Olivier Thenoz
Speaker at WEST: Olivier Thenoz, Principal Product Manager, Production Machining Software, Hexagon
Speaker at WEST: Olivier Thenoz, Principal Product Manager, Production Machining Software, Hexagon
Speaker at WEST: Tinesha Anderson, Vice President, R&D, Cost Segregation &179D, CSSI-Specialty Tax Services
WEST Session: Manufacturers face constant pressure to improve output while controlling costs, yet productivity gains are often pursued through equipment upgrades or process reengineering alone. A critical but overlooked lever is the frontline workforce—the people running machines, moving materials, and maintaining operations every day. When employees are disconnected from the information, communication, and tools they need, even small inefficiencies compound into significant losses. This presentation explores how targeted technology investments can unlock measurable productivity improvements, sometimes as much as 25%, by empowering frontline employees. We will examine the most common friction points that reduce performance, such as paper-based reporting, limited resource access at work stations, delayed reporting and task triggers, inconsistent training and retention, and siloed communication. We’ll then show how software solutions can extend existing ERP, HCM, and MES systems to the shop floor, creating a single hub where employees can access workflows, compliance updates, and real-time alerts. Attendees will see how manufacturers are achieving faster response times, reducing downtime, streamlining onboarding, and improving compliance by modernizing the employee experience. The session will provide a practical framework to quantify workforce productivity losses and demonstrate the ROI of equipping employees with the right digital tools.
WEST Session: We don’t lose deals because we’re not working hard enough. We lose them because we’re working on the wrong things. In manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution, sales teams are moving faster than ever—yet growth feels stuck. Why? Noise. Endless updates. Unreliable forecasts. Chasing the wrong deals. We’ve accepted it as the cost of doing business. But what if it’s actually killing your momentum?This 20-minute talk is a call to rethink how sales teams operate—with more clarity. You’ll learn: Why noise—disguised as intuition—is wrecking your forecast How bad data and busywork eats into your selling time What top sales teams are doing to cut through the noise and stay laser-focused And you’ll see real-world proof: 44% growth at Creative Foam.This isn’t a product pitch. It’s a shift in perspective. If your team’s putting in the effort but still falling short, this is the rethink you’ve been waiting for.
WEST Session: Even the strongest security controls can’t stop every attack, making preparation the key to resilience. In this session, Complete will provide an overview of today’s threat landscape, review real world breaches in manufacturing, and share actionable steps to evaluate your organization’s readiness to ensure business continuity in the face of a cyber incident. Participants will gain insights into the evolving tactics used by cybercriminals, learn how to identify hidden vulnerabilities within complex industrial environments, and understand the critical role of incident response planning. The discussion will also highlight best practices for building a culture of cyber awareness, strengthening collaboration between IT and OT teams, and aligning security strategies with business objectives. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with a clearer picture of their current risk posture and practical measures they can implement immediately to enhance resilience and minimize operational disruptions.
WEST Session: This session will explore the transformative potential of industrial CT technology to revolutionize quality control in manufacturing and product development. Attendees will learn how CT enables faster, more accurate inspections, improves defect detection, and reduces waste while accelerating innovation and ensuring product reliability. We will examine the challenges of adopting these systems, including cost, workflow integration, and training, and share best practices for successful implementation across industries. In addition, we will highlight the role of automated inspection systems, their integration with complementary technologies, and what the future of digital quality control holds for organizations seeking a sustainable competitive edge in manufacturing.
Speaker at WEST: Wesley Thio, Technical Product Marketing Manager, Lumafield
Speaker at WEST: Rita Wouhaybi, AI Fellow, Solidigm
WEST Session:
WEST Session: AI promises to transform manufacturing and service operations, but for most teams the challenge is not algorithms—it’s integration and adoption. This session will be co-presented by industry experts who will share real-world lessons from deploying AI-powered workflows at an e-recycling facility and in design-for-manufacture (DfM) and quoting. Attendees will learn a practical framework for deciding when to use deterministic software workflows, when to embed AI as an enabler, and when—if ever—to rely on autonomous AI “agents.” Using concrete metrics, we’ll show how hybrid approaches reduce cost, latency, and risk while delivering measurable gains. We will also describe the importance of human feedback in improving accuracy metrics. This is an inside look at what’s working (and what isn’t) as we automate inspections, quoting, and compliance tasks across the physical and digital sides of manufacturing. You’ll leave with a decision surface you can apply immediately to your own operations.