Colin Gilchrist
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Colin Gilchrist, Digital Systems Product Manager, Phillips Federal
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Colin Gilchrist, Digital Systems Product Manager, Phillips Federal
SOUTHWEST Session: Most manufacturers begin their AI journey with high expectations, yet research shows that 95 percent of GenAI projects fail to create real business value. A common trap is the shiny object syndrome, where leaders and empowered employees chase trendy tools that look impressive but do little to address core operational challenges. This is why only 5 percent of enterprise-built AI tools ever make it into production. The companies that succeed take a different path. They delve into the business itself, uncovering where AI can make the most significant difference. Predictive maintenance that prevents costly downtime, quality control that reduces waste, and supply chain optimization that improves resilience are just a few areas where measurable impact becomes possible. What often separates success from failure is expertise. Internal teams, no matter how skilled, can be limited by organizational bias, resource gaps, and familiar ways of thinking. That is why internal builds succeed only a third of the time. Third-party AI experts, on the other hand, bring fresh perspectives that identify blind spots, challenge assumptions, and apply proven frameworks that raise the success rate to nearly 70 percent. With the proper guidance, AI stops being an expensive experiment and becomes a powerful, revenue-generating asset. For manufacturers, this shift marks the difference between falling behind and building a sustainable competitive edge.
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: David Smith, Chief Marketing Officer, Novobi, Inc
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Leo Lee, Lead Consultant, Novobi, Inc.
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Paul Boris, Strategic Accounts, Manufacturing & Industrial Operations, UiPath
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Susan Carlock, Co-Owner & Executive Vice President, Mursix Corporation & Murray Mentor, Inc.
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Mark Lilly, President & CEO, Lillyworks, Inc.
SOUTHWEST Session: LillyWorks’ Protected Flow Manufacturing (PFM) solves “The Late Problem” for manufacturers by implementing the “Dynamic Production Method” (DPM). DPM applies 3 principles from Lean/TOC and other manufacturing improvement techniques to deliver fast results so that Manufacturers can quickly see their On-Time Delivery go up, and their production lead-times go down. Manufacturers can implement DPM quickly using LillyWorks’ Protected Flow Manufacturing (PFM) software. PFM speeds the flow of information to production personnel, so they have the visibility to make the right decisions to accelerate the flow of material and workorders through the manufacturing shop. Manufacturers implementing PFM typically see significant improvements in OTD, reductions in production leadtimes, and increased throughput within 60 – 90 days. PFM can be used in a stand-alone mode, or tied directly to the company’s ERP system.
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Brian Ellis, Founder, Docket