Skip to content

Displaying 121-130 of 321 results for

Last 90 Days clear

Digital Threads and Smart Factories: The IoT Advantage in Manufacturing

SOUTHWEST Session: As global manufacturing enters the next wave of industrial transformation, the convergence of digital threads and IoT is reshaping the way products are designed, built, and maintained. A digital thread creates a seamless flow of data across the product lifecycle — from design and engineering to production and aftermarket service. When paired with IoT-enabled smart factories, this integration unlocks unprecedented operational visibility, agility, and intelligence. This session explores how manufacturers are leveraging IoT to create connected ecosystems that power predictive maintenance, real-time quality control, autonomous operations, and closed-loop decision-making. We will discuss practical frameworks for implementing digital threads and highlight ROI-driven success stories from discrete and process manufacturing. Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of: The role of IoT sensors, edge computing, and AI in transforming factory floors Use cases that demonstrate measurable gains in OEE, sustainability, and workforce efficiency A roadmap for integrating IoT into existing manufacturing systems without disrupting operations This talk is essential for manufacturing leaders looking to accelerate their Industry 4.0 journey and future-proof their operations through connected intelligence.  

Matt Jones

Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Matt Jones, Head of GTM, NA, Augmentus Robotics

Overcoming Variability Challenges in Surface Processes with Adaptive Automation

SOUTHWEST Session: Manufacturers increasingly struggle with robotic surface finishing, treatment, and welding as production shifts toward high-mix, high-variability manufacturing. Traditional robotic systems demand time-consuming, manual programming—often taking days or weeks to accommodate complex geometries. These systems also lack adaptive capabilities, making it difficult to compensate for part variations. The result: costly manual touchups, process inefficiencies, and production delays.   Augmentus transforms robotic surface applications by combining advanced 3D scanning with automated toolpath generation. By eliminating the need for manual programming and enabling seamless adaptation to part variations, Augmentus delivers greater accuracy, reduced rework, and significantly improved operational efficiency.   This presentation explores how Augmentus overcomes key industry barriers—empowering manufacturers with precision, adaptability, and unmatched process efficiency across surface finishing, surface treatment, and welding applications.

Wesley Thio

Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Wesley Thio, Technical Product Marketing Manager, Lumafield

Edge AI: The Future of Industrial Machine Health Monitoring

SOUTHWEST Session: Driven by the rise of Edge AI, industrial machine health monitoring is undergoing a transformative shift—enabling smarter, faster, and more autonomous decision-making at the edge. In this session, we’ll explore how edge computing and artificial intelligence are converging to deliver real-time insights directly at the source of data generation, minimizing latency and enhancing responsiveness. We'll examine traditional Condition-based Monitoring (CbM) methods and their limitations in dynamic industrial environments, then dive into how predictive and prescriptive maintenance strategies—utilizing Edge AI—are anticipating failures, optimizing performance, and reducing costly downtime. This evolution is reshaping the future of industrial reliability, operational efficiency, and long-term asset sustainability.

Colin Gilchrist

Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Colin Gilchrist, Digital Systems Product Manager, Phillips Federal

Real Adoption of Automation & Physical AI in Small & Mid-size Manufacturers

SOUTHWEST Session: Manufacturers from fabricators to assembly shops are all challenged with workforce woes, the need to boost productivity and the endless quest for quality. Knowing automation is the answer is one thing, but actually finding real success with technology investments can feel challenging and risky. How do you know what will truly bring value to the organization? How do you determine the return? And now with the hype of Artificial Intelligence (AI) seemingly on every product, how do manufacturing leaders determine the right places to invest limited time and capital budgets? In this session, we will delve into the ever-evolving landscape of automation & AI in the factory and take a look at technologies that are having a real impact today across the shop floor. Then we will stare into the crystal ball to look forward at technologies that are on the near horizon that manufacturing leaders should be keeping an eye on. Covering important topics like human-robot collaboration, automated equipment tending, data-driven insights, cobot welding, predictive maintenance, robot guided vision, bin picking, collaborative automation, quality inspections, and much more, attendees should leave this session ready to make value-creating technology investments in their business. Join us as we explore how AI is reshaping the factory floor — one algorithm at a time.

Billy Bogue

Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Billy Bogue, President, Matsuura Machinery USA

Flip the Script: Discussion of Primary Concerns of US Manufacturers and the Impact of Technology

SOUTHWEST Session: Moderated by: Jamie Goettler, BTX Precision Rather than start with a discussion of all the technologies available in the industrial marketplace, this panel session will start by outlining the primary concerns of manufacturing businesses. By first appealing to what the audience (machining businesses) cares about most at the start, the panel will logically ease into a discussion of how available technologies can help achieve greater outcomes for these businesses…in other words, solutions to the preeminent problems. Among the concerns highlighted at the outset will be improving competitiveness (domestically and globally), throughput (business growth), and yes productivity in the face of the manufacturing skills gap. The panel will be represented by industry leaders who either are dealing with these concerns directly, or those that have a “front row seat” to a variety of companies that seek to survive and thrive. Technologies that will be addressed will likely include automation, robotics, workforce training, machining technology, machine monitoring, software and AI to name a few. The above will be discussed in the first Executive Perspectives panel discussion on Tuesday, followed on Wednesday with another critical topic…cybersecurity.