Press Releases

Manufacturing Leadership Council Elects Two New Industry Leaders to Board of Governors

Washington, D.C. – The Manufacturing Leadership Council, the digital transformation division of the National Association of Manufacturers, has announced the election of Dow Global Operations Director for Operational Excellence and Leveraged Services Tim O’Neal and PIC Trailers President Bryan Van Itallie to the MLC’s Board of Governors. The MLC is the nation’s leading networking and executive leadership organization dedicated to digital transformation in manufacturing by focusing on the technological, organizational and leadership dimensions of change.

Tim O’Neal

O’Neal is responsible for improving the performance of people and processes through continuous learning, professional development, effective teams and cost-effective implementations. He also leads strategic initiatives for operations, including digital strategy. He has been with Dow for 23 years and has lead initiatives in environmental, health, safety and sustainability; supply chain; R&D; logistics; and operations IT technology.

Van Itallie leads all aspects of PIC’s business and has led development of a new, metrics-driven vision, mission, core values and strategic plan for the company. He has increased the company’s monthly revenue; developed and launched new intermodal chassis; spearheaded a company culture transformation; and improved talent development and management to better align employee skills.

Bryan Van Itallie

“The addition of Tim and Bryan brings robust skill sets and deep experience to the MLC board, and we welcome their fresh perspectives,” said Cooley Group President and CEO and MLC Board of Governors Chairman Dan Dwight. “Collaborations like these are essential not only for strengthening the MLC, but also for improving the industry’s future.”

“The MLC is fortunate to have a dedicated group of industry experts to guide and shape our mission as manufacturing’s digital landscape continues to evolve,” said MLC Founder, Executive Director and Vice President David R. Brousell. “These new additions further enhance the depth and breadth of knowledge on our board and solidify our position as an organization that is at the forefront of digital manufacturing.”

As an advisory body, the MLC Board of Governors provides guidance to the MLC on its annual Critical Issues agenda, research studies and programs and services for the MLC membership.

-About the MLC-

Founded in 2008 and now a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s mission is to help manufacturing companies transition to the digital model of manufacturing by focusing on the technological, organizational and leadership dimensions of change. With more than 2,500 senior-level members from many of the world’s leading manufacturing companies, the MLC focuses on the intersection of advanced digital technologies and the business, identifying growth and improvement opportunities in the operation, organization and leadership of manufacturing enterprises as they pursue their journeys to Manufacturing 4.0.

 

Press Releases

Intertape Polymer Group, Cooley Named Top Winners in 2024 Manufacturing Leadership Awards

Daniel Dwight named Manufacturing Leader of the Year in awards program's 20th season

Marco Island, Fla. – The National Association of Manufacturers’ Manufacturing Leadership Council has named Daniel Dwight, President and CEO of Cooley Group, as the 2024 Manufacturing Leader of the Year. Dwight has overseen a significant turnaround in Cooley’s business performance through digital transformation with a commitment to investing in smart factory technologies and developing a digital-ready workforce and business culture. Dwight also serves on the MLC’s Board of Governors and is a member of the NAM Board of Directors Executive Committee. Additionally, Cooley Group was named the 2024 Small-Medium Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year.

Intertape Polymer Group was named the Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year in recognition of its achievements in digital transformation, including technology integration and workforce training. The company was also recognized for its noteworthy achievements in sustainability through both reductions in energy usage and waste.

“The class of 2024 should indeed be proud of their achievements in advancing the digital model of manufacturing,” said David R. Brousell, Founder, Vice President and Executive Director of the MLC. “The awards reflect the truly incredible amount of innovation taking place in all sectors of the industry.”

The 20th annual award ceremony took place at the conclusion of Rethink: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Manufacturing, the MLC’s signature event that focuses on insights and strategies for how manufacturers can further their operational digital transformation. The event took place at the JW Marrott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida June 2-5.

