Driving Manufacturing Excellence: Highlights of the 11th Annual American Manufacturing Summit

We've started the year off strong with the tremendous success of our 11th Annual American Manufacturing Summit! Our first event in 2025 was filled with insightful discussions, innovative ideas, and invaluable networking opportunities.

A Truly Unforgettable Experience!

The 11th Annual American Manufacturing Summit took place from March 19-20, 2025, at the prestigious Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. We want to express our deepest gratitude to all attendees and participants who made this year’s event a success!

The summit provided an enriching and memorable experience, featuring captivating speaker sessions, productive 1-2-1 meetings, dynamic networking opportunities, thought-provoking lunch & learn roundtable discussions, and much more.

This recap highlights the key moments and valuable insights from the summit. Whether you joined us in person or are interested in attending future events, this blog post offers a glimpse into the impactful sessions, speakers, attendees, and connections made on-site.

Table of Contents

Day 1 Highlights

Day 1 of the American Manufacturing Summit began with high energy as attendees gathered for a Networking Breakfast sponsored by GXO.

The morning officially kicked off with the Chair’s Welcome and Opening Remarks delivered by Rebecca Teeters of 3M in Room 1.

We were also fortunate to have John Cash of Fujitsu, Laura Bygrave of Chartwell Consulting, and Adam Honig of Spiro.Ai serve as emcees in our breakout rooms throughout the summit.

Shortly after, Tom Dailly, Mayor of the Village of Schaumburg, delivered a warm Mayor’s Welcome Address, highlighting the importance of regional collaboration and economic development in shaping the future of American manufacturing.

The opening keynote was delivered by Jason Fremstad of Walmart and Douglas Kent of the Association for Supply Chain Management. Their powerful session, Investing in American Manufacturing: Driving Jobs, Innovation, and Sustainability, showcased Walmart’s $350 billion commitment to revitalizing U.S. manufacturing.

Following the keynote, Mario Berra of BIC led a compelling plenary session titled Overcoming Global and Operational Challenges in Manufacturing: BIC's Model for Success. Berra shared how BIC navigates disruptions like inflation, geopolitical tensions, and workforce shortages by setting a clear operational vision, aligning teams around collaborative problem-solving, and embracing both global strategies and localized solutions.

Next, a Fireside Chat brought together three leaders for a deep dive into digital transformation in manufacturing. Neil G. Henningsen and Vijay Parolsande of Westlake and Woody Robinson of Innovapptive discussed Driving Operational Excellence: How Westlake Chemical Achieved Transformational Results with the Innovapptive Enterprise Digital Rounds Platform. The panel addressed how Westlake tackled legacy challenges across its plant network, highlighting the power of digitizing operator rounds to improve visibility, decision-making, and safety.

The morning wrapped up with a break for refreshments sponsored by UCBOS, networking, and pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings—an exclusive opportunity for attendees to explore new business partnerships in a focused and meaningful setting.

The 2025 American Manufacturing Summit continued with dynamic sessions spotlighting the industry's most pressing topics—including process optimization, facility modernization, talent development, and digital innovation.

Daniel Seidel of HelloFresh started the morning with a session on Applying Lean Manufacturing Principles to Enhance Efficiency and Streamline Operations. Seidel shared how HelloFresh uses Lean Six Sigma to transform production efficiency, leveraging data-driven applications to optimize daily machine throughput and flipping traditional production schedules to maximize asset utilization.

Next, Suheb Haq of General Motors led a session titled "Improving Decision-Making Efficiency with Lean Principles." Drawing from his experience in advanced manufacturing, Haq discussed how lean methodologies can be extended beyond production lines to streamline decision-making at every organizational level.

The summit then shifted focus to talent and safety with a Fireside Chat featuring Jana Gessner of PepsiCo and Allison Grealis of the Women in Manufacturing Association. Their conversation, Developing EHS Capabilities to Empower a Safe and Skilled Workforce, emphasized how embedding safety as a core value can build a zero-incident culture.

Bob Border of Ingredion explored Transforming Manufacturing Operations: Driving Scalable Innovation and Efficiency with Digital Transformation. Border highlighted how Ingredion accelerates digital transformation to scale operations, boost agility, and drive global efficiency.

Following the sessions, attendees participated in interactive and hands-on workshops led by industry experts focused on driving innovation and practical solutions within manufacturing operations.

