KC SmartPort Annual Industry Briefing
KC SmartPort hosts national manufacturing experts to discuss fourth wave of industrial revolution and how smart automation, robotics and IoT are disrupting manufacturing
On April 4, 2018, KC SmartPort held their 10th Annual Industry Briefing, Digitize. More than 550 logistics, real estate and economic development professionals attended the event to hear from a panel of national experts on the significant revolution facing manufacturing around the world. The panel included keynote speaker James J. Tobin, chief marketing officer and president Magna Asia, Magna International, Inc., parent company of KC area manufacturer, LMV Automotive; Steve Bratt, chief strategic advisor, Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp.; John Ricciardelli, president, Honeywell; Bret Spangler, Topeka site director, Mars Wrigley Confectionery U.S.
A broad list of topics were covered by the expert panelists including digitization, automation, robotics, shifts in customer demand and employee demographics, workforce development and the persistent interest gap among young people who don’t consider manufacturing as a career path. In addition, data management, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence are all impacting the efficiency and growth of manufacturing around the world.