ADVANCED MANUFACTURING LEARNING CENTER
17
ROOM LOCATED END OF 1300 AISLE
Sponsored by
www.firstcitizens.com
TUESDAY, October 5, 2021 11:00am
Wisconsin is Leading on Industry 4.0: What to Do if You’re Not Yet Part of the Club
Presented by: Matt Kirchner, President, LABMidwest, LLC.
Industry is being transformed by Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Digital Twins, Collaborative Robots and Smart Sensors that monitor every production variable imaginable. In this thought-provoking presentation, advanced manufacturing thought leader Matt Kirchner will demystify these technologies, explain how each is transforming education and share how many Wisconsin employers have taken the lead on Industry 4.0, using it to drive cost out of production, eliminate workplace accidents and improve customer experience. Kirchner will also explain why he believes Wisconsin’s educators are better than any other state at equipping the Industry 4.0 workforce of the future and how employers can access this new wave of talent. Matt Kirchner (pronounced “Kirk-ner”) is an international speaker, author and podcast host on topics of interest to educators, public policy makers and private employers. On a mission to secure the American Dream for the next generation of STEM and Workforce talent, Kirchner hosts the weekly TechEd PodcastTM, featuring leaders in industry and education and serves as President of ATS/LAB Midwest, the leading distributor of world-class curriculum, eLearning and training equipment. Kirchner writes monthly leadership columns appearing in Products Finishing and Production Machining magazines and is the author of “Teaching the Industrial Internet of Things: Preparing Students and Learners for Industry 4.0.” Previously Kirchner led three world class manufacturing companies during a 20+ career as an industrial CEO. He and his partners sold their last company, American Finishing Resources, to DuBois Chemicals in 2014. Kirchner serves on the boards of directors of several American companies and among his many volunteer activities is currently the First-Past President of the Education Dealers Association and holds a seat on the board of the Smart Automation Certification Alliance. He is a graduate of the Marquette University School of Business.
1:00pm
Preparing for the Future: Challenges and Solutions for Wisconsin’s Manufacturers
Presented by: Kurt Bauer, President & CEO, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC)
Wisconsin manufacturers have proved to be a resilient bunch over the last 18 months. They responded to COVID-19 by completely revamping how work gets done, tackled the workforce shortage head-on and redesigned entire supply chains to ensure products got to their customers. These challenges continue to exist and will far after 2021 has come to a close. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) President & CEO, Kurt Bauer, will discuss how manufacturers tackled these dilemmas throughout the pandemic and what they are doing now to prepare for the future. This insightful analysis will provide attendees with first-hand accounts from Wisconsin manufacturers and highlight the way forward from both a business and public policy perspective. Kurt R. Bauer became the fifth head of Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) in 2011. Founded in 1911, WMC is the combined Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce, Wisconsin Manufacturers’ Association and the Wisconsin Safety Council. WMC represents 3,800 employers of all sizes and from every sector of the economy, and is referred to as “the state’s most powerful business and manufacturing group” by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In 2020, WMC was recognized as the State Chamber of the Year for its advocacy, information delivery, and general support of Wisconsin Businesses during the Covid19 pandemic. Prior to joining WMC, Bauer spent 18 years working for financial industry trade groups, including servicing as CEO for both the Wisconsin and Arizona Bankers Associations. Bauer is Immediate Past Chair of the Council of State Manufacturers Associations and serves on the boards of the National Association of Manufacturers, and Council of State Chambers of Commerce. He is also a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Committee, and the University of Wisconsin System Business Advisory Council. Bauer is a Wisconsin native and a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
