SESSIONS ON THE SHOW FLOOR
Planned Agenda:
Monday, October 17
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
How Fasteners are Made and What Drives the Cost of a Fastener
Laurence Claus, NNi Training and Consulting, Inc.
In this all-day class presented by the Fastener Training Institute, fastener expert Laurence Claus takes participants into the fastener manufacturing world and explores why the often under-appreciated components are complex engineering marvels. Participants will gain a basic understanding of the different methods of producing fasteners: cold heading, hot heading and screw machining. Students will learn the advantages and disadvantages of each manufacturing method plus delve into many of the other steps, such as thread rolling, grinding, machining, heat treating and plating that the average fastener may undergo. Students will learn how each of these different processes, as well as raw material and customer expectations, drive what may appear to be a routine run-of-the-mill fastener into a value-added powerhouse of a component. Participants will recognize the cost drivers of value-added products, gain practical fastener knowledge and increase their professional value.
Registration required, Register Here
Tuesday, October 18
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
Keynote Presentation: INNOVATE! How to Create Relevancy in the Age of Disruption
Dirk Beveridge, Founder UnleashWD
85% of distribution leaders believe that they must reinvent their business before someone else does. As you continue to operate the business today, how can you unleash the spirit of innovation to build a relevant, stronger, and more profitable future? The answer will become apparent throughout Dirk’s inspiring and informative presentation as he introduces the five elements of The Innovative Distributor™️.
In this keynote presentation, UnleashWD Founder, Dirk Beveridge will examine:
- Construct a vision that becomes a unifying force for change
- Develop a culture of innovation and excellence
- Distinguish your business through an innovative value proposition
- Examine your business model relevance
- Identify your leadership readiness along the spectrum of distributors
“You Can’t Buy These at the Hardware Store” – A Primer on What Sets Aerospace Fasteners Apart From Other Fastener Market Segments
Laurence Claus, NNi Training and Consulting, Inc.
In this presentation, Mr. Claus will explore how requirements for aerospace fasteners set them apart from other fastener market segments. Mr. Claus will introduce some of the fastening technology unique to aerospace fasteners. He will introduce different categories of aerospace fasteners including Pin and Collar fasteners, Blind bolts and rivets, Solid Rivets, Inserts, Nut Plates, Wrenchable Nuts, Bolts and Screws, and Honeycomb Fasteners. Mr. Claus will also briefly explain what systems and credentials an aerospace fastener supplier must possess.
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM
Why 3D Printing Will Have An Impact On Fasteners
AJ Strandquist, Würth Additive Group
3D printing presents obstacles and opportunities in the world of fasteners, both their consumption and production. It’s happening already in some upscale markets but as the technology becomes more cost effective it’s impact will grow.
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Boosting Automation and Productivity: Everything You Need to Know About APIs and Integration
Lonni Kieffer, SmartCert by Aramid; Brandi Bertoia, INxSQL Software; Brad Burel, Advance Components
Your goal is to streamline internal processes and minimize wasted labor. In this session, we’ll explain how APIs enable new features in ERPs and legacy systems and discuss how businesses in the Fastener industry are leveraging new technology to work smarter.
1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
The 5 Ideals of the Ecommerce Experience
Jason Hein, Bloomreach
The first 20 years of B2B e-commerce have primarily focused on one element: “standing up the store”. As technologies have gotten easier to use, launching an e-commerce site has become almost standardized. “Out of the box” solutions and API-driven “headless” architecture have simplified the process of starting a B2B commerce website easier than it’s ever been. But now what? It is no longer enough to simply *be* online when it’s so easy for your competition to also “be” online. Simply existing isn’t enough – companies have to raise the bar to offer a customer experience that stands out for buyers. But what does it mean to improve the way customers experience an e-commerce site? In this session, attendees will learn a simple set of tools that anyone can use to objectively evaluate how customers assess a website’s commerce experience and systematically set objectives to identify and prioritize the work needed to build a site that can compete not by being the cheapest, not by being the biggest, but by being the easiest for customers to do business with.
Wednesday, October 19
9:45 AM – 10:15 AM
Five Key Considerations for Selecting a Fastener Manufacturer/Distributor
Speaker: Paul Przyby, Optimas Solutions
The value of a full-service manufacturer/distributor has been re-imagined over the last 2.5 years to help producers improve their fastener supply chain—particularly those seeking operational profits, production security and product performance.
In this 30-minute session, Paul Przyby, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Optimas Solutions, will walk the audience through criteria to evaluate a full-service partner in five key areas:
- Risk reduction
- Inventory optimization
- Elevating operations
- Improving quality
- Electrification and environmental considerations
This session will focus on what OEMs and distributors should be asking of their supply partners and how a tightly bound, cooperative relationship delivers supply chain confidence and assurance for each participant.
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
How Can Distributors Win the War Against Inflation?
Nelson Valderrama, Intuilize
Inflation is on the rise and it can be difficult for businesses to keep up. In this session, we’ll discuss the factors contributing to increased inflation and how to protect your margins in a volatile market. We’ll also explore best practices in pricing and cost pass through to defeat inflation and grow margins. So join us for an informative session that will help you stay ahead of the curve!
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
What’s Working Best for Younger Generations?
Presented and Moderated by YFP
Moderator: Mallory Cravens Nichols, Advance Components
Panelists: Tim Vath, Solution Industries; George Hunt III, Brighton-Best International; Jake Glaser, Sherex Fastening Solutions
YFP invites you to join a panel program discussing the next generation. Our panelists will dive into best practices for managing, motivating, and interacting with young employees and colleagues. There will be a moderated discussion, followed by time for questions.