Master Class Series
A series of virtual educational programs for manufacturers who want to advance their operations and gain a competitive edge.
No matter where you are on your journey to manufacturing’s digital era, the MLC Master Class Series offers insights and ideas to help you move forward. The series explores new technologies, pain points and opportunities in Manufacturing 4.0. It also discusses the impact of technologies on your production lines and your workforce as well as how to make the transition to Manufacturing 4.0 less daunting.
You are invited to attend the entire series or choose individual events based on your needs and interests.
Webinars
Webinars in the MLC Master Class Series introduce you to innovative technologies and digital manufacturing experts that are moving our industry forward. You will learn how to identify new tech, evaluate it and implement it to enhance your operations and your success. You will also gain strategies to become a better leader in the age of digital progress.
Digital Twins—The Next Frontier in Manufacturing
October 29, 2025
Digital twins are transforming manufacturing with real-time AI, 3D visualization, and predictive insights to improve plant performance, safety, and competitiveness. Industry leaders share practical…
Leading Through Change in Manufacturing: Thriving Amid Constant Transformation
September 17, 2025
Manufacturing leaders will learn practical strategies to guide teams through automation, AI, reshoring, and sustainability-driven change. The session shares proven frameworks and plant-floor examples…
From Compliance to Value: Transforming Manufacturing Sustainability with Real-Time Data
July 30, 2025
Manufacturers are moving from compliance-focused sustainability to real-time data strategies that reduce emissions, cut costs, and strengthen business resilience. The webinar explores how actionable…
Leveraging AI for Supply Chain Transformation
June 4, 2025
AI is transforming manufacturing supply chains through automation, demand forecasting and predictive maintenance. The discussion highlights marketplace trends and the importance of clean, integrated…
Shaping the AI-Powered Factory of The Future
May 14, 2025
The Manufacturing Leadership Council’s Future of Manufacturing Project explores AI-centric factories, showing how AI will transform operations, decision-making, and innovation across the entire manufacturing…
From Data to Decisions: Unlocking the Strategic Power of Industrial Data
May 7, 2025
Learn how manufacturers can turn siloed industrial data into real-time intelligence with AI, governance and IT-OT integration to improve performance, cut costs and speed…
The Human Factor for M4.0 Success: A How-To Guide to Optimizing Your Workforce
April 2, 2025
A practical guide to optimizing manufacturing workforces through recruitment, upskilling, workforce planning, and employee engagement to improve productivity, profitability, and leadership bench strength.
Transforming Manufacturing from the C-Suite to the Shop Floor – The Power of Human-AI Collaboration
March 5, 2025
A webinar on GenAI in manufacturing explores how AI can boost efficiency, revenue, and workforce empowerment, while reshaping leadership decisions and shop floor roles…
Future of Manufacturing Project: AI-Centric Factories of the Future – Orlando Takeaways and Next Steps
January 22, 2025
Industry experts discuss takeaways from the Future of Manufacturing Project in Orlando and the next steps for building AI-centric factories of the future.
Seeing Beyond the Data: How AI and Computer Vision Unlock Hidden Insights for Smarter Manufacturing
June 12, 2024
A webinar on using AI, computer vision, and video-based software to spot bottlenecks, improve ergonomics, and optimize factory operations with real-time visual insights.
Preparing for the GenAI Revolution: Enterprise Readiness in Manufacturing
April 10, 2024
A discussion on how manufacturers can prepare for GenAI, from high-value use cases and data readiness to governance and change management, amid growing adoption…
Creating a Value-Driven AI Framework for the Future at Camatic
February 22, 2024
Camatic shares how AI and machine learning are helping it improve customer engagement, growth, and delivery certainty while building a low-risk framework for future…
The Connected Worker: A Fad, or the Foundation of the Future?
October 11, 2023
Connected worker strategies are emerging as a key part of digital transformation, linking people, systems, and assets to improve quality, productivity, and real-time decision-making.
