldo Galdamez

Director of Operations Excellence

Novanta

From Fear to Excitement: Getting Operators Onboard with AI

Willem Sundblad

CEO & Cofounder

Oden Technologies

Scaling Industrial AI: From Niche Application to Enterprise Transformation

Josh Shupp

VP of Growth

Sight Machine

New Ideas in Workforce and Leadership Development to Retain and Upskill Our Teams

David Thomason

Continuous Improvement Manager

Sundyne LLC

Aligning Manufacturing with Our S&OP and Supply Chain Processes

Regina Barcena

Director Lean Program & Manufacturing Transformation

The Hersheys Company

Maintaining Culture and Productivity During Times of Disruption

Andrew Camden

Chief Operating Officer

Unusual Machines

1:50pm - 2:25pm

Manufacturing Intelligence: Priming Your Business to Keep Driving Competitive Advantages in Your Product Supply

David Murray

EVP, Manufacturing, IT & BOE system

Bombardier

Session Details

Focus on building your operational core to its peak efficiency and productivity and why digital transformation requires you to go back to the basics first
The foundation for successful digital transformation

1:50pm - 2:15pm

Conceptualizing Data-Driven Solutions and Action Plans for Shop Floor Management

Neha Shah

Senior Director Manufacturing

Land O'Lakes

Session Details

Driving innovation through custom solutions for a dynamic workforce
Real-world impact: Transparency, agility and efficiency
Strategies to streamline shop floor operations in a modern world
Motivating and empowering cross-functional teams to consistently outperform target benchmarks and fostering a culture of continuous improvement

1:50pm - 2:25pm

The Operational Backbone of an Agile Enterprise

John Sutton

Vice President, Operations

Thermo Fisher Scientific

Session Details

Creating agile multifunctional teams can enable organizations to quickly learn & reapply while driving business results
The establishment of lean, multidisciplinary teams to jointly develop, prototype and validate new processes, materials, and methods, solving challenging innovations to drive fast growth
See how the creation of decentralized, decision-making frameworks can accelerate innovation while enabling a culture that fosters learning and continuous improvement mindset
Learn about the latest ideas on defining innovative systems and solutions by a highly engaged operational team, and ensuring the implemented changes are appropriately adopted and maintained

2:30pm - 3:05pm

Moments That Matter: How to Create the Right Ecosystem for a Thriving Manufacturing Workforce and Provide a Friction-less Employee Experience

Adam Cooper

Partner, Digital Manufacturing Capability Leader

Ernst & Young LLP

Amy Rardin

Global Senior Director, SC Digitization & External Partnerships

Procter and Gamble

Session Details

Unprecedented convergence and pace of disruption are challenging manufacturers ability to become a talent magnet while the workforce is simultaneously demanding a differentiated experience due to structural forces.
Organizations need to pivot from a digital-first orientation to a Humans@Center focus and engage key levers across organization, technology and culture that prioritizes holistic employee engagement to drive efficiency and continuous improvement.
Procter & Gamble offers a unique case study of a best-in-class organization that has realized sustained performance improvement and ongoing innovation with a people-first, enhanced employee experience strategy.
Supply chain leaders need to reframe their transformation agendas to focus on the one function that truly creates value and competitive differentiation – manufacturing superior products that drive brand choice.

2:30pm - 3:05pm

Unlock Factory Data for AI and Data-Driven Excellence

Executive to be Announced

Sight Machine

Session Details

Join Sight Machine to see how streaming, transforming and analyzing plant floor data – in real-time and at enterprise scale – optimizes plant productivity, operator workflows, resource use, supply chain, after-sales support, and enable generative AI copilots.

2:30pm - 3:05pm

Standard Work and Order Exceptions

Tushar Bhalla

CTO

CloudPaths

Session Details

When everything goes right, manufacturers are good at standard work. But what about when you have to change an order, cut product, or when the customer has a problem with what they received? Hear how you can leverage technology to bring standard work to exception processes.

3:05pm - 4:20pm

Pre-Arranged One-to-One Meetings

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

3:30pm - 4:20pm

Executive focus groups are informal moderated discussions among peers, held during networking breaks outside the summit agenda. No sign-up is required; delegates and speakers can join any group of interest.

