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These small group discussions will take place on the show floor during WIMTS. Seating is limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Bring your questions and be prepared for exciting discussion on cutting-edge industry topics. |
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Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - 11:00am
AUTOMATION: WHEN, WHAT, HOW
For the past several decades, product manufacturers have been asking the same questions regarding automation. With the new golden age of manufacturing in our windshield, the questions remain the same but the necessity for automation is clear.
As a supplier of automation equipment since 1980, including test, measurement, inspection, metal removal, assembly, and material handling, the three most relevant questions that must be answered are “When”,” What” and “How” to Automate.
When: This question is much easier to answer than the rest. Automate when your product demand exceeds availability of human resources. For most manufacturers, the answer to this questions is …. Yesterday. Obviously, there are other reasons, but the most common reason is due to lack of human resources. And, as manufacturing demand for human resources increases, you can bet that cost and availability will become business issues in the not-to-distant future.
What: What products should be automated? The old answer is high volume, low margin, repetitive processing of parts that may include heavy objects, awkward handling of objects, repetitive processing by hand, environmental challenges, precision that exceeds human ability, fatigue of employee, parts that require absolute consistency. My rule of thumb is to identify 80% of the high-volume low margin parts that require automation, leaving the 20% of the low volume high margin jobs for manual processing. Shifting the human resources that were involved in the 80% of high-volume production to the higher margin business, or perhaps increasing sales volume for your organization makes you more attractive.
How: How do I automate? You will need to identify your desire to support and maintain automation before looking to hire in-house experts or a full-service automation-integration group. Either way, look at automation as a STRATEGY to produce quality and consistent parts that exceed customer expectations and delivery requirements. Automation can, if done correctly, boost profits, efficiency, throughput, and increase your bottom line.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - 12:00pm
BOOST SALES, REDUCE ERRORS; A NEW ERA OF DIGITAL B2B SELLING
Today’s B2B buyers expect seamless, digital-first interactions—from self-service ordering to personalized buying experiences. But for manufacturers and distributors, manual quoting, long sales cycles, and siloed systems continue to slow growth, frustrate teams, and drive-up costs in this session we will show you how to streamline B2B sales, simplify quoting, and capture new revenue opportunities – all while integrating seamlessly with your ERP. What you’ll learn:
- How automation and AI guided selling reduce quoting errors, eliminate bottleneck, and accelerate digital sales cycles
- Real-world examples manufacturers modernizing rep-driven sales, eCommerce, and customer service
- How to cut costs, increase revenue and improve margins
You’ll leave with a clear roadmap for leveraging automation, AI, and multi-channel commerce to create personalized, customer-centric buying experiences that drive long-term loyalty.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025 - 1:00pm
HOW DO I PROTECT WHAT I CREATE? INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Bring questions ready for an informal discussion about intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. From staking out competitive position, to innovation, to enforcement and strategic intellectual property asset management, Garet will clarify types of things protectable in various categories of IP, compare and contrast areas of IP, and answer questions raised.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - 11:00am
CURRENT CONCERNS IN WISCONSIN MANUFACTURING
This session will examine challenges that are part of running a business in today’s manufacturing industry, as well as factors you must educate yourself on in order to remain competitive.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - 12:00pm
BOOST SALES, REDUCE ERRORS; A NEW ERA OF DIGITAL B2B SELLING
Today’s B2B buyers expect seamless, digital-first interactions—from self-service ordering to personalized buying experiences. But for manufacturers and distributors, manual quoting, long sales cycles, and siloed systems continue to slow growth, frustrate teams, and drive-up costs in this session we will show you how to streamline B2B sales, simplify quoting, and capture new revenue opportunities – all while integrating seamlessly with your ERP. What you’ll learn:
- How automation and AI guided selling reduce quoting errors, eliminate bottleneck, and accelerate digital sales cycles
- Real-world examples manufacturers modernizing rep-driven sales, eCommerce, and customer service
- How to cut costs, increase revenue and improve margins
You’ll leave with a clear roadmap for leveraging automation, AI, and multi-channel commerce to create personalized, customer-centric buying experiences that drive long-term loyalty.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025 - 1:00pm
MANUFACTURING AS PART OF THE DISTILLING PROCESS
Manufacturing is the core function of the distillery industry, involving a multi-step process to create spirits like whiskey, vodka, and gin, which includes malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, and aging. This industry-wide process utilizes specialized machinery, adheres to strict safety and regulatory standards, and is increasingly impacted by Industry 4.0 technologies to improve efficiency, innovation, and sustainability. Join regional distillery representatives for an interactive discussion on this fascinating process and stay after the talk for a tasting.
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - 11:00am
DRIVING BUSINESS RESULTS WITH ROBOTIC AUTOMATION
In today’s competitive manufacturing landscape, robotic automation is a game-changer for efficiency, quality, and profitability. This session will explore key aspects of successful automation, including what/when to automate, guiding principles for implementation, and critical considerations when getting started. John will highlight winning applications where robotics deliver significant impact, including machine tending, material handling to precision assembly. Whether you are new to automation or looking to expand your capabilities, this presentation will provide actionable insights to help you drive business results with robotic solutions. Bring your questions as in this casual set-up John will welcome your insights and concerns.
Thursday, October 9, 2025 - 12:00pm
BOOST SALES, REDUCE ERRORS; A NEW ERA OF DIGITAL B2B SELLING
Today’s B2B buyers expect seamless, digital-first interactions—from self-service ordering to personalized buying experiences. But for manufacturers and distributors, manual quoting, long sales cycles, and siloed systems continue to slow growth, frustrate teams, and drive-up costs in this session we will show you how to streamline B2B sales, simplify quoting, and capture new revenue opportunities – all while integrating seamlessly with your ERP. What you’ll learn:
- How automation and AI guided selling reduce quoting errors, eliminate bottleneck, and accelerate digital sales cycles
- Real-world examples manufacturers modernizing rep-driven sales, eCommerce, and customer service
- How to cut costs, increase revenue and improve margins
You’ll leave with a clear roadmap for leveraging automation, AI, and multi-channel commerce to create personalized, customer-centric buying experiences that drive long-term loyalty.