“Manufacturers continually find new and inventive ways to not just bring new technology into their factories, but also how to leverage it for highly effective problem solving and even developing new processes and products that can allow for entry into new markets and new revenue streams,” said Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director and head of the MLC Awards program.

Manufacturing Leadership Award finalists and winners are determined by a distinguished panel of judges with significant industry expertise and experience. In addition to Cooley and IPG, the judges also conferred honors on the following category winners:

AI and Machine Learning
Celanese

Collaborative Ecosystems
Anheuser-Busch InBev

Digital Network Connectivity
Molex

Digital Supply Chains
The Wonderful Company

Engineering and Production Technology
Van Wijnen Smart Structures

Enterprise Integration and Technology (tie)
Dow
General Motors

Operational Excellence
Owens Corning

Sustainability and the Circular Economy
Intertape Polymer Group

Transformational Business Cultures
Humtown Products

Digital Transformation Leadership
Julian Tan, IBM

Next-Generation Leadership (tie)
Angela Accurso, MxD
Marlon Gonzalez, IBM

Manufacturing in 2030 Awards
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Cooley Group
Intel
Maxion Wheels
MxD
Nexteer Automotive

The 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Awards will open to nominations on September 16, 2024. Information about the awards program is available at https://manufacturingleadershipcouncil.com/leadership-awards/.

Press Releases

2024 Manufacturing Leadership Award Finalists Recognized for Achievements in Smart Factories, Sustainability, AI and More

June 5 gala will recognize companies and individuals that are leading digital manufacturing transformation

Washington, D.C. – The Manufacturing Leadership Council, the digital transformation division of the National Association of Manufacturers, today revealed the list of world-class manufacturing companies and individual leaders recognized as finalists for the 2024 Manufacturing Leadership Awards, the 20th season of the industry’s premier awards program for achievements in digital manufacturing.

“More than ever, manufacturers are finding that digital technology investment is good for business as they achieve new levels of performance in efficiency, productivity and innovation,” said MLC Founder, Vice President and Executive Director David R. Brousell. “The finalists that we are recognizing for this year’s awards have demonstrated not just the business benefit of Manufacturing 4.0 technology, but also a fresh and imaginative approach to applying it in a transformative way.”

The 2024 awards feature nine project categories to recognize company achievements in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Collaborative Ecosystems; Digital Network Connectivity; Digital Supply Chains; Engineering and Production Technology; Enterprise Integration and Technology; Operational Excellence; Sustainability and the Circular Economy; and Transformational Business Cultures. Additionally, individual leaders are recognized in the Digital Transformation Leadership and Next-Generation Leadership categories. Award nominations were judged by a distinguished group of manufacturing leaders from across the industry.

“Each year, we see entries from manufacturers of all sizes, from a wide mix of industries and from locations around the world all telling different versions of the same story: digital is transformational,” said MLC Senior Content Director Penelope Brown, who is head of the awards program. “The quality and sophistication of this year’s award entries were outstanding. Many projects demonstrate how M4.0 investments are positioned for significant business model improvements. Additionally, the individuals recognized in the Digital Transformation Leadership and Next-Generation Leadership categories are exemplary leaders now and for the future.”

Select award winners will present their projects at the MLC’s Rethink Summit, which will take place at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida June 2–5. Rethink, also now in its 20th year, is the industry’s leading event for exploring manufacturing’s digital era. Details are available here.

“This year’s program will examine the past, present and future of digital manufacturing, and we are proud that the MLC has had an important role in building a community of leaders and organizations that are leading the charge,” Brousell said. “Whether this is your first time at Rethink or your 15th, you will always come away with new connections, new aspirations and new ideas that you can implement right away.”

All finalists will be recognized onstage at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, following the Rethink Summit, on Wednesday, June 5, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Also to be announced at the gala will be category winners for all project and individual categories, winners of the Manufacturing in 2030 Award, the Manufacturing Leader of the Year, the Small/Medium Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year and the Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year. See a complete list of finalists here.

Nominations for the 2025 Manufacturing Leadership Awards will open in September.

