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EAST Session: Manufacturing sales have hit a wall. Deals are taking longer to close and costing more to win. Since 2022, sales cycles have increased by 22%, while win rates have slipped by 17%. In this engaging fireside chat, industry experts will discuss why investing in ecommerce is essential—but notoriously difficult—for manufacturing companies with complex sales environments. From managing global sales teams and navigating intricate buyer journeys to configuring millions of product options, the challenges are vast. Join us to learn: - How to create product discovery experiences that reduce complexity for buyers. - Best practices for optimizing product data to ensure your entire catalog is discoverable and configurable online. - How to leverage insights from digital interactions to drive better business decisions. Don’t miss this candid conversation on how manufacturers are transforming their digital sales approach to boost efficiency, drive revenue, and enhance the buying experience. Significance/Importance: This topic is critical because manufacturing sales are increasingly complex, with deals taking longer to close and win rates declining—sales cycles have increased by 22% and win rates have dropped by 17% since 2022. As manufacturers face mounting pressure to streamline operations and drive revenue, adopting ecommerce solutions is essential. However, the complexity of managing global sales teams, serving thousands of buyers, and configuring millions of product options poses significant challenges. Understanding how to reduce this complexity through effective product discovery, optimized data, and actionable insights is vital for manufacturers striving to remain competitive and enhance their digital transformation journey.

EAST Session: Abstract : Manufacturers have more customer data than ever before, yet many still struggle to turn that data into real insights. Too often, sales teams rely on gut instinct, outdated reports, or incomplete CRM entries, leading to missed opportunities and inefficient processes. AI changes the game by analyzing patterns humans can’t see, uncovering hidden sales opportunities, and predicting customer needs before they arise. In this session, we’ll explore how AI can transform the way manufacturers understand and engage with customers—without requiring a complete digital overhaul. We’ll discuss real-world applications of AI in sales and customer relationships, including proactive recommendations, automated data capture, and predictive insights. You’ll leave with a clear understanding of how AI can help you move beyond guesswork, make data-driven decisions, and build stronger, more profitable customer relationships. Significance/Importance : Manufacturers have long relied on relationships and gut instinct to drive sales, but today’s competitive landscape demands more. Traditional CRMs were meant to help but became data-entry burdens, leading to poor adoption and missed opportunities. AI is changing the game by turning raw data into actionable insights—automating manual processes, predicting customer needs, and uncovering hidden sales opportunities. Companies that embrace AI gain a competitive edge, while those that don’t risk falling behind. This session will show how AI helps manufacturers move beyond guesswork, make smarter decisions, and build stronger customer relationships with less effort.

EAST Session: Moderated by: Mark Michalski Adopting smart technologies like IoT, AI, and automation isn’t just about innovation—it’s about alignment, impact, and readiness. In this practical, strategy-focused panel, hear directly from manufacturers and technology experts who’ve successfully navigated the journey from pilot projects to scalable solutions. Join us to explore how small and mid-sized manufacturers can: - Align tech investments with business goals - Learn from real-world success stories in aerospace, medtech, and machining - Upskill their workforce to support digital transformation - Access regional resources for implementation support - Whether you're just exploring smart tech or already scaling, you’ll leave with actionable insights and connections to help future-proof your operations.

Speaker at EAST: Manoj Thakur, CEO, Driscoll Associates

Speaker at EAST: Ellen Ellsworth, Director of Growth and Innovative Services, Mass MEP

Speaker at EAST: John McCullough, General Manager, Marketing, Kubotek Kosmos

EAST Session: Abstract : Every leader wants better results – higher sales, greater profitability, stronger talent retention. But results don’t appear out of thin air. They are outcomes, effects—each with a cause. If you want to change the results your organization is getting, you must influence what’s driving them. It’s a simple concept: for every effect, there is a cause. Yet, in the manufacturing industry, many leaders struggle to connect the dots between the two. What’s really behind your key performance indicators? The answer lies not just in the actions and behaviors of your workforce but in what drives those behaviors. This session will take you beyond the surface—the visible metrics, processes, and results—to the unseen forces shaping them. The real game-changer? The quality of thinking within your organization. Your employees' beliefs shape their thought patterns, which drive their daily decisions, actions, and ultimately, your bottom line. An organization can never outperform the mindset of its people. Join us to discover how shifting the beliefs of your workforce can elevate performance and push your organization to new heights. Significance/Importance : Manufacturing leaders strive for higher sales, profitability, and talent retention, but these results stem from deeper causes. But there are unseen forces behind key performance indicators—employee beliefs and thought patterns. Only by shifting mindsets can leaders drive better decisions, behaviors, and outcomes. You can unlock the power of thinking to elevate performance and position your organization for long-term success. And you must if you want to set yourself apart from the masses.

EAST Session: Effective data collection is critical for optimizing production lines, yet traditional methods such as manual recording and PLC-coded data collection are fraught with inefficiencies and inaccuracies. Manual data entry often misses short downtime events and is subject to operator bias, while PLC-based systems suffer from inconsistencies, excessive costs, and revalidation challenges. The future of data collection lies in automation, modular modeling, and intelligent data processing, providing a foundation for digital transformation and sustainable manufacturing excellence. This session will explore the following concepts: · Advanced data collection goes beyond monitoring bottleneck operations, incorporating machine-level insights across all assets. · A multi-layered approach – integrating real-time signal processing, logic engines, and high-speed data acquisition – enhances fidelity, reduces integration costs, and improves root cause analysis. · Additionally, Aa Fault Learning approach dynamically identifies and ranks faults, leading to better diagnostics and predictive maintenance. · By leveraging digital twins, synchronizing multiple data streams, and enabling fast data validation, companies can significantly improve operational efficiency. · A robust data collection strategy supports MES, OEE, and AI/ML applications, ensuring accurate modeling, predictive analytics, and enterprise-wide standardization.

EAST Session: Abstract : Manufacturers are keen and pragmatic on how their capital is used to advance their state of manufacturing.  And it is clear to them how investments in physical assets bring operational value.  What is not so clear is the value-add of technology to their operations.  In this session, you will learn how to translate the value of technology to operations to facilitate internal planning and justification for technology investments. You will learn how to build a business case around technology to show the expected value and ROI of that investment. Using this approach, the project team can report the financial gains to key constituents to help with continued funding and support.  Significance/Importance : Manufacturers are keen and pragmatic on how their capital is used to advance their state of manufacturing.  And it is clear to them how investments in physical assets bring operational value.  What is not so clear is the value-add of technology to their operations.  In this session, you will learn how to translate the value of technology to operations to facilitate internal planning and justification for technology investments. 

EAST Session: The aerospace manufacturing industry faces significant challenges, including the need for increased efficiency, flexibility, and cost reduction. Join us as we explore a real manufacturing scenario to see how vertical data integration from IT to OT can transform these challenges into opportunities. By connecting information silos throughout the manufacturing process, we enhance traceability and collaboration. Utilizing digital twin technology and smart manufacturing solutions enables virtual testing and optimization, helping validate part programs early on. Automation benefits, such as improved precision and consistency for example through advanced robotics, minimize human error and labor costs while increasing productivity. This integration fosters a data-driven manufacturing environment, driving innovation and competitiveness in aerospace manufacturing.