In Room 1, Eric Whitley of L2L led a workshop titled Transforming Continuous Improvement: The Role of AI and Connected Worker Technology. Whitley demonstrated how AI and connected worker platforms can predict bottlenecks, uncover performance patterns, and drive proactive solutions.

Brendan Forbes of 20/20 Robotics delivered an engaging session, Beyond Automation: How 20/20 Robotics is Revolutionizing Industry Challenges with Vision & Robotics in Room 2. Attendees explored how advanced robotics and vision systems transform operations across industries by optimizing processes, reducing errors, and cutting costs.

In Room 3, Mark Fosdike of Datch hosted Enabling Real-Time Maintenance for Real: Why Agentic AI is the Missing Link. Fosdike clarified the complex topic of real-time maintenance and showed how agentic AI solutions bridge the gap between theory and practical application.

Dave McGovern of AMDT led a security-focused workshop in Room 4. Discussing Ensuring the Security and Overall Equipment Effectiveness of Your Production Chain, McGovern outlined the key vulnerabilities present in industrial automation and how manufacturers can mitigate these threats to maintain operational continuity.

The morning wrapped up with a lively lunch & learn roundtable discussions—an ideal format for deep dives into timely industry topics and focused networking. These discussions were led by Copia Automation, 20/20 Robotics, AMDT, Guy Roofing, Redaptive, Covalent, CADDi Co., Argano, Performance Solutions by Milliken, Allied Reliability, Shapr3D, MAU Workforce Solutions, Verizon Business, DataBank IMX, GXO, Infor, QAD Redzone, and Management Controls.

The momentum continued into the afternoon with sessions focused on process optimization, modern facilities, talent development, and innovation in manufacturing.

Steve Landry of TreeHouse Foods kicked off the afternoon sessions with a powerful talk on Manufacturing Excellence is Maintained with Culture. He shared lessons learned from implementing an Operational Excellence Program, emphasizing how strong leadership, robust daily management systems, and a people-first mindset are essential to sustaining long-term success in manufacturing.

Next, Carlos Barajas of Newell Brands joined Douglas Kent of the Association for Supply Chain Management for a discussion on Balancing Cost, Efficiency and Agility Through Near Shoring. The speakers explored how near-shoring strategies can enhance flexibility, reduce lead times, and streamline operations, while maintaining high standards of quality and responsiveness in global supply chains.

Shifting focus to talent and culture, Peter Shearstone of Thermo Fisher Scientific delivered a session titled "A Personal Journey in Building a Quality Culture." Shearstone outlined actionable strategies for embedding quality at every level of an organization—across regions, teams, and business units—while creating sustainable cultural change through individual and organizational commitment.

Rounding out the session block, Dan Floyd, of The Lubrizol Corporation, presented Enhancing Manufacturing, from Process Engineering to Commercialization. He explored how AI, machine learning, and data infrastructure can enhance process simulations and commercialization strategies.

The afternoon workshops offered attendees practical insights into leadership, AI, workforce agility, and operational excellence.

In Room 1, Shane Yount of Competitive Solutions introduced Process Intelligence as a critical tool to combat leadership burnout and build high-functioning teams through clarity, connection, and consistency.

Martin Weber of SPARETECH led Room 2 with strategies to operationalize AI in MRO, helping companies cut inventory costs and optimize spare parts management.

Next, in Room 3, Rahil Siddiqui of Wilya tackled the frontline labor crisis with a skills-based scheduling approach, showing how real-time data improves flexibility and shift coverage.

At the same time, Peter Brand of Oden Technologies explored how AI and data tools can elevate frontline operators and ensure successful tech adoption on the shop floor in Room 4.

The day continued with a Happy Hour sponsored by HiveMQ, alongside networking and pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings, offering attendees another opportunity to build connections and explore new business opportunities.

After a refreshing networking and Happy Hour break, Shawn Smith of Performance Solutions by Milliken delivered a compelling plenary session on 3 Keys to Making Operational Improvements “Stick.” He shared how organizations can drive results faster by focusing on operational excellence, sustaining recent wins, and embedding improvements across all levels to ensure lasting impact.

The day concluded with a high-level panel discussion on The Expansion of Automation, AI, and Digital Transformation in Modern Manufacturing.

Steve Marshall of Cargill, Daniele Iacovelli of Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Jay Douglass of the ARM Institute, Mario Berra of BIC , and René Buck of BCI shared insights on leveraging AI, automation, and data to enhance agility, upskill the workforce, and modernize legacy operations. The panel offered real-world strategies and case examples of successful digital transformation across manufacturing environments.