Be ‘Predictive’ to Be ‘Preventive’
July 26, 2023
Industry 4.0 is pushing manufacturers to scale predictive maintenance across plants. This session covers technology selection, condition monitoring, and data analytics to improve uptime,…
Getting Strategic With AI
July 12, 2023
MLC’s new study finds most manufacturers are piloting AI, but only 29% have formal strategies. A panel discussion explores how to scale AI projects…
M2030: The Digital Manufacturing Revolution: Affording the Future
June 7, 2023
Panel discusses how manufacturers can fund digital innovation, improve operations, and accelerate ROI while navigating economic and geopolitical challenges.
How to Monetize Your Organization’s Data Assets for the Future
May 3, 2023
Manufacturers can unlock new revenue by monetizing untapped data assets, with generative AI and third-party data expanding opportunities for growth, valuation, and innovative use…
Unlock Productivity and Sustainability with Plant Data
February 22, 2023
A panel discussion on using plant data to boost productivity and sustainability, improve KPIs, and scale data-driven decisions across manufacturing operations.
How Adaptive Skills Can Build the Manufacturing Sector of the Future
November 30, 2022
Manufacturers can close the skills gap by embracing adaptive skills, transferable talent, and individualized learning to build a more flexible, digitally enabled workforce.
Manufacturing in 2030: A Lens of the Future
November 3, 2022
An expert panel discusses MLC’s Manufacturing in 2030 survey, highlighting digital competition, autonomous factories, and ongoing workforce challenges shaping the industry’s future.
Harnessing Digital Technology for a Sustainable Future
October 26, 2022
Digital technology and data analytics can accelerate manufacturing sustainability, helping organizations improve efficiency, cut carbon emissions, and advance net-zero goals while supporting business growth.
M2030 Project: What’s the Next Phase of Digital Evolution?
September 28, 2022
Industry leaders discuss the next phase of manufacturing’s digital evolution to 2030, covering megatrends, new technologies, workforce shifts, and sustainability challenges shaping future competitiveness.
Data-driven Manufacturing: Shop Floor to Top Floor — How Do You Industrialize and Scale M4.0 Data?
April 20, 2022
Panel discussion on how manufacturers can industrialize and scale M4.0 data from shop floor to top floor to improve decision-making, overcome data challenges, and…
Transforming the Factories of the Future: 5G and Data
March 16, 2022
Panel discussion on how private 5G, edge computing, and data analytics could transform factories with low-latency applications like AR, machine vision, and AGVs.
How Manufacturers Can Overcome Supply Chain Failures with Artificial Intelligence
March 2, 2022
Experts explain how AI and digital twins can help manufacturers simulate supply chain scenarios, quantify impacts, and make faster decisions. The session highlights practical…
Lean Manufacturing Operations Management – How to Make Agility the Focus
October 29, 2021
Panelists discuss how integrated manufacturing operations management and digital collaboration can boost lean agility, reduce waste, and improve throughput, quality, and service amid supply…
Imperatives for a Digital Workforce to Support M4.0
October 27, 2021
Panel discussion on building a digitally skilled manufacturing workforce for M4.0, covering hiring, upskilling, retention, and workforce planning to support ongoing digitization.
What’s Ahead for MES?
October 6, 2021
Experts discuss how manufacturing execution systems are evolving with Smart Manufacturing, Manufacturing 4.0, analytics, and IoT to deliver greater value for manufacturers.
Aligning the Organization for Successful Digital Transformation
July 28, 2021
Panel discussion on aligning people, processes, and technology for successful manufacturing digital transformation, with strategies for Manufacturing 4.0 vision, culture change, experimentation, and ROI.
Industrial Digitalization for Everyone
June 16, 2021
Panel discussion on manufacturing digitalization for mid-sized industrial organizations, covering practical readiness strategies, key technologies, and talent needed to compete in the digital era.