-MLC-  

Founded in 2008 and now a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s mission is to help manufacturing companies transition to the digital model of manufacturing by focusing on the technological, organizational and leadership dimensions of change. With more than 2,500 senior-level members from many of the world’s leading manufacturing companies, the MLC focuses on the intersection of advanced digital technologies and the business, identifying growth and improvement opportunities in the operation, organization and leadership of manufacturing enterprises as they pursue their journeys to Manufacturing 4.0.

Press Releases

Johnson & Johnson’s Talloen Named Manufacturing Leader of the Year

Marco Island, Fla. – The National Association of Manufacturers’ Manufacturing Leadership Council has named Bart Talloen, vice president, supply chain strategy, innovation and deployment at Johnson & Johnson as the 2023 Manufacturing Leader of the Year for his role in leading J&J’s digital transformation efforts throughout the company’s operations and supply chain. He is also influential through his involvement in many leading industry groups and through establishing broad external partnerships that have furthered their position as a leading global healthcare innovator.

“Manufacturing is a proven accelerator of innovation and economic prosperity, and the companies and individuals honored at tonight’s award ceremony are world-class leaders in shaping the manufacturing industry of tomorrow,” said David R. Brousell, founder, executive director and vice president at the Manufacturing Leadership Council. “I commend them for their tremendous achievements, for turning possibilities into realities and for their relentless pursuit of excellence in the face of persistent disruption.”

The award ceremony took place at Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit, which examines digital manufacturing as it intersects with technology, organizations and leadership at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida June 26–28.

In recognition of the highest scoring projects in each award category, the MLC also announced the following category winners:

AI and Machine Learning

Schneider Electric USA

Collaborative Ecosystems

Dow

Digital Network Connectivity

Celanese

Digital Supply Chains

IBM

Engineering and Production Technology

Johnson Controls

Enterprise Integration Technology

Jabil

Operational Excellence

Corning

Sustainability and the Circular Economy

dsm-firmenich

Transformative Business Cultures

Cisco Systems

Manufacturing in 2030 Award

Anheuser-Busch InBev
AUO Corporation
The Boeing Company
Flex
General Motors
IBM
Pfizer

Digital Transformation Leadership

Melanie Kalmar, Dow

Next-Generation Leadership

Amanda Ahrens, Dow

Lifetime Achievement Award

Dr. Don A. Kinard, Lockheed Martin

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR – Small/Medium Enterprise

Starkey

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR – Large Enterprise

Flex

The 2024 Manufacturing Leadership Awards season will open to nominations on August 28, 2023. Information about the awards program is available here.

-MLC-

Founded in 2008 and now a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s mission is to help manufacturing companies transition to the digital model of manufacturing by focusing on the technological, organizational and leadership dimensions of change. With more than 2,500 senior-level members from many of the world’s leading manufacturing companies, the MLC focuses on the intersection of advanced digital technologies and the business, identifying growth and improvement opportunities in the operation, organization and leadership of manufacturing enterprises as they pursue their journeys to Manufacturing 4.0.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs nearly 13 million men and women, contributes $2.90 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 55% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Press Releases

Congratulations to the 2023 Manufacturing Leadership Award Finalists

Finalists and winners to be recognized at gala on June 28

Washington, D.C. – The Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, today revealed the list of world-class manufacturing companies and individual leaders recognized as finalists for the 2023 Manufacturing Leadership Awards, the industry’s premier awards program for achievements in digital manufacturing.

“As more manufacturers extend digital’s reach onto the factory floor and throughout their operations, we are witnessing transformative performance improvements that would have been unthinkable just a few short years ago—and that are improving life for employees and customers alike,” said MLC Co-Founder, Vice President and Executive Director David R. Brousell. “The finalists recognized for this year’s awards represent the pinnacle of those achievements and exemplify possibilities for digital manufacturing.”

