Events
Master Class Series
Plant Tours
Future of Manufacturing Project
Rethink 2027
Rethink | June 27-30
Rethink: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
No matter where you are on the digital manufacturing journey, Rethink is a must-attend event to learn aspirational best practices, discover real-world case studies, and network with other leaders who are guiding the way to Manufacturing 4.0.
June 27-30, 2027 | Scottsdale, AZ
Plant Tour – United Scrap Metal
Join the Manufacturing Leadership Council at United Scrap Metal on August 12-13 in Cicero, IL, to learn about the complexities of a large-scale recycling operation that serves manufacturing, energy, construction, and demolition sectors.
Upcoming Events
From Legacy Constraints to Modern Foundations: How Digital Leadership is Evolving
Future of Manufacturing Project Master Class Session From Legacy Constraints to Modern Foundations: How Digital Leadership is Evolving For most manufacturers, digital transformation means navigating decades of accumulated technical debt, such as legacy systems, inherited architectures, and the organizational friction…
WEDNESDAY 2:00 pm- Tim Brannigan, Head of Information Technology, Niron Magnetics
- Jay Narum, Managing Director of Mid-Market, NTT DATA
Manufacturing’s Road Ahead: What MLC Data Reveals—and Leaders Need to Know
Master Class Session Description Manufacturers continue to invest in smart factories and rapidly adopt generative AI, yet significant gaps remain in data quality, governance, workforce skills, change management and execution. Just 17% believe their operational leadership teams are fully prepared…
WEDNESDAY 2:00 pm- Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
- Jeff Puma, Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
From Complexity to Clarity: Connecting the Digital Thread for Manufacturing Growth
Master Class Session Description As digital maturity grows, a new challenge is emerging: complexity. Technology has made mass customization possible, but disconnected systems, siloed teams and fragmented processes can keep success out of reach. As manufacturers push further into automation,…
WEDNESDAY 11:00 am- Nils Olsson, Chief Strategy Officer, Tacton
- Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
Digital Transformation Leadership Program: Info Session + Q&A
Digital Transformation Leadership Program: Info Session + Q&A Abstract Join us to learn more about the Digital Transformation Leadership Program, MLC’s premier executive digital leadership course for manufacturers in partnership with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Designed to meet…
WEDNESDAY 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm- Melissa Robertson, Associate Director, Professional Development, Manufacturing Leadership Council
Scaling CNC Production for Rapidly Growing Industries
Critical Issues Member Forum Call – New Product & Business Model Innovation Abstract Investment in aerospace and defense accelerated the product development timeline. Protolabs’ quick-turn machining capabilities needed to evolve with the industry now needing more complex parts in shorter…
THURSDAY 11:00 am – 12:00 pm- Chris Gottlieb, Global Product Director, Protolabs
Emerson Plant Tour
Experience automation innovation in action with an exclusive Manufacturing Leadership Council tour of Emerson’s state-of-the-art Boulder, Colorado factory.
Connecting Dimensions of Change: Data, Process Design, and Cultural Alignment
Critical Issues Member Forum Call – Leadership, Organization, Culture and People Abstract Transformation is no longer about implementing one new technology or launching one improvement initiative. It’s about building a connected system that accelerates innovation, improves performance, and creates new…
THURSDAY 11:00 am – 12:00 pm- John Blount, President and CEO, Pure & Gentle, Inc.
- Darin Klaehn, Vice President for Product Development, Pure & Gentle, Inc.
Siemens Plant Tour
Registration Now Open! If you have any questions about this or another upcoming plant tour, please email [email protected].
Award-Winning Innovation at General Motors: Scaling Industrial AI with Device-Level Analytics
Critical Issues Member Forum Call – Industrial AI Abstract General Motors, the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year, also received top honors in the Enterprise Integration & Technology category for its award-winning project, Device-Level Analytics to…
THURSDAY 11:00 am – 12:00 pm- Mahsa Moussavi, Staff Scientist, Manufacturing Device Collection Engineering, General Motors
- Matthew DeMott, Staff Data Engineer, Manufacturing Cloud Engineering, General Motors
The Future of Manufacturing Project: Emerging Technologies in Manufacturing
Digital Transformation Leadership Program
For interest or questions about this program, please email [email protected].
