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WEST Session: Smart manufacturing is redefining the relationship between people and technology. As automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning continue to evolve, they are not replacing human intelligence - they are enhancing it. These technologies reduce the burden of repetitive, manual tasks and empower employees to focus on higher-value, strategic work such as problem-solving, innovation and continuous improvement. To unlock the full benefits of Industry 4.0, manufacturers must do more than adopt new tools - they must cultivate a resilient, future-ready workforce. This session will explore strategies for upskilling, nurturing adaptability and creating collaborative, digitally fluent work environments that help employees and organizations thrive in a rapidly changing landscape.

WEST Session: In this session, Randy Eickhoff, CPA, Founder and Head Coach at Acena Consulting, will walk attendees through how innovative manufacturers and product developers can leverage the R&D tax credit to uncover hidden value. Whether you’re developing new processes, improving products, or experimenting with automation, this credit could be a powerful cash generator. Randy will demystify the IRS criteria, share real-world examples, and show you how to avoid common pitfalls in documentation and qualification. You’ll leave with practical insights to help you assess eligibility and maximize savings.

WEST 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.

Speaker at WEST: Kartik Pasumarti, Vice President of Revenue & Operations, ShareCRM

WEST Session: Manufacturing field service operations are plagued by inefficiency, reactive responses, and disconnected systems that drain profitability and frustrate customers. Most manufacturers still rely on manual scheduling, disparate software solutions, and limited real-time visibility into field operations, technician status, and equipment performance, resulting in suboptimal routes, missed appointments, and escalating operational costs. This presentation demonstrates how manufacturers are transforming their service operations using ShareCRM's AI-powered, mobile-first field service platform. Attendees will discover specific technologies including intelligent scheduling and dispatch algorithms that optimize resource allocation and technician assignments, AI assistants that use real data to identify and resolve potential issues before they impact customers, and industry-leading mobile applications that empower field service reps to complete jobs efficiently from accepting work orders to delivering parts from their own inventory. The session features real-world implementation strategies showing how manufacturers achieve a single view of the customer throughout the entire sales, service, and marketing lifecycle while connecting teams, processes, and systems with smart, automated workflows. Participants will learn about AI-powered knowledge bases that instantly recognize issues and recommend solutions, customer service analytics that provide holistic team productivity insights, and partner relationship management capabilities that extend operations through dealer and distributor networks. Attendees will leave with actionable insights on implementing connected, intelligent field service solutions that maximize uptime, boost profitability, and deliver delightful customer experiences while transforming reactive service costs into proactive competitive advantages.  

Speaker at WEST: Steve George, Senior Manager Product Engineering – Solid Rounds, Kennametal

WEST Session: Many well-established manufacturing and supply companies are rooted in their original non-digital technology and payments processes. From still using credit card swipers, to sending paper invoices, to even receiving paper orders from customers that included credit card numbers scribbled on them, high-end tile supplier, Decorative Materials, was experiencing the pain of outdated tech. They knew they needed a more innovative solution that would continue to grow with them while also providing the secure, digital payment options their customers and employees needed. This presentation will cover their case study and feature the challenges they were facing with meeting today’s technology and security standards, and how they updated their existing order system to a newer, more innovative solution that provided increased security, fewer human errors, increased time savings, and an overall improved customer experience. And it was all embedded directly into their ERP system.

Speaker at WEST: Drura Parrish, Co-founder and CEO, Purchaser

WEST Session: For decades, manufacturing poured its innovation into automating production, while business operations like sourcing, purchasing, and procurement were left behind. Companies chased bloated ERPs that promised to do everything and ended up doing little. That is why email and spreadsheets have ruled for so long: they are flexible enough to handle the messy realities of manufacturing. But organizations should dictate software, not the other way around. Today’s technology makes it possible to solve discrete problems with precision. When you automate something as specific as the RFQ process, eliminating every email and copy-paste, the ROI becomes immediate. Apply the same focus to supplier communications or purchase orders, and the gains in profit and throughput dwarf what you get from another machine on the shop floor. The future is not about automating production. It is about automating the work that has been ignored.

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.