Lunch & Executive Roundtable Discussions

Manufacturing is entering a decisive new chapter, defined not by incremental improvement, but by a fundamental rewiring of how plants plan, operate, and compete.

Performance pressure is intensifying. OEE losses, unplanned downtime, scrap and rework, and excess working capital continue to erode margins in complex assembly environments. Many manufacturers have invested in digital platforms, yet fragmented MES, SCADA, ERP, and PLM systems still limit real‑time decision making, creating an opportunity for AI to deliver innovative, high‑impact solutions. 

This session will focus on how AI is reshaping complex assembly operations and creating measurable business impact. Participants will gain insight into how intelligence embedded across the industrial blueprint can deliver competitive advantage, enhance throughput across OT and IT platforms, and improve working capital efficiency, all contributing to stronger margins and operational resilience. Manufacturers that integrate intelligence, automation, and human capability into core operations rather than treating them as add‑ons achieve significant performance gains and sustainable competitive advantage.

Why it matters

• Global supply chains remain structurally more volatile, driven by geopolitical shifts and fluctuating demand patterns
• Skilled labor is constrained and harder to upskill at scale as demographic shifts reduce available talent pools 
• Sustainability expectations now require measurable performance improvements, not just reporting
• The technology stack across AI, automation, and industrial connectivity has matured to enable speed, precision, and resilience simultaneously
• Digital twins are expanding from isolated line simulations to enterprise‑wide decision platforms
• OT cybersecurity is evolving from basic IT hygiene to continuous, real‑time protection for connected production systems 

Learning Objectives

1. Diagnose revenue leakage across complex assembly lines and quantify where AI can create value to improve throughput, reduce scrap and rework, and increase asset utilization
2. Translate AI‑enabled automation into measurable gains in OEE with direct impact on margin expansion
3. Build a scalable AI roadmap tied directly to profitability, working capital efficiency, sustainability integration, and operational resilience

Global manufacturing and assembly operations are operating in an era of unprecedented disruption, driven by geopolitical volatility, shifting trade policies, regionalization, and ongoing capacity constraints. This session examines how OEMs and suppliers are rethinking traditional supply chain models to build greater resilience, flexibility, and responsiveness. Attendees will explore how organizations are adapting to supply chain fragility by redesigning production ecosystems that balance cost, risk, speed, and reliability across regions and tiers.

Through a cross‑industry lens, this discussion will focus on strategies for building diversified supplier networks, improving multi‑tier visibility, and strengthening risk management frameworks. Panelists will address rising expectations for transparency, data sharing, and collaboration between OEMs and suppliers, and how these expectations are reshaping procurement, quality, and operational decision‑making. The session will provide actionable insight into how manufacturers can future‑proof their supply chains while maintaining performance, compliance, and customer trust.

In industries where failure is not an option, achieving zero‑defect performance requires more than inspection—it demands a disciplined, system‑wide approach to quality embedded across design, manufacturing, and operations. This session explores how leading organizations operationalize zero‑defect strategies in high‑reliability environments, focusing on daily management practices, error‑proofing techniques, validation frameworks, and advanced quality metrics. Attendees will gain insight into how manufacturers prevent defects before they occur, strengthen process capability, and leverage real‑time data to drive continuous improvement while maintaining strict compliance and performance standards.

This session will be led by Ian Hooley, Senior Director of Quality at Zimmer Biomet, who brings extensive experience overseeing global post‑market engineering, medical device quality systems, and product lifecycle performance in a highly regulated MedTech environment. With a career spanning quality assurance, product development, manufacturing, and continuous improvement, Ian has led initiatives across validation, audit readiness, CAPA, and acquisition integration to ensure consistent, high‑quality outcomes at scale. Drawing on his experience managing complex quality ecosystems, Ian will share practical strategies for aligning engineering, manufacturing, and supplier performance to deliver zero‑defect results—and how organizations can use data, governance, and disciplined execution to sustain quality in the most demanding applications.