To wrap up a successful Day 1, we invited all Summit attendees to a Networking Drinks Reception sponsored by Guy Roofing.

The Generis team was thrilled with the success of Day 1 and eagerly anticipated carrying that momentum into Day 2, where even more engaging discussions, workshops, and opportunities awaited!

Day 2 Highlights

The Women in Leadership Panel

The morning of Day 2 kicked off with an energizing Networking Breakfast and Empower Hour in the Exhibition Hall, bringing together attendees to connect and share insights. Following breakfast, the Women in Leadership Panel discussion took center stage in Room 1, featuring a powerful group of women leaders across manufacturing, quality, and supply chain.

Kamilla Badalova of BP, Theodosia Rush of Tennant, Cathy Xu of Advanced Micro Devices, Rasheedia Aigoro of BD, and Allison Grealis of the Women in Manufacturing Association shared their invaluable experiences and leadership lessons. The panelists offered powerful reflections on breaking barriers, mentoring future leaders, and lessons from their leadership journeys.

The Women in Leadership Panel was a dynamic start to the day, empowering attendees to lead with confidence and vision.

The morning continued with a compelling keynote by Nate Baxter of ScottsMiracle-Gro, where he provided a deep dive into the transformative impact of Industry 4.0 and digital innovation on manufacturing processes and operations. His session explored how harnessing the power of Industry 4.0 technologies can optimize manufacturing processes, focusing on real-time data analytics and its pivotal role in decision-making and operational efficiency.

Following the keynote, the Summit continued with an insightful plenary session featuring Jeff Roseman of Marmon Holdings and Sandeep Anand of Infor. The session, titled "Unified Excellence: Marmon’s Digital Transformation to Drive Operational Harmony," focused on Marmon’s digital transformation journey and its efforts to create a seamless end-to-end customer experience across its diverse brands.

After the keynote, the Summit transitioned into a series of impactful workshops, each offering an in-depth exploration of cutting-edge strategies in manufacturing and operational efficiency.

In Room 1, Derek Bressler of Aptar and Bishoy Youssef of Integrant co-led a session on Reducing Downtime and Increasing Throughput: AI-Driven Strategies for Smart Manufacturing. They discussed how AI-powered predictive analytics and real-time monitoring can minimize unexpected downtime, enhance scheduling efficiency using AI-driven MES support assistants, and improve quality control through AI-enabled image recognition and automated inspections.

Meanwhile, in Room 2, Patrick Heiser, Director, Sales, North America at Nanoprecise Sci Corp., led a session on Energy-Centered Maintenance: The Key to Sustainable & Cost-Effective Operations. He focused on the shift from Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) to Energy-Centered Maintenance, highlighting how IoT and AI-driven machine health monitoring systems can enhance efficiency, reduce expenses, and align with sustainability goals.

In Room 3, Jesse Shiah of AgilePoint guided attendees through his session "Eliminate 'Hidden Factory' by Converting Rigid RPA and Workflows into Resilient End-to-End Agentic-ready Automation Using GenAI." The session focused on how next-gen composable architecture can be layered on top of existing systems to enable exception-resistant resilience and eliminate operational inefficiencies.

Akshat Thirani of Amper presented in Room 4 on "Forget Everything You Think You Know About Digital Transformation: Making the Leap to AI-Driven Manufacturing." He explored how AI is rewriting the manufacturing playbook, providing a practical framework for adopting AI to connect, empower, and automate operations.

Following this series of engaging keynotes, attendees enjoyed a well-timed break for refreshments, sponsored by UCBOS, offering them a chance to recharge and participate in pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings.

The Summit continued with several insightful sessions across different tracks:

Ralf Finzel and Maryam Mellatdoust of IFF led a Fireside Chat on transforming manufacturing processes to achieve best-in-class standards, leveraging automation, and redefining supply chains for a competitive market. They also highlighted the importance of a diverse leadership pipeline to advance women’s roles in manufacturing.

Harish Santhanam of Bristol Myers Squibb discussed maximizing plant performance through advanced workflows, scaling automation, and using real-time data for continuous improvement. He also emphasized designing facilities for sustainability and predictive maintenance.

Binky Sargent of Kennametal and Sandra DeVincent Wolf, Ph.D. of Carnegie Mellon University, hosted a Fireside Chat on fostering innovation through industry-academic collaborations, 3D printing advancements, and scaling emerging technologies to enhance manufacturing processes.

