Wednesday, June 28
7:15 a.m. Registration, Continental Breakfast and Exhibition
8:10 a.m. Welcome and Introductions
8:20 a.m. Fireside Chat: Is ChatGPT a Cause for Optimism or Concern? *
- Julie Shah, Professor, Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab, MIT, and Member, MLC Board of Governors
- Jai Sundararaman, Chief Transformation Officer, Intertape Polymer Group, and Member, MLC Board of Governors
In conversation with: David R. Brousell, Founder, Vice President and Executive Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
The emergence of generative AI tools such as Open AI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bart have spurred predictions that they could improve product ideation and design, material science, project management, customer service, and marketing in companies. They have also been controversial. The famed linguistics thinker Dr. Noam Chomsky has written, for example, that machine learning technologies such as ChatGPT “will degrade our science and debase our ethics by incorporating into our technology a fundamentally flawed conception of language and knowledge.” This session will explore the pros and cons of generative AI tools and what their implications may be for manufacturing.
8:50 a.m. Case Study: Sustainability in the Manufacturing 4.0 Era *
- Billy Bardin, Global Climate Transition Director, Dow Inc.
Today’s market and stakeholder demands require institutions to produce materials more sustainably, with demonstrated progress towards reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, lower water use, and improved ability to recycle products at the end-of-life. Dow has embarked on a “decarbonize and grow” strategy that will drive towards reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 15% between 2020-2030, while advancing on its path to carbon neutrality by 2050. This session will discuss the intersection of digital capabilities with its sustainability strategy. The reporting, tracking, and transacting of carbon emissions require improved data connectivity and transparency enabled by a digital thread through the value chain starting with suppliers and flowing through to the customer. Improved monitoring of assets and optimization of processes help to validate emissions data while enhancing operational performance.
9:20 a.m. Panel Discussion: Meet the Next-Generation Leaders *
Panelists:
- Amanda Ahrens, ESG Architect, Dow, Inc.
- Emily Ambrose, Regional EHS Manager, Saint-Gobain Life Sciences
- Shane Whitaker, Senior Application Engineer, Manufacturing Technology, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Moderator: Penelope Brown, Senior Content Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
What’s on the minds of the next generation as they develop into the leaders of tomorrow? This panel discussion will examine the hopes, aspirations, and visions for the future from some of this year’s top finalists for the Next-Generation Leadership award.
9:50 a.m. Networking and Refreshment Break
10:30 a.m. Case Study: From Kotex to Kleenex – How Kimberly-Clark is Leveraging Digital Manufacturing *
- Jay Agarwal, Senior Director, Digital Strategy and Manufacturing 4.0, Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Kimberly-Clark products are sold in 175 countries and used by one in every four people, globally. This scale is enabled by a comprehensive manufacturing network that provides high quality, fast throughput and reliable delivery using digital tools. Learn how Kimberly-Clark’s digital transformation achieved impact at scale, and how the resulting digital foundation enabled the deployment of advanced controls and machine learning.
11:00 a.m. Executive Interview: Connecting Manufacturing to the Customer Experience *
- Bob Border, Chief Information and Digital Officer, Ingredion
- Prasoon Saxena, President, Manufacturing, NTT DATA
In conversation with: David R. Brousell, Founder, Vice President and Executive Director, Manufacturing Leadership Council
Personalization is prevalent in consumer’s lives. Streaming services know what specific viewers like to watch. Car seats automatically adjust to a driver’s ideal position. Social media channels curate content based on a user’s interest. With such widespread experience personalization, end consumers increasingly expect equally robust experiences from manufacturers. Connecting customer experience expectations with core manufacturing is becoming critical in delivering market expectations. This session discusses Ingredion’s digital transformation focus from the CIO perspective including specific steps the organization is taking to strengthen customer ties and drive better customer experiences. A focus will also be put on the pattern of customer experience driving manufacturing needs across the board.
11:30 a.m. Meet the Innovators: 1:1 Briefing Sessions, Networking Break
12:15 p.m. Networking Lunch featuring Topic Tables
1:25 p.m. Concurrent Interactive (Re)Think Tanks
Choose from one of the following interactive sessions.
2:25 p.m. Networking and Refreshment Break
2:45 p.m. Lightning Round: Meet the Manufacturing Leadership Award Finalists *
Get a deeper look at some of this year’s top projects from the Manufacturing Leadership Awards. Featuring presentations from:
Celanese – A Connected Digital Twin of the Future, Digital Connectivity Project Category
- Ibrahim Al-Syed, Director, Digital Manufacturing, Celanese
- Andrew Penton, Manufacturing IT Leader, Celanese
dsm-firmenich – Bio-Vitamin A: New Technology Deployment that Dramatically Improves Sustainability, Sustainability and the Circular Economy Project Category
- Steven Crump, Innovation Project Manager, DSM Nutritional Products, dsm-firmenich
Flex – Joint Risk Management: Shifting Supply Chain Risks from Unknown to Known, Digital Supply Chains Project Category
- Lupita Michel, Global Commodity Manger, Flex
- Prabhakar Thanikasalam, Senior Director, Advanced Analytics and Supply Chain Solutions, Flex
Starkey Hearing Technologies – A Fully Connected and Predictive Equipment Management System (EMS), Digital Connectivity Project Category
- Harry Wang, Regional Director of Operations, APAC, Starkey Hearing Technologies
- Susan You, Quality Manager, Starkey Hearing Technologies
3:45 p.m. Content for Rethink 2023 Concludes
Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala
6:00 p.m. Manufacturing Leadership Awards Cocktail Reception
7:30 p.m. Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala and Dinner
AI in the Factory
Creating Digital Roadmaps
Industrial Cybersecurity
Next-Generation Leadership
Need we say more? Spend several days building relationships and connecting with like-minded executives both in and out of the event sessions.
Hear from industry experts with curated content throughout the event, including real-world case studies, panel discussions, research insights, executive interviews and more!
Participate in our personal 1-on-1 meetings to understand how different solutions can help you overcome your current business challenges.
Collaborate, engage, share and learn with your peers in our interactive Think Tank sessions. With a dozen topics to choose from, you are certain to walk away with new insights and ideas.
No matter where you are in your digital transformation journey, Rethink will help you understand how technologies can accelerate your journey, provide real-world insights and access to the manufacturing organizations leading the way.
A Rethink exclusive! Hear the highlights from each of our event partners during the Rethink custom VIP tour. In two minutes or less, you’ll gain quick insights and know where you’d like to take the opportunity to understand more.
Join small group table discussions during lunch to discuss specific industry topics around some of the biggest challenges facing manufacturers today.
Connect with some of the top Manufacturing Leadership Award project finalists and gain firsthand insights into their projects during our lightning round sessions and meet n’ greet tables.
Located along the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico on a white sand beach, the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort offers a luxurious setting and an experience like no other!