Select award winners will present their projects at Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit, the industry’s leading event for exploring manufacturing’s digital era. “Rethink is a must-attend for any manufacturer who wants to know more about digital transformation, whether they are just starting the journey or are much further along,” Brousell said. “It’s an unparalleled opportunity for manufacturing leaders to connect and learn from each other and then apply those learnings to their own businesses.”

Background: All finalists will be recognized on stage at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, which will take place at 7:00 p.m. EDT on June 28, 2023, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida.

Also announced at the gala will be winners for all project and individual categories, winners of the Manufacturing in 2030 Award, the Manufacturing Leader of the Year, the Small/Medium Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year and the Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year.

See the complete list of 2023 Manufacturing Leadership Award finalists here.

The 2023 awards feature nine project categories to recognize company achievements:

  • Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
  • Collaborative Ecosystems
  • Digital Network Connectivity
  • Digital Supply Chains
  • Engineering and Production Technology
  • Enterprise Technology Integration
  • Operational Excellence
  • Sustainability and the Circular Economy
  • Transformational Business Cultures

Additionally, individual leaders are recognized in the Digital Transformation Leadership and Next-Generation Leadership categories.

Rethink will take place at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida on June 26–28, 2023. Details are available here. Nominations for the 2024 Manufacturing Leadership Awards will open in August.

Press Releases

Pfizer’s Bourla Named Manufacturing Leader of the Year

Marco Island, Fla. – The National Association of Manufacturers’ Manufacturing Leadership Council has named Pfizer CEO Dr. Albert Bourla the 2022 Manufacturing Leader of the Year. The award was presented to Bourla at the 18th annual Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala for the company’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a recorded presentation, Dr. Bourla highlighted the work of Mike McDermott, Pfizer’s chief global supply officer and executive vice president and NAM Executive Committee member, and his team of more than 30,000 colleagues and contractors to ensure uninterrupted supply for Pfizer’s entire product portfolio, which includes hundreds of medicines and vaccines—more than 38 billion doses each year—and the manufacturing and global distribution of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and COVID-19 oral antiviral.

“Manufacturing in America today is stronger thanks to the leadership of Dr. Bourla and his team at Pfizer, including our Executive Committee member Mike McDermott. Albert and Mike’s passion and dedication to defeating COVID-19 set an example for thousands of companies as our industry navigated and responded to the evolving pandemic, and their leadership and innovation will make us better prepared to respond to the next crisis,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “I also want to recognize the crucial work of the other winners this year, again proving that a competitive manufacturing sector is the key to solving the problems of today and tomorrow.”

The award ceremony took place at Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit, which examines digital manufacturing as it intersects with technology, organizations and leadership, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida June 27–29.

“Manufacturers continue to be the driving force for global economic recovery and pandemic response as they establish innovative ways to problem-solve in an increasingly complex environment,” said MLC Co-Founder, Vice President and Executive Director David R. Brousell. “Those recognized tonight have helped establish a roadmap for the future of the sector and highlight the importance of Manufacturing 4.0.”

In recognition of the highest scoring projects in each award category, the MLC also announced the following High Achievers:

AI and Machine Learning
AB InBev

Collaborative Ecosystems
Protolabs

Digital Network Connectivity
AB InBev

Digital Supply Chains
Dow Inc.

Engineering and Production Technology
General Motors

Enterprise Integration Technology
(Tie) Flex
(Tie) Johnson & Johnson

Operational Excellence
AB InBev

Sustainability
AUO Corporation

Transformative Cultures
ALOM Technologies

Editor’s Choice
Flex – LISA Line Stop Assistant

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR – Small/Medium Enterprise
Protolabs

MANUFACTURER OF THE YEAR – Large Enterprise
AB InBev

The 2023 Manufacturing Leadership Awards season will open to nominations on Aug. 15, 2022. Information about the awards program is available here.

-MLC-

Founded in 2008 and now a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s mission is to help manufacturing companies transition to the digital model of manufacturing by focusing on the technological, organizational and leadership dimensions of change. With more than 2,500 senior-level members from many of the world’s leading manufacturing companies, the MLC focuses on the intersection of advanced digital technologies and the business, identifying growth and improvement opportunities in the operation, organization and leadership of manufacturing enterprises as they pursue their journeys to Manufacturing 4.0.

