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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.

Speaker at WEST: Paul Boris, Strategic Accounts, Manufacturing & Industrial Operations, UiPath

WEST Session:

Speaker at WEST: Jason Didday, Head of Partnerships & Alliances, Vroozi, Inc.

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: Rick Schultz, Executive Director of Aerospace and Defense, FANUC America

Speaker at WEST: Jon Brady, Regional Sales Manager - Western U.S., SolidCAM

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 Schultz 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.