Future of Manufacturing at imX Industry Summit

(SME: Las Vegas) -- The inaugural Interactive Manufacturing Experience (imX) summit on U.S. manufacturing will feature the first public address by newly appointed U.S. Chief Manufacturing Officer Michael Molnar, and panels led by industry experts from Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and a gala event celebrating the bright future of the U.S. manufacturing industry. Taking place Sept. 12–14, 2011, in Las Vegas, the goal of imX is to foster collaboration among U.S. manufacturers of all sizes.

The interactive industry panels and Molnar’s keynote address complement an agenda designed to address the critical shortage of skilled manufacturing workers and other industry challenges while also showcasing some of the most advanced machine tool technology on the market. Manufacturing executives may learn more and apply to attend imX here.

Daily interactive industry panels

During imX, executive guests will be able to engage directly with leading end users and industry observers on topics ranging from future technologies to automation and benchmarking. Each session will feature opportunities for audience members to pose questions to the panelists. Panels take place each day from 1 to 2:30 p.m. They include:

Mon., Sept. 12: “Market and Technology Outlook: Charting a Course for the Future”
A panel of industry experts will join in an interactive discussion that will focus on the outlook of key markets and how future enabling technologies impact the way many manufacturers do business.

Tues., Sept. 13: “The Edge Factor: Best Practices in Manufacturing Automation”
The owners of Straitline Components shares its successful transition from a job shop to creators of a line of mountain bike components now used by some of the top competitive racers in the world. With help from advanced automation systems, Straitline today competes successfully against manufacturers all over the world.

Wed., Sept. 14: “Top Shops: Benchmarking Your Machining Business”
Based on a comprehensive survey of nearly 200 machining businesses, this panel identifies optimal shop-floor practices as well as operational and business metrics that define world-class competitiveness in discrete parts manufacturing.

“The panels are one of several interactive opportunities imX attendees will have to connect in a meaningful way with other industry leaders,” says event experience manager Steve Prahalis. “imX isn’t only focused on the trade show floor. We’re going far beyond that to create real value for attendees by offering Learning Labs, Experience Zones, Knowledge Bars, and other components designed to enable collaborative learning and relationship development.”

Gala

The event’s Tuesday night gala, “An Evening of eXploration,” will be a celebration of the present and future of U.S. manufacturing, and one of the premier industry networking events of 2011. Guests will have unprecedented opportunities to interact with government officials, executives, sales teams, and decision makers from some of the world’s largest manufacturers. Highlighting the gala will be Jim Carroll, speaking on “Aligning Your Company’s Strategy for the Future Through Innovation,” followed by a special performance by Cirque du Soleil.

First Address by U.S. Chief Manufacturing Officer

Having just begun his tenure as the U.S. Commerce Department’s first Chief Manufacturing Officer, Michael Molnar will address manufacturing leaders from across the country at 9 a.m. on Sept. 12 during the imX opening day keynote address. He will share information about how individual manufacturers can benefit from the new national Advanced Manufacturing Partnership launched recently by President Obama.

The partnership “brings industry, universities, and the federal government together to invest in emerging technologies,” and demonstrates the president’s commitment to “building domestic manufacturing capabilities to create the new products, new industries, and new jobs of the future,” according to the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“A healthy domestic manufacturing industry is vital to our nation’s economic recovery,” says Peter Borden, president of imX partner, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. “Our leaders in Washington know it, and the industry knows it. At imX, we’re coming together to determine how to work collaboratively to strengthen a manufacturing base that will continue creating jobs for American workers and provide a solid foundation for sustained economic growth.”

In addition to the keynote presentations, opportunities for conversation, thought leadership, and collaborative learning, imX will include a series of Learning Labs hosted by leading experts, intimate Knowledge Bar conversations and displays of the latest manufacturing technology innovations from exhibitors nationwide.

The imX manufacturing summit is a collaboration among eight leading machine tool manufacturers and two national industry associations. The event’s founders are executives from eXperience Partners DMG/Mori Seiki U.S.A., FANUC, Kennametal, MAG IAS LLC, Makino, Methods Machine Tools, Okuma America, and Sandvik Coromant. imX is jointly presented by the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association (AMTDA) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).

About The Author

Society of Manufacturing Engineers

The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) is the premier source for manufacturing knowledge, education, and networking. Through its many programs, events, and activities, SME connects manufacturing practitioners to each other, to the latest technology, and the most up-to-date processes spanning all manufacturing industries and disciplines, plus the key areas of aerospace and defense, medical device, motor vehicles, including motorsports, and oil and gas. A 501(c)3 organization, SME has members in more than 70 countries and is supported by a network of technical communities and chapters worldwide.