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12.7 million men and women, contributes $2.71 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 58% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org

Press Releases

The Manufacturing Leadership Council Elects Six Leading Industry Figures to its Board of Governors

Washington, D.C. The Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC), the digital transformation arm of the National Association of Manufacturers, has announced the election of six leading figures from industry and academia to the MLC’s Board of Governors. The MLC is the nation’s foremost executive leadership organization dedicated to helping manufacturing companies transition to the digital model of manufacturing by focusing on the technological, organizational, and leadership dimensions of change.

The six new MLC Board members include:

Denise DeLaune, Global Director of Operational Excellence and Leveraged Services at Dow Inc. She is also responsible for Dow’s Strategic Project “Operations 2025”, designing and driving the implementation of an updated future Operations organizational model meeting the needs of digital, sustainability, and other expected market changes.

Will Bonifant, Vice President, U.S. and Canada Supply Chain at The Hershey Company. He is responsible for leading Hershey’s supply chain planning, distribution, transportation, commercialization, packaging development, continuous improvement, and manufacturing alliance functions supporting the U.S. and Canada businesses.

Jai Sundararaman, Vice President of Business Transformation at Intertape Polymer Group. He is responsible for building capabilities to deliver strategic growth outcomes. He leads capital planning, acquisition integration, operational excellence, digital transformation & innovation. He has successfully scaled multiple Digital Transformation M4.0 initiatives across IPG which have won IndustryWeek Best Plants Awards for digital transformation.

Dr. Jill O’Sullivan, Professor and Chair of the Computer Systems Department at Farmingdale State College in Long Island, New York, where she has taught for more than 20 years. She is also a former President of APICS NYC/LI and Regional Industry Council Aerospace Manufacturing.

Dr. Thomas R. Kurfess, HUSCO Ramirez Distinguished Chair in Fluid Power and Motion Control at the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has also recently concluded a three-year term as Chief Manufacturing Officer and Senior Distinguished Staff Member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Dr. Julie Shah, Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and Lead, Interactive Robotics Group, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, at MIT. She is also Associate Dean for Social and Ethical Responsibility of Computing in the MIT Schwarzman College of Computing.

“We at MLC are proud to welcome to our Board such a notable group of industrial and academic leaders in the advancement of digital manufacturing,” said Mike Packer, chairman of the MLC Board of Governors.

“The MLC’s goal has always been to bring great minds and rich expertise to the Board to reflect the depth, scope, and diversity of the manufacturing industry,” added David R. Brousell, MLC Co-Founder and Board member. “These six new Board members advance those goals immeasurably.”

As an advisory body, the MLC Board of Governors provides guidance to the MLC on its “Critical Issues” agenda, research studies and its programs and services for the MLC membership.

With these appointments, the MLC Board of Governors now consists of 21 industry thought leaders who represent the full ecosystem of the manufacturing industry, including large global enterprises, small and medium-sized manufacturers, leading academic institutions and influential industry analysts.

(Photos available on request)

-MLC-

Founded in 2008, and now the digital transformation arm of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s mission is to help manufacturing companies transition to the digital model of manufacturing by focusing on the technological, organizational, and leadership dimensions of change. With more than 3,300 senior-level members from many of the world’s leading manufacturing companies, the MLC focuses on the intersection of advanced digital technologies and the business, identifying growth and improvement opportunities in the operation, organization, and leadership of manufacturing enterprises as they pursue their journeys to Manufacturing 4.0.

-MLC Board of Governors-

The Manufacturing Leadership Board of Governors comprises senior executives and industry experts at leading manufacturing, academic and research organizations around the world, including Lockheed Martin, Procter & Gamble, Dow Chemical, 3M, IBM, Hershey, IPG, Europe’s SmartFactory EU Technology Initiative, Lexmark International, Premio Foods, Virtex Enterprises, Graphicast, the Cooley Group, UCLA, MIT, Georgia Institute of Technology, the University of Cincinnati, Farmingdale State College, the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group, consultants Frost & Sullivan, and the MLC.

