Why the World’s Best Manufacturers are Heading to Chicago

[Former Member]

                                The premier manufacturing event in the world will again take place this June in Chicago. With over 550 attendees slated to join third party industry experts, this year’s forum is set to be the largest to date as well as feature groundbreaking new technology.

The Internet of Things (IoT), Business Networks and SAP S/4HANA are not only already creating new business models, but fundamentally transforming the best-run connected manufacturing companies. Succinctly, this year’s Manufacturing Industries Forum is about helping manufacturing companies run simple and smarter – while demonstrating what it means to intelligently connect everywhere.

In addition to discussions around empowering manufacturing transformation, here are a few other specific areas of focus at the forum:

. Solution selling, custom order configuration and e-commerce solutions

. Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and new use cases in connected logistics

. Digital transformation and the journey of manufacturing company to a digital business

.  Examples of Integrated business planning for supply chain execution and logistics excellence

.  Building materials industries workshops including case studies and the latest innovations on the connected product

This year’s keynotes will reflect the current transformation in manufacturing.

Martin Mrugal, Chief Innovation Officer, SAP America Inc., will deliver a keynote entitled “Simplify to Innovate – Relentless Pursuit of Excellence in Manufacturing Industries.” His presentation will center on how to reinvent the core of your business and do things never thought possible.

Paul Wellman of CIO of Tennant Company will share their success story through his keynote, “Tennant Reimagines its Business with IoT and Big Data Insights.” Attendees will learn first-hand about the tangible business benefits that Tennant Company has been able to drive for their B2B customers. 

Bob Parker, who is responsible for the research direction at IDC, will deliver a presentation entitled, “IDC benchmark report: Internet of Things – emerging trends and use cases.” Mr. Kraus will talk about the structure of IoT forecasting models and attendees will learn about use cases that illustrate the use of IoT devices, platforms, software, and services.

Michael Lynch, Global Co-Lead, Internet of Things, at SAP will deliver a keynote entitled, “Harnessing the Internet of Things, and Industry 4.0.” He will be detailing how companies are using sensor, RFID, iBeacons, and IoT technology to streamline production processes within a single manufacturing facility, and to achieve end-to-end connectivity and visibility across supplier networks, supply chains, and warehousing.

With this year’s focus on how to Run Simple by intelligently connecting everywhere, attendees of the SAP Manufacturing Industries Forum can expect to come away with ideas on how to re-imagine their own business and how to:

• Run Simple through Customer Engagement & Commerce
• Run Simple through SAP Cloud for Manufacturers
• Run Simple through a Collaborative Supply Chain over the SAP Business Network
• Run Simple through Innovation - S/4HANA For Manufacturing Industry
• Run Simple through Innovation in Enterprise Asset Management
• Run Simple using Mobility to Maintain Asset Uptime and Keep the Shop Floor Running

Specific manufacturers that will be speaking at the forum include AET, Albemarle, Altria, Amcor Rigid Plastics, Broadcom, Cargill, Caterpillar, Cooper Standard Automotive, Eastman Chemicals, EMC, Ford, Greene Tweed, IDEXX, Johns Manville, Medtronic, Molex, NIBCO, PG&E, Tennant Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Triumph Aerostructures – Vought Aircraft Division, TreeHouse, United Copper Industries, and Varian Medical Systems.

Additionally, attendees will hear from their peers from both large and mid-size manufacturing companies in discrete and process industries as they discuss best practices, upgrade experiences, share tips and tricks, and discuss how to manage critical factors for business success.

Industry experts will also detail advanced analytics designed to transform supply chains into demand networks and connect products, assets, and manufacturing to product networks.

Forum attendees can expect to come away with how to better use Big Data, IoT, cloud, mobility, social media and omni-channel commerce on their mission to build the perfect enterprise.

Find out more about the Manufacturing Industries Forum, June 23-25^th in Chicago.