Quantum Now: How Leading Manufacturers Optimize Using Quantum Computing
May 26, 2021
Leading manufacturers are using quantum computing to tackle complex production and distribution problems, cut costs, and accelerate Manufacturing 4.0. The discussion offers a simple…
M4.0: Enhancing Cybersecurity’s Role
April 21, 2021
Panel discussion on how Manufacturing 4.0 can strengthen cybersecurity, bridging IT and OT to reduce risk, improve resiliency and maintain operational efficiency in remote…
Evolving a Digital Supply Chain with Advanced Analytics
April 7, 2021
Webinar explores how manufacturers use advanced analytics, AI/ML, and digital twins to optimize supply chains. Learn use cases, pitfalls, partnerships, and analytics maturity benchmarks.
M4.0: The Data Driven Enterprise
March 24, 2021
Panel discussion on Manufacturing 4.0 explains how to aggregate and analyze data across the enterprise to drive better decisions, empower workers, and avoid the…
M4.0: Cloud Enabled Digital Business Transformation
March 10, 2021
Webinar panel discussion on cloud-enabled Manufacturing 4.0 explores cloud-first strategies, digital integration, and data-driven decision-making to improve operations from shop floor to supply chain.
Accelerating Manufacturing Competitiveness with M4.0
February 24, 2021
Webinar on accelerating manufacturing competitiveness with M4.0, covering investment priorities, digital technologies, and agile implementation strategies to improve agility, ROI, and competitive advantage.
Moving Forward: The State of Manufacturing in 2021 & Beyond
February 21, 2021
Experts review manufacturing’s 2020 performance and the economic forces shaping 2021 and beyond, including workforce trends driving the factory of the future.
Sustainable Manufacturing: A New Paradigm for Progress
February 17, 2021
Webinar on sustainable manufacturing trends, challenges and digital solutions, featuring how companies can improve efficiency, quality, workforce productivity and supply chains through sustainability.
The Road(map) to Manufacturing 4.0: Building a Business Case
February 3, 2021
Learn how to build a Manufacturing 4.0 business case by assessing data maturity, quantifying operational pain points, and governing implementation to ensure measurable benefits.
Making Zero Defects Possible: A Quest for Manufacturing
January 27, 2021
AI-powered computer vision helps manufacturers detect defects earlier, reduce rework and warranty claims, and support zero-defects goals. The webinar shows how self-learning visual inspection…
Leading an M4.0 Transition While Still Minding the Shop: Expert Insights and Discussion by Plex Systems
September 13, 2019
Experts discuss how manufacturing leaders can plan an M4.0 transition, balance strategy and implementation, and manage workforce and technology needs while keeping day-to-day operations…
Toward Net-Zero Energy Use: How to Analyze and Reduce Your Power Usage
July 15, 2019
Learn how to analyze facility power quality and identify hidden inefficiencies that may cause equipment failures and frequent breakdowns. Understanding what to monitor can…
Future Factories IoT: Moving from Predictive to Prescriptive Maintenance
March 23, 2017
Video discussion with Paul Tate on Future Factories IoT, focusing on how maintenance is evolving from predictive to prescriptive in connected manufacturing.
Deep Dives
Deep Dives are interactive 60-minute sessions that continue and expand the learning necessary to be successful with new technologies. They are designed to deal with the many complexities surrounding new technologies and their effects by providing a more in-depth understanding of the technologies, how and where they can be applied, how you can successfully use them and how they can lead to the creation of new competitive advantages.
Each Deep Dive also features short breakout sessions focused on either “How Do I Get Started?” or “How Do I Further Leverage?” They are built to engage manufacturers at any stage of the process.
Leveraging Supply Chain Data
February 4, 2022
Hitachi’s Track-and-Trace uses AI and machine learning to provide end-to-end supply chain visibility, predict disruptions, and improve inventory management and productivity.
