Rick Schultz
Speaker at WEST: Rick Schultz, Executive Director of Aerospace and Defense, FANUC America
Speaker at WEST: Rick Schultz, Executive Director of Aerospace and Defense, FANUC America
WEST 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 Many manufacturers leave performance on the table due to outdated CNC machining processes, practices and programming.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.
Speaker at WEST: Robert Lewis, CEO & Founder, Impaqx LLC
Speaker at WEST: Swamy Mahesh, Chief Technology & Ai Strategy Officer, Impaqx LLC
Speaker at WEST: Jason Didday, Head of Partnerships & Alliances, Vroozi, Inc.
Speaker at WEST: Len Reo, President, The Attivo Group
Speaker at WEST: Randy Eickoff, Founder & Head Coach, Acena Consulting, LLC
WEST Session: Internal audits are more than a compliance requirement, they are a strategic tool for driving performance, reducing risk, and building a culture of continual improvement. This session explores how disciplined audit programs can deliver both tangible and intangible business value. Attendees will learn how effective internal audits reduce the cost of poor quality, minimize hidden risks, and strengthen external confidence with customers and regulators. We’ll examine common barriers, such as audit fatigue, time conflicts, and data silos, and offer practical, low-cost tools to overcome them, including risk-based scheduling, clause matrices, and competency-driven auditor training. The session will also discuss how to embed audit outcomes into daily operations, promote transparency, and use trend data to guide decision-making. Whether you're refining a mature system or rebuilding from the ground up, this session offers actionable insights to increase engagement, sharpen focus, and get more value from every audit.
Speaker at WEST: Rob Dusenbury, Technical Applications Director, CAD/CAM Consulting Svcs.
Speaker at WEST: Nico Amato, Lead Manufacturing Engineer, Aerojet Rocketdyne