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WEST Session: If you’re in the manufacturing field, then you must be passionate about how things are made. Manufacturing matters, and it’s crucial that leaders step out of their buildings and focus on the business, rather than just working in the business. Most small to mid-sized manufacturers don’t realize there is much power in utilizing peer networks, communities, regions, and states to look from the outside in. We want to leave our businesses in a better condition than when we arrived. We want more youth in manufacturing, we want better data about our manufacturing operations, and we want to understand how to incorporate the newest technology into our operations. Fourteen years in the family’s manufacturing business has allowed me to inform myself and bring solutions to our business and remain competitive. Additionally, amid exploring opportunities, I have discovered the importance of the critical need to bridge the skills gap and the tacit knowledge that is being lost as our skilled workforce retires. The impact that harnessing and leveraging this knowledge will help alleviate the existential crisis that threatens us all.

WEST Session: Join Randy Eickhoff as he breaks down powerful tools that can significantly accelerate depreciation and boost cash flow for manufacturers, facility owners, and real estate investors. This session will cover cost segregation studies, the Section 179D energy efficiency deduction, and Section 179 expensing. With an eye on current IRS positions and pending legislation, Randy will explain how to align tax strategy with capital planning to optimize your bottom line. Expect actionable takeaways tailored for SMEs investing in new buildings, equipment, and improvements.

WEST Session: AI is everywhere in the headlines, but most manufacturers are still asking the same question: where do we start? Between vendor hype and uncertain ROI, it’s hard to separate what’s possible from what’s practical. This talk will help cut through the noise and share a pragmatic roadmap for building AI capability in manufacturing. Attendees will learn three proven ways to apply AI today: automating documentation, accelerating compliance, and capturing engineering expertise, along with three common pitfalls to avoid when launching AI initiatives. Rather than a futuristic vision, this session provides concrete, usable steps that any manufacturer can take immediately, whether they’re a 50-person shop or a global enterprise. The key message: you don’t need a lab full of data scientists to get started. With the right workflows, AI can deliver measurable results now, and prepare your organization for the next decade of manufacturing innovation.

WEST Session: Moderated by: Graham Hargreaves, CAD/CAM Consulting Services “You just have to finesse it...” “...finagle it” “...jockey it around a little.” These are highly technical terms to describe how engineers, programmers, and machinists make the software and machines at hand do something a little avant-garde to make a workpiece as spec’ed. For machine shop owners, pressure is growing to deliver increasingly complex, never-before-seen parts—and so are the challenges. From tight timelines to tighter tolerances, the path from design to finished part is rarely straightforward. But there is a path, and it involves creating a collaborative environment where engineers, programmers and machinists engage in open communication to problem solve on the fly. This panel will address the key challenges manufacturers face today, including: · Handling first-time parts with no proven toolpaths or machining history · Working around software limitations when standard CAM strategies fall short · Bridging the gap between engineering, programming, and machining to avoid costly miscommunication · Maximizing existing machine capabilities without compromising part quality · Collaborating under pressure to solve problems in real time on the shop floor Panelists will share real-world examples and proven strategies for overcoming these obstacles through smarter programming, tighter collaboration, and creative problem-solving. Whether you're running a small job shop or managing a larger operation, this session will offer practical insights to help your team work more efficiently, reduce rework, and stay competitive in a fast-changing manufacturing landscape. This conversation will bring this reality to light and attempt to lift up the entire industry, and encourage everyone to never stop learning, tinkering, and tweaking.

