Tuesday, June 17
7:15 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast and Exhibition
8:00 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
- Jay Timmons, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Association of Manufacturers
8:10 a.m. Opening Address: Defining the Human-Machine Relationship
- David R. Brousell, Founder, Vice President and Executive Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
As AI-powered machines become increasingly powerful and exceed human capabilities, human-machine partnerships will become ubiquitous, requiring manufacturers to decide the proper nature of these relationships. How do we decide the question of what and how much responsibility and authority to delegate to machines? Should manufacturers pick their objectives and harness AI to achieve them or should AI pick some of the objectives itself? These and other questions concerning AI loom for the industry. How we answer them may determine the future of manufacturing.
8:30 a.m. Keynote: CEO’s Perspective on Digital Transformation
- Barbara Humpton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens USA; Member, NAM Board of Directors
Digital transformation isn’t just a technology initiative—it’s a business imperative. Yet many manufacturers still struggle to align their digital strategy with overall business objectives, limiting their ability to drive real value. In this opening keynote, the U.S. CEO of a global technology and manufacturing leader will share her perspective on how manufacturers can overcome key challenges—from accessing capital to building the right teams—to accelerate their digital transformation. She’ll also explore how ecosystems can drive innovation, productivity, and sustainability to align business and digital transformation strategies that position manufacturers for long-term success in an era of continuous industrial reinvention.
Manufacturing’s digital transformation isn’t just about technology—it’s about value. Investors are paying attention to how manufacturers digitize, and those that do it right see a real financial impact. Hear how Wall Street evaluates digital transformation, why there’s no universal playbook, and what smart manufacturers do to maximize their valuation in an era of rapid change.
9:00 a.m. How Wall Street Views Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
- Katrien Carbonez, Partner, Managing Director, Industrials Group, Goldman Sachs
Manufacturing’s digital transformation isn’t just about technology—it’s about value. Investors are paying attention to how manufacturers digitize, and those that do it right see a real financial impact. Hear how Wall Street evaluates digital transformation, why there’s no universal playbook, and what smart manufacturers do to maximize their valuation in an era of rapid change.
9:30 a.m. Networking and Refreshment Break
10:05 a.m. Case Study: Transforming EnerSys’ Daily Improvements through Digital
- Raphael Germe, Senior Director of Global EOS and OPS Engineering, EnerSys
By implementing a robust daily improvement process as a core component of its operating system, EnerSys has revolutionized the century-old manufacturing of industrial batteries into a progressive, highly advanced lean operation. By fostering transparency and structuring opportunities effectively, EnerSys actively engages its workforce in continuous improvement. While AI accelerates waste reduction, root cause analysis, and the implementation of countermeasures, the foundation of success remains a strong culture driven by servant leadership.
10:35 a.m. Case Study: Accelerating Celanese’s Digital and AI Transformation for 10x Manufacturing Value
- Ibrahim Al-Syed, Director, Digital Transformation, Celanese
- Andrew Penton, Manufacturing IT Leader, Celanese
Celanese, the 2024 ML Award Category Winner in AI and Machine Learning, is rapidly advancing its digital transformation to create autonomous, integrated, and optimized manufacturing plants of the future through digital twins and a unified data platform. At the core of this evolution is JO.AI, a generative AI-powered system that enhances decision-making, automates processes, and integrates seamlessly into workflows to improve operational efficiency. By embedding AI into its solution ecosystem, Celanese is driving proactive facility management, ensuring reliability, and unlocking substantial value across its global manufacturing network, all while keeping customers and employees at the heart of the digitalization journey.
11:05 a.m. Meet the Innovators: 1:1 Briefing Sessions, Networking Break
12:30 p.m. Networking Lunch featuring Topic Tables
1:35 p.m. Concurrent Interactive (Re)Think Tanks
2:40 p.m. Power Panel: Handicapping the Global Digital Transformation Race
Where are U.S. manufacturers on the digital transformation journey in comparison to companies in Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world? Are U.S. manufacturers ahead or behind? This panel of distinguished manufacturing industry analysts will assess the digital competitive landscape and what U.S. companies can do to accelerate the digitalization and modernization of the U.S. industrial base.
- Andy Chatha, President and CEO, ARC Advisory Group
- Julie Fraser, Vice President of Research, Manufacturing and Operations, Tech-Clarity
- Matthew Littlefield, Co-founder, President and Research Lead, LNS Research
- Bob Parker, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Research, IDC
Moderator:
- David R. Brousell, Founder, Vice President and Executive Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
3:30 p.m. Networking and Refreshment Break
4:05 p.m. Executive Interview: Demystifying Autonomous Operations – Turning Complexity into Practical Transformation
With the rise of AI, robotics and workforce challenges, autonomous operations are transforming manufacturing—but navigating the surge of new technologies and strategies can be overwhelming. This session explores practical approaches to cut through the complexity, combining effective management and proven technologies to drive real outcomes. Learn how manufacturing leaders are bridging technology, people and processes to achieve lasting transformation and measurable success.
- Alberto Gomez, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain Innovation, Proctor & Gamble
- Tessa Myers, Senior Vice President, Intelligent Devices, Rockwell Automation | Kalypso
- Kevin Seaver, Vice President, Business Operations, Filtration Business, Cytiva
In conversation with: David R. Brousell, Founder, Vice President and Executive Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
4:35 p.m. Case Study: Hershey’s Digital Factory – How Hershey is Driving Manufacturing Excellence
- Will Bonifant, Vice President, Manufacturing, Operations Technology and Supply Chain Strategy, The Hershey Company.; Board of Governors, Manufacturing Leadership Council
In 2024, Hershey set out to make its conversion cost improvement target best in class. To get there, the company devised a holistic strategy to digitally upgrade all work, bringing automation and advanced analytics to its frontline teams and automating repetitive physical tasks for workers. This session will focus on the technologies Hershey is investing in, how it is transforming its workforce to deliver them, and early lessons learned as Hershey launches the next phase of its manufacturing excellence journey.
5:05 p.m. Fireside Chat
5:35 p.m. Cocktail Reception
AI in the Factory
Creating Digital Roadmaps
Industrial Cybersecurity
Next-Generation Leadership
Need we say more? Spend several days building relationships and connecting with like-minded executives both in and out of the event sessions.
Hear from industry experts with curated content throughout the event, including real-world case studies, panel discussions, research insights, executive interviews and more!
Participate in our personal 1-on-1 meetings to understand how different solutions can help you overcome your current business challenges.
Collaborate, engage, share and learn with your peers in our interactive Think Tank sessions. With a dozen topics to choose from, you are certain to walk away with new insights and ideas.
No matter where you are in your digital transformation journey, Rethink will help you understand how technologies can accelerate your journey, provide real-world insights and access to the manufacturing organizations leading the way.
A Rethink exclusive! Hear the highlights from each of our event partners during the Rethink custom VIP tour. In two minutes or less, you’ll gain quick insights and know where you’d like to take the opportunity to understand more.
Join small group table discussions during lunch to discuss specific industry topics around some of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers today.
Connect with some of the top Manufacturing Leadership Award project finalists and gain firsthand insights into their projects during our lightning round sessions and meet n’ greet tables.
Located along the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico on a white sand beach, the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort offers a luxurious setting and an experience like no other!