Past Events
From Legacy Constraints to Modern Foundations: How Digital Leadership is Evolving
Future of Manufacturing Project Master Class Session From Legacy Constraints to Modern Foundations: How Digital Leadership is Evolving For most manufacturers, digital transformation means navigating decades of accumulated technical debt, such as legacy systems, inherited architectures, and the organizational friction…
WEDNESDAY 2:00 pm- Tim Brannigan, Head of Information Technology, Niron Magnetics
- Jay Narum, Managing Director of Mid-Market, NTT DATA
Manufacturing’s Road Ahead: What MLC Data Reveals—and Leaders Need to Know
Master Class Session Description Manufacturers continue to invest in smart factories and rapidly adopt generative AI, yet significant gaps remain in data quality, governance, workforce skills, change management and execution. Just 17% believe their operational leadership teams are fully prepared…
WEDNESDAY 2:00 pm- Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
- Jeff Puma, Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
From Complexity to Clarity: Connecting the Digital Thread for Manufacturing Growth
Master Class Session Description As digital maturity grows, a new challenge is emerging: complexity. Technology has made mass customization possible, but disconnected systems, siloed teams and fragmented processes can keep success out of reach. As manufacturers push further into automation,…
WEDNESDAY 11:00 am- Nils Olsson, Chief Strategy Officer, Tacton
- Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
Digital Transformation Leadership Program: Info Session + Q&A
Digital Transformation Leadership Program: Info Session + Q&A Abstract Join us to learn more about the Digital Transformation Leadership Program, MLC’s premier executive digital leadership course for manufacturers in partnership with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Designed to meet…
WEDNESDAY 12:30 pm – 1:00 pm- Melissa Robertson, Associate Director, Professional Development, Manufacturing Leadership Council
Scaling CNC Production for Rapidly Growing Industries
Critical Issues Member Forum Call – New Product & Business Model Innovation Abstract Investment in aerospace and defense accelerated the product development timeline. Protolabs’ quick-turn machining capabilities needed to evolve with the industry now needing more complex parts in shorter…
THURSDAY 11:00 am – 12:00 pm- Chris Gottlieb, Global Product Director, Protolabs
Emerson Plant Tour
Experience automation innovation in action with an exclusive Manufacturing Leadership Council tour of Emerson’s state-of-the-art Boulder, Colorado factory.
Connecting Dimensions of Change: Data, Process Design, and Cultural Alignment
Critical Issues Member Forum Call – Leadership, Organization, Culture and People Abstract Transformation is no longer about implementing one new technology or launching one improvement initiative. It’s about building a connected system that accelerates innovation, improves performance, and creates new…
THURSDAY 11:00 am – 12:00 pm- John Blount, President and CEO, Pure & Gentle, Inc.
- Darin Klaehn, Vice President for Product Development, Pure & Gentle, Inc.
Siemens Plant Tour
Registration Now Open! If you have any questions about this or another upcoming plant tour, please email [email protected].
Award-Winning Innovation at General Motors: Scaling Industrial AI with Device-Level Analytics
Critical Issues Member Forum Call – Industrial AI Abstract General Motors, the 2026 Manufacturing Leadership Awards Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year, also received top honors in the Enterprise Integration & Technology category for its award-winning project, Device-Level Analytics to…
THURSDAY 11:00 am – 12:00 pm- Mahsa Moussavi, Staff Scientist, Manufacturing Device Collection Engineering, General Motors
- Matthew DeMott, Staff Data Engineer, Manufacturing Cloud Engineering, General Motors
The Future of Manufacturing Project: Emerging Technologies in Manufacturing
Digital Transformation Leadership Program
For interest or questions about this program, please email [email protected].
Eli Lilly and Analog Devices Plant Tour
Registration Now Open! If you have any questions about this or another upcoming plant tour, please email [email protected].
Scaling Smart Manufacturing: The Interoperability Forum
For questions, contact [email protected].
TUESDAY 11:00 am – 3:00 pm- David R. Brousell, Founder, Vice President and Executive Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
- Chris Crotts, General Manager, Toyota North America
- John Dyck, Chief Executive Officer, CESMII – The Smart Manufacturing Institute
- Michael Hotaling, Executive Advisor, ExxonMobil
Digital Transformation Leadership Program: Info Session + Q&A
Digital Transformation Leadership Program: Info Session + Q&A Abstract Join us to learn more about the Digital Transformation Leadership Program, MLC’s premier executive digital leadership course for manufacturers in partnership with Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Designed to meet…
WEDNESDAY 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm- Besher Al Makhlouf, Director, Innovation Content, National Association of Manufacturers
Rethink 2026
Rethink 2026 brings manufacturing leaders together for digital transformation insights, case studies, networking, and sessions on AI, smart factories, and Manufacturing 4.0.