Panel Discussion: People VS Automation LATAM Based Challenges

Juan Pablo Mañón

COO

EMPower Energy

4:25pm - 5:00pm

Beyond Theory: How to Create an Inspired and Engaged Workforce

Garrett Dornbrook

Vice President, Manufacturing

Procter & Gamble

Session Details

Igniting Change: The psychology behind gaining the support of your work force and establishing the traction you need to move fast
Bringing Your Business to the Floor: Create a compelling vision through real business situations and storytelling, leverage your full organization to drive scaled solutions
Building an Inspired Team: Hold accountability, empower ownership and design your operation to run itself using the latest technologies
Harnessing Gamification: Tap into natural pride and competitive spirit through gamification, intentional reward and recognition and clear communication

5:05pm - 6:10pm

Live Interactive Musical Keynote: Quest to be the Best! Followed by Chair’s Closing Remarks

Daniel Myers

Former EVP Integrated Supply Chain at Mondelēz International, Senior Fellow at Haslam School of Business at University of Tennessee

Session Details

Creating an inspired Supply Chain Organization that is driven to be the best is a legacy we all want to create. In this multi-media presentation, Daniel Myers and four world class musicians will share what it takes to create A Band, A team that is committed to being the best. You will not want to miss this amazing keynote that takes you on a musical journey required to WOW the audience.

Everyone wants to be the Best, but all musicians are not willing to put for the effort to be the best. Individual Mastery takes a 10,000-hour journey
Learn how great musicians in your Band must be totally focused on delivering the perfect show
Learn from the very best within your genre but also across all genres and then add your Band’s creativity to go beyond!
You as conductor may not be the best musician but you must be the best coach.
There is a time for harmony, for unison but also for solos and then for the unified power packed chorus
“ You are only as good as your last standing ovation”- Kenny Rodgers

6:10pm

6:30pm

7:30am - 8:25am

7:45am - 8:20am

Overcome Uncertain Times: Digitally Enabled Transformation to Drive Business and Workforce Success

Chris Dobbrow

Vice President, Process Health

Augury

Session Details

Manufacturing customers have been piloting programs for years, with little scaled success to show, which has driven hesitancy and resistance to drive real change
Using purpose built AI solutions combined with industry expertise and dedicated customer success and support teams, manufacturers are finding high ROI and value, rapidly, and which can actually be scaled to any size organization
Assets aren’t all equal to your business, so your Machine Health program should be able to match the importance of your assets to your bottom line to help you do more than just eliminate unplanned downtime, but transform how you work and manage assets, processes and ultimately, production

7:45am - 8:20am

Seamlessly Connecting All Your Planning Processes – The Goal Can Become Reality

Mark Gordon

Senior Director, Supply Chain Solutions Sales

Anaplan

Session Details

Harmonizing S&OE with S&OP with IBP and EBP
- Understand why IBP so challenging
- Discover what true IBP means to your organization
- Leverage best practices on where & how you should start

Join Anaplan to learn how modern supply chain functions break the paradigm of long-established cycles by more nimble, efficient planning

8:25am - 8:35am

Chair’s Opening Remarks

Daniel Myers

Former EVP Integrated Supply Chain at Mondelēz International, Senior Fellow at Haslam School of Business at University of Tennessee

8:35am - 9:10am

Safety as a Competitive Advantage: How to Build Safety Into Your Culture and Drive Productivity

Peter Gibbons

Retired Group President Enterprise Supply Chain

3M Company

Session Details

Motivating and empowering teams to prioritize safety
Strategies to reduce recordable injuries
Balancing safety and productivity
Real-world impact: How focusing on safety makes teams better

9:10am - 9:45am

Manage Supply Chain to Navigate Tariffs and Geopolitical Risks

Sean Trainor

Senior Vice President, Global Head of Personal Systems Operations

HP Inc.

Session Details

Frontline insights: a real-world perspective on building a resilient supply chain amid unprecedented tariff and geopolitical challenges in 2025
Trapped by global dependencies: lessons from an industry heavily reliant on globally concentrated products and trade between geopolitically distant economies
Redemption approaches explained: leveraging Digital Twins for scenario planning, embracing cooperation with partners to shift production locations and end markets, enhancing flexibility to reallocate orders globally, and embedding supply chain resilience through product design
Recent breaking news & the road ahead: forward-looking strategies to navigate the evolving supply chain challenges

9:50am - 10:25am

Our Experience and Insights on Bringing AI into Our Enterprise

Mike Bassani

Senior Vice President, Supply Chain and Corporate Technology

Starbucks

Session Details

Summarizing our experience to date bringing AI into our processes with emphasis on the use-cases that have made real impact
How do you get started? Exploring ways to identify the problem to be addressed and the people who will leverage the AI to find solutions
Discussing recent changes in how organizations like ours are moving from chat to operations
Offering takeaways on emerging trends and guiding principles to apply based on our perspective as a leader in this still-emerging space

