SOUTHWEST Session: Understand the essential steps for achieving CMMC compliance in this essential session. Colin Gilchrist will provide a comprehensive guide for organizations looking to bridge the gap between cybersecurity requirements and business growth, ensuring a strong compliance foundation.
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Nancy Bielke, Sr. ERP Sales Executive, i-Tech Support Services
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Regis Santamaria, Sr. Director of Sales, TDK SensEI (USA)
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Matt Redden, Technical Specialist, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
SOUTHWEST Session: The call to bring manufacturing back to U.S. soil has never been louder—but the question remains: Can our manufacturing sector meet the moment? This presentation dives into the reality behind the reshoring movement and explores the technological readiness of U.S. manufacturers to produce more efficiently, competitively, and sustainably. We’ll unpack where the gaps lie in digital adoption, automation, smart factory infrastructure, and skilled labor—and where forward-thinking manufacturers are already making big moves. Learn what it truly takes to modernize your plant, compete globally, and deliver on the promise of “Made in the USA.” In this session, we’ll cover the following: The current state of U.S. manufacturing technology adoption How automation, AI, and data are transforming the factory floor Challenges and solutions in bridging the tech and workforce gap What industry leaders are doing to future-proof their operations Practical steps to accelerate your technology readiness Whether you're a C-suite executive, IT leader, or operations leader this webinar will give you the insights and next steps you need to drive innovation and scalability in your manufacturing business.
SOUTHWEST Session: Are you getting the most out of your operations? Many manufacturers leave performance on the table due to outdated CNC machining processes, practices and programming. In this expert panel presentation, FANUC America’s Executive Director of Aerospace and Defense Rick Schulz will lead a discussion about how to take advantage of new technologies, create automation strategies, and utilize IOT and digitalization software to drive operational success. Audience Takeaways: -Learn growth strategies on how to keep machining operations competitive and profitable. -Hear from industry leaders on their realistic approaches to AI for impactful ROI. -How to mitigate pain points with optimizing equipment and taking advantage of advanced machining functionality. -Best practices on setting up shops to support more flexible and effective operations. -Using cutting-edge CNC technology, IoT, digitalization and other tools to drive operational success. -Phasing in newer technologies into existing production lines. -Planning and preparing for your next CAPEX for the best ROI. -How to be effective and productive while facing a tight labor market and a growing skills gap. -Steps to a more self-reliant company using in-house capabilities. -Developing meaningful partnerships in the industry.
SOUTHWEST Session: Unexpected breakdowns, rising costs, and limited asset visibility continue to be a challenge for manufacturers, especially as teams face mounting pressure to do more with less – fewer technicians, tighter budgets, and limited time. But with the right technology and a practical approach to reliability, lean teams can shift from fighting fires to building long-term, operational resilience into every layer of production. In this session, we’ll showcase how manufacturers are using modern CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) tools to drive higher uptime, extend asset life, and reduce reactive work – all without needing additional headcount or new equipment. We’ll demonstrate how top performing teams have digitized preventive maintenance schedules, deployed QR code-enabled work orders, and built mobile-first maintenance workflows that keep machines running and teams aligned. Whether you’re still using spreadsheets or looking to get more out of your current system, this session will provide a clear blueprint for building a smart, scalable maintenance program.
SOUTHWEST Session: Manufacturing is undergoing rapid digital transformation—driven by predictive maintenance, AI-driven insights, and smart factories. Yet IT/OT convergence is not achieved in strategy documents; it is lived daily through remote access, where people, vendors, and data cross into critical environments. This presentation explores the unique challenges CISOs and OT teams face—legacy patching debt, vendor access sprawl, ransomware pressure, and compliance demands—and why secure OT remote access is the essential bridge to efficiency, resilience, and productivity. Through industry case studies, we’ll examine how leaders are standardizing connectivity, reducing downtime costs, and enabling AI-driven operations—while ensuring security never falls behind transformation.
SOUTHWEST Session: Many manufacturers are stuck in “CMMC hell,” overspending, missing deadlines, and relying on providers who have never taken a company through a successful Level 2 audit. The result is frustration, wasted budgets, and failed assessments. In this session, Manufacturing ROI founder Ben Allen shares how to identify the warning signs of a failing CMMC plan and the steps to rescue it. Attendees will learn how to realign leadership and IT around a realistic roadmap, find funding to offset compliance costs, and select the right partner to ensure audit success. Manufacturing ROI is the nation’s only CMMC compliance brokerage, focused on helping manufacturers achieve compliance faster and more economically. This presentation offers a clear, practical path to avoid audit failure and turn CMMC from a costly burden into a strategic advantage.
Speaker at SOUTHWEST: Bradd Rodenroth, Vice President of Sales, NEXGEN Tooling LLC