The Best of Rethink 2025
From AI to digital resilience to autonomous operations, Rethink 2025 delivered the latest insights on Manufacturing 4.0.
Over the past two decades, Rethink: Accelerating Digital Transformation in Manufacturing has become a must-attend event for operations leaders. In 2025, attendees engaged in outstanding keynotes, insightful panel discussions, interactive Re(Think) Tanks, and more.
From a selection of outstanding sessions, here are a few standouts from last June.
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Keynote: Scaling Digital on Eaton’s Path for Growth
Craig Sutton, Vice President, Industry 4.0, Eaton Corporation
Scaling digital transformation across a global manufacturing enterprise requires more than just technology—it takes structure, strategy, and cultural change. Eaton is scaling its Manufacturing 4.0 journey from a single digital plant to a global network, using governance, process frameworks, and a tailored tech stack to drive real impact.
Case study: IPG’s Digital M4.0 Journey, from Big Data Analytics to AI/ML Implementation
Emmanuel Boullay, Senior Vice President, Operations, IPG
2024 Large Enterprise Manufacturer of the Year IPG shares its six-year transformative journey into Manufacturing 4.0. Taking a deliberate, step-by-step approach, IPG built its M4.0 foundation on plant-level employee engagement, a strong focus on quality, and measurable ROI. Their “clean data first” strategy enabled the development of diagnostic and prescriptive analytics, paving the way for advanced AI and machine learning models that deliver predictive insights and prescriptive capabilities.
Case study: Hershey’s Digital Factory – How Hershey is Driving Manufacturing Excellence
Will Bonifant, Vice President, Manufacturing and Engineering, The Hershey Company; Member, Board of Governors, Manufacturing Leadership Council
Christopher Gantz, Senior Manager, Digital Systems, The Hershey Company
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 focuses on how technology and workforce transformation are ushering in a new phase of manufacturing excellence.
Panel discussion: Bridging the Digital Divide – Accelerating Transformation for Small and Medium Manufacturers
Chris Droney, Chief Operations Officer, Milo’s Tea Company
Dan Dwight, President and CEO, Cooley Group; Chair, MLC Board of Governors; Executive Committee, NAM Board of Directors; Winner of the 2024 ML Awards Small/Medium Manufacturer of the Year; Winner of the 2024 Manufacturing Leader of the Year
Joe Pfaff, Vice President, Global Business Technology, Husco
As digital transformation reshapes the manufacturing landscape, small and medium manufacturers face unique challenges in keeping pace with larger enterprises and global competitors. However, with the right strategies, SMMs can harness emerging technologies to drive efficiency, agility, and growth. This panel brings together industry leaders to discuss practical approaches for accelerating digital transformation in SMMs.
Power Panel: Handicapping the Global Digital Transformation Race
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
Craig Resnick, Vice President, ARC Advisory Group
Facilitator: David Brousell, Founder, Vice President and Executive Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
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 assesses the digital competitive landscape and what U.S. companies can do to accelerate the digitalization and modernization of the U.S. industrial base.
About the author:
Penelope Brown is the Senior Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council