For more information and MLC membership details, please visit www.manufacturingleadershipcouncil.com

-NAM-

The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12 million men and women, contributes $2.25 trillion to the U.S. economy annually, has the largest economic impact of any major sector and accounts for more than three-quarters of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the Manufacturers or to follow us on Shopfloor, Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

Press Releases

Manufacturing Leadership Council Unveils 2022 Leadership Awards

AI, Digital Supply Chains, Sustainability Projects Among Top Winners

Washington, D.C. – The Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, today revealed the list of world-class manufacturing companies and individual leaders set to receive recognition as winners of the 2022 Manufacturing Leadership Awards, the industry’s premier awards program for achievements in digital manufacturing.

“This year’s winners are exemplary for their compelling use of technology, innovative approach to problem solving and overall commitment to furthering the progress of Manufacturing 4.0,” said MLC Co-Founder, Vice President and Executive Director David R. Brousell. “These achievements have helped manufacturers boost their competitive position and realize significant performance improvements even in the most challenging business conditions.”

The 2022 awards season featured nine company-level categories to recognize high-performing projects in the areas of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning; Collaborative Ecosystems; Digital Network Connectivity; Digital Supply Chains; Engineering and Production Technology; Enterprise Technology Integration; Operational Excellence; Sustainability and the Circular Economy; and Transformational Cultures. Additionally, two individual categories recognizing outstanding leaders were Digital Transformation Leadership and Next-Generation Leadership.

Winners will be recognized at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala, an in-person event taking place at 7:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 29, at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida. The gala will also feature announcements of the High Achiever Awards in each project category, the Manufacturers of the Year and the Manufacturing Leader of the Year. See the complete list of 2022 Manufacturing Leadership Award winners here.

Select award winners will present their projects at Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit, the industry’s leading event for exploring manufacturing’s digital era. “This year’s theme for Rethink is Maximizing the Value from Manufacturing 4.0, and attendees can expect to discover new ideas and tactics for establishing or accelerating their digital strategy, along with many fantastic opportunities to network with other industry leaders,” Brousell said.

Rethink will take place at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort in Florida June 27–29. Details are available here. Nominations for the 2023 Manufacturing Leadership Awards will open in August.

Press Releases

The NAM’s Manufacturing Leadership Council Announces New Chair and Vice Chair for the MLC’s Board of Governors

Washington, D.C. The Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, announces the election of Michael D. Packer, former director of production strategy at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, as the new chair of the MLC’s Board of Governors. Previously serving as the MLC Board’s vice chair, Packer succeeds John Fleming, former executive vice president of global manufacturing and labor affairs at Ford Motor Company, who is stepping down from the MLC Board.

Daniel Dwight, president and CEO of Cooley Group, was also elected as the MLC Board’s new vice chair. Both roles are effective from Jan. 1, 2022.

The MLC’s Board of Governors acts as an advisory body providing guidance to the MLC on its “critical issues” agenda, research studies and programs and services for the MLC’s more than 3,000 members. The MLC Board now consists of 16 industry thought leaders who represent the full ecosystem of the manufacturing industry, including large global enterprises, small and medium-sized manufacturers, leading academic institutions and influential industry analysts.

“I am honored to serve as MLC chair and help drive the MLC’s critical mission to accelerate digital transformation across the manufacturing industry,” said Packer. “I look forward to working together with the MLC team and my fellow board members to expand the MLC’s growth in numbers, diversity and impact and help support both MLC and NAM members as they embrace new digital opportunities for the future.”

“As a longtime MLC member and supporter of the Board of Governors’ mission, I am thrilled to extend my MLC role to vice chair,” added Dwight. “Along with supporting the new chair, I am particularly motivated to build greater diversity in the MLC/NAM membership and to give new voices the opportunity to share their experiences in the industry.”