9:50am - 10:25am

Maintaining Competitiveness in a Globalized Economy

Heather Bishop

Global Director Manufacturing & Operations

John Deere

Session Details

Optimizing efficiency and reducing costs: John Deere’s strategic shift in manufacturing operations

9:50am - 10:25am

Forecasting to Better Prepare and Build a Skilled, Future-Ready Workforce

Session Details

Navigating the latest manufacturing trends and how to forecast to fulfill your mission and values
Strategies: The work, the workforce, the work place and fostering an environment of fairness, integrity and trust

10:30am - 11:15am

Pre-Arranged One-to-One Meetings

10:30 am – 10:50am: Meeting Slot 8/Networking
10:55am – 11:15am: Meeting Slot 9/Networking

10:45pm - 11:15pm

Executive focus groups are informal moderated discussions among peers, held during networking breaks outside the summit agenda. No sign-up is required; delegates and speakers can join any group of interest.

Setup Time Reduction - Challenges and Outcomes

Parthiban Ravikumar

Manufacturing Engineer

Bray International Inc

Navigating the Technical Challenges with M&A

Chris A Barone

Senior Director, Engineering

Edgewell Personal Care

11:20am - 11:55am

Mastering Precision: Optimizing Manufacturing Operations for Traceability, Quality and Cost-Effective Process Control

Lynn Cinelli

Vice President, Global Supply Chain

Bristol Myers Squibb

Session Details

The science of measurement – as the cornerstone for achieving traceability, quality standards and cost-effective process control
Understanding your role in fostering innovation and adaptability, enabling you to meet market demands with agility
Lean Production and Computer Integration Manufacturing to Maximize Quality – understanding how to manage tools from different suppliers, ensure data integrity and oversee process control

11:20am - 11:55am

Establishing a Demand-Driven and Responsive Supply Network

Sylvia Wilks

Chief Supply Chain Officer

Lamb Weston

11:20am - 11:55am

Unleash the Power of AI to Transform the Production of Tomorrow: Maximize your Manufacturing Potential with AI

Rakuya Artis

Vice President Global Operations & Supply Chain

DESTACO

Session Details

Accelerating cost reduction across administrative, commercial and production operations
Increasing revenue opportunities by optimizing sales, marketing, and customer experience
Supporting compliance and sustainability with accurate data and automated reporting

12:00pm - 12:35pm

Strategies to Enhance the Smart Factory Ecosystem

Lee Jellum

Director, Manufacturing Industry

GE Vernova

Session Details

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.

12:00pm - 12:35pm

Transforming Manufacturing Reliability for Optimal Efficiency and Streamlined Operations

Derek Lamberth

Director of Sales

Redaptive

Session Details

How generative AI simplifies and significantly optimize the resources needed to apply RCM
How to analyze failure modes of various assets or equipment alongside their root cause and its effect on system functionality
How to make data-driven maintenance decisions with focus on critical assets and improve asset
How to quickly operationalize AI-driven reliability to extend the equipment lifespan and unlock the full potential of the assets accelerating your journey towards predictive maintenance

12:00pm - 12:35pm

Crafting Success: Maximizing Manufacturing Output through Innovative Workforce Solutions

Louis Flory

CEO and President

Effex Management Solutions

Session Details

Exploring the crucial role of human talent in enhancing efficiencies and overcoming labor challenges
Comparing traditional staffing methods with revolutionized, tailored solutions and illustrating how blending these approaches can optimize results
Integrating automation and AI in manufacturing to enhance human roles and improve overall efficiency
Presenting case studies on real-world successes, along with a live demonstration

12:35pm - 1:35pm

Networking Lunch

1:40pm - 2:15pm

Smart Manufacturing: Impact on Productivity, Sustainability, and Workforce in Aerospace and Defense

Christina Upah

Vice President Attack Helicopter Programs & Senior Mesa Site Executive

Boeing

Session Details

Smart manufacturing’s impact on productivity including
- Real time data and predictive maintenance
- Supply chain optimization
- Customization and flexibility
Impact of smart manufacturing technologies on energy efficiency, material waste reduction, circular economy and recycling and sustainable supply chain
Impact on the workforce
Challenges to consider to maximize the full potential of smart manufacturing