As the day continued, the Lunch & Learn roundtable discussions and Open Seating Lunch provided participants with an invaluable opportunity to gain practical insights and engage in meaningful exchanges with experts from leading companies such as Hammond Power Solutions, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, Tate & Lyle, Newell Brands, Moog, Olin, and RPM International.

The afternoon sessions kicked off with a plenary by Patrick Harrigan of CADDi, who discussed Transforming Legacy Data into Strategic Insights: AI’s Role in Supply Chain Innovation. Harrigan highlighted how decades of institutional knowledge hidden in outdated documents and siloed systems could be unlocked and revitalized through AI technologies.

The Future of Manufacturing Panel

Another key highlight of Day 2 was the insightful panel discussion featuring Brian Boland of Bristol Myers Squibb, Markus Koehler of EMD Serono, Guy Mills of The Clorox Company, Rebecca Teeters of 3M, and Alex Longuepee of Talent Solutions RPO.

The panel, The Future of Manufacturing, explored strategies to drive operational excellence and innovation, harnessing data analytics, promoting cross-functional collaboration, and integrating AI and automation to enhance manufacturing efficiency while balancing cost and sustainability.

As the day came to a close, this impactful session left attendees with valuable takeaways that not only addressed the current state of manufacturing but also provided a forward-thinking perspective on the future of the industry.

In celebration of our attendees' outstanding participation, we're delighted to unveil our prize champions, who've brought an extra dash of vibrancy to our event! A warm congratulations to Praptap Sankar Nanthakumar as our networking superstar and Art Harrison as the survey winner.

As the event wrapped up, attendees left with actionable insights, new connections, and a renewed sense of excitement about the future of manufacturing. The energy and enthusiasm shared throughout the event were palpable, as participants gained valuable knowledge and built relationships that will undoubtedly drive innovation and collaboration in the industry.

We are excited to continue fostering this momentum and can't wait to bring you even more opportunities for growth and learning in the future.

We look forward to seeing you at our next summit!

Conclusion

We are thrilled to announce that the 2025 American Manufacturing Summit was an incredible success!

A heartfelt thank you to all the delegates, sponsors, and speakers for your invaluable contributions in making this event truly memorable. The energy, expertise, and dedication from everyone involved were key to the Summit’s success!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR: March 17-18, 2026, at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Chicago, IL.

For those who couldn’t join us this year, registration is now open for next year’s Summit. Spots are filling up fast—don’t miss out!

Visit manusummit.com to learn more and secure your spot today!

To stay up-to-date on our upcoming events, be sure to check out our event page at generisgp.com/events.

Testimonials

“Generis has done an amazing job at pulling together a host of exceptional leaders who are open and willing to share experiences that can help your organization take necessary steps to improve.”

John Bailey, Chief Operations Officer, Hammond Power Solutions

“Engaging and informative. Solid content from practitioners and providers.”

Guy Mills, VP, Supply Chain Strategy and Technology, Clorox

“The summit was both informative as well as a great opportunity to network and discuss how our companies can help each other grow and improve.”

Maureen Sorensen, VP Operations, RPM International

“I had a wonderful time and learned a great deal. Truly enjoyed the experience.”

Rebecca Teeters, SVP, Fluoromaterial Stewardship and President, Chemical Operations LLC, 3M

“The event was well-structured, and I enjoyed the lineup of speakers. Excellent discussions and networking opportunities. It was great to connect with industry peers and share experiences. Overall, it was a fantastic event, and I look forward to future summits.”

João Soares, Director of Manufacturing, Tente

“The American Manufacturing Summit experience is valuable and well-organized. The sessions are relevant and well-balanced with networking opportunities.”

Duran Gunter, Director, RTX

“The pre-arranged meetings allow us to prepare for those specific conversations and align with the delegates’ needs. Overall, the experience was good!”

Chris Beyne, Account Executive, Configure One

“The American Manufacturing Summit experience is valuable and well-organized. The sessions are relevant and well balanced with networking opportunities.”
Daryl Goodman, Vice President, Strategic Client Solutions, VistaVu Solutions

“Very positive, with a high number of attendees I would like to meet! The hotel is also nicer than others, and the food was good too.”

Rob Crawford, Associate Partner, Chartwell

“Great conference, with lots of enthusiasm and engagement.”

Woody Robinson, Senior Solutions Engineer, Innovapptive

Learn more about our upcoming 2025 North American events and secure your spot today:

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