WEST Session: Digital twins are rapidly becoming a cornerstone of advanced manufacturing, enabling companies to simulate, optimize, and validate their production processes in a virtual environment before committing to physical execution. This presentation explores the value of digital twins specifically in the domains of CNC machining, robotic automation, and the broader virtual factory. In CNC machining, digital twins replicate the behavior of machines, tools, and part geometries, allowing for precise simulation of toolpaths and real-time detection of potential collisions, over-travel, and inefficiencies. By simulating the exact machine kinematics, spindle dynamics, and tool libraries, manufacturers can reduce setup times, improve part quality, and significantly lower the risk of costly rework or downtime. In robotic work cells, digital twins mirror robotic behavior, motion, and task sequences. This enables manufacturers to program, test, and optimize robot trajectories and tool interactions virtually - ensuring safety, cycle time optimization, and maximum utilization of expensive automation assets. Collision detection, reach analysis, and process synchronization can all be handled digitally before deployment on the shop floor. At the virtual factory level, digital twins provide a holistic view of the entire manufacturing environment - integrating machines, robotics, material flow, operators, and logistics into a unified simulation. This enables strategic decision-making, accurate capacity planning, and the ability to test process changes in a risk-free virtual environment. The result is greater agility, resilience, and efficiency across the entire production lifecycle. Attendees will gain insight into how digital twins reduce risk, increase productivity, and enable smarter planning across manufacturing operations. By harnessing digital twins in CNC machining, robotic systems, and factory-wide simulations, companies can accelerate their journey toward digital transformation and fully realize the promise of Industry 4.0.

WEST Session: Digital twins are rapidly becoming a cornerstone of advanced manufacturing, enabling companies to simulate, optimize, and validate their production processes in a virtual environment before committing to physical execution. This presentation explores the value of digital twins specifically in the domains of CNC machining, robotic automation, and the broader virtual factory. In CNC machining, digital twins replicate the behavior of machines, tools, and part geometries, allowing for precise simulation of toolpaths and real-time detection of potential collisions, over-travel, and inefficiencies. By simulating the exact machine kinematics, spindle dynamics, and tool libraries, manufacturers can reduce setup times, improve part quality, and significantly lower the risk of costly rework or downtime. In robotic work cells, digital twins mirror robotic behavior, motion, and task sequences. This enables manufacturers to program, test, and optimize robot trajectories and tool interactions virtually - ensuring safety, cycle time optimization, and maximum utilization of expensive automation assets. Collision detection, reach analysis, and process synchronization can all be handled digitally before deployment on the shop floor. At the virtual factory level, digital twins provide a holistic view of the entire manufacturing environment - integrating machines, robotics, material flow, operators, and logistics into a unified simulation. This enables strategic decision-making, accurate capacity planning, and the ability to test process changes in a risk-free virtual environment. The result is greater agility, resilience, and efficiency across the entire production lifecycle. Attendees will gain insight into how digital twins reduce risk, increase productivity, and enable smarter planning across manufacturing operations. By harnessing digital twins in CNC machining, robotic systems, and factory-wide simulations, companies can accelerate their journey toward digital transformation and fully realize the promise of Industry 4.0.

WEST Session: Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing nearly every industry—but many manufacturing operations are still missing out. Over the past five years, a growing divide has emerged. Some manufacturers are embracing Industry 4.0 and reaping the rewards. Others remain stuck—struggling with disconnected machines, underutilized data, and manual workflows that slow down operations. From isolated systems to paper-based logs, the American manufacturing sector often lacks the connectivity required to stay competitive in a global market. So what needs to change? The first step is breaking down data silos. To enable true Industry 4.0 capabilities, manufacturers must connect the factory floor with IT systems like ERP, MES, and WES. This connectivity lays the groundwork for advanced capabilities like predictive maintenance—where machine learning models monitor operations, learn normal patterns, and predict failures before they happen. It's also about integrating design and execution. Bridging CAD and CAM systems directly to production equipment eliminates manual recipe entry and reduces errors. By creating a unified namespace, manufacturers can abstract away proprietary device protocols and enable seamless communication between all components in the process. And this is where AI truly shines. With a connected infrastructure and unified data model, manufacturers can build digital twins—virtual representations of their production environments. These models power real-time optimization, simulation, and automation in ways that were once unimaginable. This talk presents real examples, practical steps, and the mindset shift required to modernize operations—so manufacturers don’t just keep up with Industry 4.0, but lead it.

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