The MLC would like to congratulate them both on their new board positions and to thank former Chair John Fleming for all his insights, guidance and wisdom over the past three years.

-MLC- Founded in 2008 and now a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Manufacturing Leadership Council’s mission is to help manufacturing companies transition to the digital model of manufacturing by focusing on the technological, organizational, and leadership dimensions of change. With more than 2,500 senior-level members from many of the world’s leading manufacturing companies, the MLC focuses on the intersection of advanced digital technologies and the business, identifying growth and improvement opportunities in the operation, organization, and leadership of manufacturing enterprises as they pursue their journeys to Manufacturing 4.0.

-MLC Board of Governors- The Manufacturing Leadership Board of Governors comprises senior executives and industry experts at leading manufacturing, academic and research organizations around the world, including Lockheed Martin, Procter & Gamble, Dow Chemical, IBM, 3M, Europe’s SmartFactory EU Technology Initiative, Lexmark International, Premio Foods, VirTex Enterprises, Graphicast, the Cooley Group, UCLA, the University of Cincinnati, the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group, consultants Frost & Sullivan and the MLC.  

For more information and MLC membership details, please visit  www.manufacturingleadershipcouncil.com.

-NAM- The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12.5 million men and women, contributes $2.52 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 58% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

 

Press Releases

Dragos Becomes the First Industrial Cybersecurity Company to Join the Manufacturing Leadership Council of the National Association of Manufacturers

Dragos Demonstrates Commitment to Enabling Secure Digital Transformation to Manufacturing 4.0

Washington, D.C. – Dragos, Inc., a global leader in cybersecurity for industrial controls systems (ICS)/operational technology (OT) environments, today announced that it has joined the Manufacturing Leadership Council, a division of the National Association of Manufacturers, as its first cybersecurity member. Dragos will bring manufacturing OT cybersecurity expertise—including monitoring, OT asset visibility and vulnerability management and threat analytics—to the broader NAM community.

As a member of the MLC, Dragos will partner with the nation’s foremost executive leadership organization to educate, protect and enable manufacturers to drive transformational growth in their companies at every stage of their digital journey to Manufacturing 4.0. The industry knowledge Dragos brings to the manufacturing cybersecurity environment will help MLC and NAM members accelerate secure adoption of Manufacturing 4.0 for their organizations.

“Dragos joined the MLC because they are at the forefront of helping manufacturers grow and implement the newest technologies. The manufacturing leaders of today require the expertise of companies like Dragos to better understand and address the growth and exposure to cyberthreats,” said Dragos Vice President of Marketing Peter Vescuso. “Dragos will help the MLC and NAM members better understand the need for better ICS/OT cybersecurity as manufacturing systems are increasingly connected.”

“We are excited to welcome Dragos to the MLC,” said David R. Brousell, vice president and executive director of the Manufacturing Leadership Council. “As a leader in ICS/OT cybersecurity, they fill a critical void for our members in understanding and implementing Manufacturing 4.0. technologies in their businesses. The Dragos mission to safeguard civilization hits home, and their experience will add to the value of the MLC for all of our members.”

About NAM

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12.3 million men and women, contributes $2.35 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and has the largest economic multiplier of any major sector and accounts for 63% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org.

About Dragos, Inc

Dragos has a global mission: to safeguard civilization from those trying to disrupt the industrial infrastructure we depend on every day. The practitioners who founded Dragos were drawn to this mission through decades of government and private sector experience.

Dragos codifies the knowledge of our cybersecurity experts into an integrated software platform that provides customers critical visibility into ICS and OT networks so that threats are identified and can be addressed before they become significant events. Our solutions protect organizations across a range of industries, including power and water utilities, energy, and manufacturing, and are optimized for emerging applications like the Industrial Internet of Things.

Dragos is privately held and headquartered in the Washington, D.C., area with regional presence around the world, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the Middle East.

Visit dragos.com for more information.

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