Unleash the Full Potential in Manufacturing with 5G
October 1, 2021
Learn how 5G can transform manufacturing with faster data, lower latency and greater bandwidth for better decisions. See how private connectivity, network slicing, reliability…
The Power of Interactive, Visual Images: How CPQ can generate top-line revenue
July 16, 2021
An MLC Master Class deep dive on Infor CPQ shows how interactive visual images help sales and marketing uncover opportunities and drive top-line revenue.
Can 5G Accelerate M4.0 Transformation?
March 26, 2021
Experts discuss how 5G can accelerate Manufacturing 4.0 by improving connectivity, edge AI, speed, latency, bandwidth and security. The session explores how manufacturers can…
Session: The Road to Intelligent Twins
March 12, 2021
Explore how AI, modeling, and simulation are advancing digital twins, and learn manufacturers’ readiness, benefits, and challenges in adopting intelligent twins.
Session: Managing IoT Data
February 26, 2021
Experts discuss best practices for collecting, organizing, normalizing, and analyzing growing IoT data in manufacturing to turn connected equipment information into actionable business insights.
Session: Quantum Computing
February 12, 2021
An MLC Deep Dive session explains quantum computing basics, its manufacturing applications, and the challenges and benefits of advancing this technology.
Tech Talks
One of the challenges faced by manufacturers, according to MLC research, is keeping up with the latest advancements in technology — from new technologies to the evolution of current technologies. To help overcome this challenge, the MLC created Tech Talks as part of the Master Class Series. These 30-minute candid conversations with subject matter experts provide insights into specific technologies and how they can accelerate your advanced manufacturing journey.
Tech Talks address purpose, adoption, implementation, optimization and best practices for manufacturing technologies. They will fuel your knowledge and enable you to stay current on new and evolving solutions within the marketplace.
Navigating Disruptions with AI and Automation Across the Supply Chain
September 13, 2024
Tech Talk explains how AI and automation help supply chains anticipate disruptions, improve resilience and sustainability, and boost productivity amid labor, material, and geopolitical…
The Process-Centric Approach to Solving Root Cause Problems
May 17, 2024
This Tech Talk shows how process-centric approaches help manufacturers solve root-cause problems and create tangible value amid supply chain, cost, and labor pressures. Featuring…
Improving Equipment Health and Visibility with Condition Monitoring
April 26, 2024
Tech Talk on condition monitoring shares best practices for predictive maintenance, platform evaluation, and expert support to reduce unplanned downtime and improve equipment visibility.
Deliver 5 Years of Value in 12 Months – Digital Continuous Improvement at Enterprise Scale
January 27, 2023
An executive Tech Talk on using digital performance management to prioritize the most impactful continuous improvement actions, strengthen CI and OEE programs, and create…
Adopting a People-Centric Approach to Digital Transformation
October 14, 2022
A candid discussion on leading digital transformation with a people-centric approach, balancing process improvement, technology, agility, and user confidence. Includes best practices and key…
Boost Operational Efficiency with Advanced Procurement Technology
June 10, 2022
Advanced procurement technology can streamline MRO, improve vendor and asset management, and cut requisition time by up to 80%, helping manufacturers reduce costs and…
Centralizing Data Analysis for Leveragability and Effective Predictive Maintenance Decision Making
April 29, 2022
Tech Talk explores how centralized predictive maintenance data analysis, sensor automation, and remote expertise help manufacturers make better maintenance decisions and optimize enterprise-wide preventive…
Building a Next-Generation Workforce for Manufacturing 4.0
June 3, 2021
Learn how modern workforce management tools can improve labor control, reduce costs, and support upskilling in Manufacturing 4.0. The discussion also features Dayforce Wallet,…
Building a Winning Technology Foundation for M4.0
May 21, 2021
This Tech Talk explores the architecture, technology and leadership foundations manufacturers need for enterprise integration and a digital thread to accelerate Manufacturing 4.0 success.
