The AME Tech Summit Series
A multi-year initiative offered by AME aimed at guiding manufacturers and other industries through the complexities of Industry 4.0. Over the next three years, the series will host five themed sessions, each focusing on a critical aspect of smart manufacturing. These sessions are designed to provide manufacturers with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the evolving landscape of smart manufacturing, emphasizing the integration of advanced technologies and the development of a skilled workforce.
AME Canada Smart Manufacturing Tech Summit 2025
The kick-off one-day event bringing together manufacturing professionals, technology leaders, and workforce development experts to explore the practical impacts of Industry 4.0. Through keynotes, fireside chats, hands-on demos, and expert panels, the summit will highlight how emerging technologies like AI, AR/VR, and collaborative robotics are changing how we train, lead, and work on the factory floor—while keeping lean principles and people at the center of transformation.
Keynote
How Industry 4.0 is shaping the future of workforce skills and training.
Presentations
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Identifying and training the workforce for Industry 4.0.
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Recruitment, retention, and workforce strategies for digital transformation.
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The rise of collaborative robots and their impact on workforce productivity.
Panel discussion
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How AI accelerates product design and prototyping for manufacturing professionals.
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Using virtual reality for immersive employee training and skill-building.
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How augmented reality enhances real-time troubleshooting and learning.
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Addressing ergonomics and safety concerns in Industry 4.0 environments.
Fireside chat
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Teaching employees to integrate lean methodologies with new technologies.
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How companies can support employees in adapting to digital change.
Tours
Virtual Tours Showcasing some of Today's Digital Innovations
Keynotes
How Industry 4.0 is shaping the future of workforce skills and training.
Stewart Cramer, NGen
Presenters
Yi Li, Maple Robotics
Fireside Chat
Valerie Judd-Rohal, Deloitte
FAT American Manufacturing, Join Brian as he shares how he rolled out over 1,600 Kanbans and SOPs in under 8 months using the digital tool GembaDocs. He’ll also spotlight some of the AI tools transforming day-to-day work.
Brian Meyers is the owner of *Fat American MFG* and the creator of *Lean by Doing*. After over 20 years of running a traditional manufacturing business (read: old-school chaos), Brian slammed the brakes, flipped the script, and went full-lean—fast. Like, really fast. His hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves approach has caught the attention of lean thinkers around the globe, proving you don’t need a Six Sigma black belt or a decade in a Japanese dojo. *You just need to do.*
Minco Inc, A pivotal innovation in this journey was the adoption of Monday.com. By customizing the platform to manage tight delivery timelines, rigorous quality standards, and thousands of open orders, Minco shifted to a fully data-driven decision-making process. This evolution not only reduced reliance on paper and spreadsheets but also democratized operations, empowering employees and redefining the company's workflow. Join J.B. to explore how Minco's integration of lean principles and Monday.com has revolutionized a decades-old business into a cutting-edge machine shop.
J.B. Cheatham is the second generation leader of Minco Inc., a 48-year-old CNC machining and fabrication job shop in Conroe, TX. In 2023, inspired by Paul Akers' 2 Second Lean, J.B. spearheaded a transformative lean initiative at Minco. Despite challenges due to the company's legacy systems, his efforts nearly doubled production and strengthened Minco's position as a leading first-tier supplier to energy-related OEMs in the subsea manufacturing industry.
HPC, Join David who will be talking about the use of AI in his companies and also about the use of "Hight Tech Anthropology" for developing software or technology solutions for his team. This term and concept comes from an amazing company called Menlo Innovations and it´s CEO Richard Sheridan.
David Barrios is the CEO, the exclusive distributor of Truper and its brands in Guatemala serving more than 8 thousand customers, and AKÍ Superferreterías, a fast-growing chain of 36 hardware stores. He leads both companies with a focus on building high-impact teams, strengthening customer trust, and driving sustainable growth.
Wednesday, June 18, 2025
8 a.m. Welcome and opening keynote
8:30 a.m. Presentations
9:50 a.m. Coffee Break
10 a.m. Panel discussion
11:05 a.m. Fireside chat
12:05 p.m. Lunch keynote
12:45 p.m. Virtual tours
1:50 p.m. Wrap up
2:15 p.m. Close
- Key outcomes for leaders & professionals
- Learn how to lead change while supporting teams through digital transitions
- Explore emerging tech use cases—AI, cobots, VR/AR—in training and production
- Get new perspectives on workforce strategy, from hiring to hands-on skill-building
- Hear from peers and practitioners facing similar implementation challenges
- Leave with actionable takeaways for building your workforce of the future
- Operations & manufacturing leaders
- HR, talent & training professionals
- Continuous improvement & lean practitioners
- Engineers & frontline managers
- Technology & innovation leads
- Emerging leaders in manufacturing
We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone to fully participate and engage. Please email events@ame.org if you have any questions.
If you are not already a member of AME, we invite you to join at this time. Membership benefits include complimentary and discounted event registrations throughout the entire year. To learn more about membership benefits, please visit here.
By participating in this event, you grant AME, or anyone authorized by AME the right to use or publish in print or electronic medium any photograph or video containing your image or likeness for educational, news, or promotional purposes, without compensation.
To fully participate in an AME virtual event, a high-speed internet connection, speaker/headphones, microphone, and webcam are needed. While not required, you will have a better online experience if you do not use wireless internet service. A wired/ethernet connection will have a stronger signal than wireless. Live captioning will be available for this event. Make sure you download the Zoom Client for Meetings desktop application for the best experience. Do not use the version available through your web browser, as it has limited features. zoom.us/download.
Cancelation Policy: This event may be canceled by AME for any reason. AME is not responsible for incidental costs incurred by registrants. For paid events, registration fee less a $20 administration fee will be refunded up to one week before the event. Substitutions may be made up to three days prior to the start of the event.
