Executive Summits · by the Future of Manufacturing Alliance
AI Summit for Manufacturing Plants
Meet the plant leaders deciding which AI to trust on the floor.
Each summit is capped at 20 sponsors. Talk to Joe before it fills.
Who’s coming so far
21 manufacturers have confirmed they will send people. The target is 100+ plant leaders in the room by each summit.
- Honda
- GE Aerospace
- General Motors
- Stellantis / Jeep
- Procter & Gamble
- Cleveland-Cliffs
- Whirlpool
- Goodyear Tire & Rubber
- Parker Hannifin
- Swagelok
- Crown Equipment
- Lincoln Electric
- Sherwin-Williams
- + 8 very large manufacturers, not named at their request
Two days with operations, reliability, quality and plant leaders from Midwest manufacturers who own downtime, defects and lost knowledge. Pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings. No expo hall.
The people who sign the PO for AI projects.
Invited from plants across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. Every delegate is screened by title and plant.
1,470plant leaders from 495 manufacturers have come to past FMA summits.1,033 of them pick the vendor, own the budget or sign off.
Who decides a plant purchase, and how many came
- Step 1287Find the problem, write the specEnergy Engineer, Facilities Engineer, Environmental Engineer
- Step 2560Pick the vendorFacilities Manager, Environmental Manager, Energy Manager
- Step 3337Own the budgetDirector of Engineering, Director of Operations, Director of Manufacturing
- Step 4136Sign offPlant Manager, General Manager, President
Who we invite to this summit
Each title, and what that person owns.
- VP of OperationsSponsors the pilot
- Plant ManagerOwns the loss
- Director of Maintenance & ReliabilityPredictive maintenance
- Quality DirectorVision and inspection
- Digital Transformation LeadData, integration, rollout
Where past delegates worked
Plant leaders at past FMA summits, by industry.
Industries we are inviting to this summit: Automotive and parts (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana) · Food and beverage (quality, throughput) · Pharma and life sciences (validated processes) · Metals and fabrication (machine health) · Chemicals and plastics (process optimization).
Counts are past FMA delegates, each counted once. They show who this audience is; they are not 2027 attendees.
Past speakers and delegates, by industry
Food and beverage
12 speakers · 161 delegates
Automotive
10 speakers · 192 delegates
Machinery, equipment and electronics
7 speakers · 209 delegates
Chemicals, plastics and rubber
6 speakers · 120 delegates
Steel and metals
2 speakers · 82 delegates
Aerospace, pharma, building and consumer products
29 speakers · 667 delegates
See every company and the titles it sent, by industry
Download the sponsor brief (PDF, 2 pages)They came back.
Past FMA sponsors, and how many summits each one sponsored, from the printed programs.
- 18US LED18 summits
- 17Kaeser Compressors17 summits
- 14Covanta14 summits
- 14Solution Dynamics14 summits
- 10Advanced Power Technologies10 summits
- 8Smardt Chiller Group8 summits
- 7BASF7 summits
- 7EQUIDEX Energy7 summits
- 7LG Electronics7 summits
- 6AgriPower6 summits
- 6Greenstar Recycling6 summits
- 6Schneider Electric6 summits
See the other 102 companies that sponsored two or more FMA summits
3M 2 · Acuity Brands 4 · Advanced Green Technologies 3 · Advantix Systems 8 · AERCO International 5 · Air Balance 2 · AmbiRad 3 · Ameresco 2 · Armstrong Fluid Technology 5 · Badger Meter 2 · Be Power Tech 2 · Bio-Reaction Industries 2 · BLUEFIN 4 · Bosch Thermotechnology 2 · Burns & McDonnell Engineering 3 · Camfil 2 · Capstone Turbine 2 · Chelsea Group 2 · Cleaver-Brooks 4 · ConDex Energy 2 · Constellation Energy 5 · Control Instruments 2 · CopperTree Analytics 3 · Cushman & Wakefield 2 · Cypress Envirosystems 5 · Doosan Fuel Cell America 3 · DTE Energy Services 2 · Dyson 4 · Eaton 3 · EcoSafe Zero Waste 2 · EDF Renewable Energy 2 · Edison Energy 2 · Emerson Climate Technologies 2 · Energy Management Systems 4 · Energy Source 2 · EnerNOC 2 · Enertech Global 2 · EnterSolar 2 · Environmental Resources Management 2 · ERS International 3 · ETwater Systems 2 · Every Watt Matters 2 · Eye Lighting International 3 · Facility Solutions Group 2 · FacilityConneX 2 · Fellon-McCord & Associates 3 · GDF SUEZ Energy NA 2 · GE Distributed Power 2 · GE Solar 2 · Gexpro 3 · GI Energy 2 · Green Ballast 2 · Greenworks Energy Solutions 3 · Harris Lighting 2 · Heritage Interactive Services 2 · Hurst Boiler & Welding Co. 2 · IBM 4 · ICETEC Energy Services 2 · ICONICS 3 · Invensys Operations Management 2 · JLL 4 · Jorgensen Facilities Services 5 · K+S Services 2 · KDC Solar 2 · KERAMIDA 2 · Knauf Insulation 2 · KVAR Energy Savings 3 · LEDtronics 2 · Lutron Electronics Co. 3 · MaxLite 2 · MCEnergy 2 · MEP Associates 2 · MPC Energy 5 · Munters 2 · Newton Distributing Company 2 · Nortec 3 · North America Power Partners 2 · North American Roofing 2 · OAKLEAF 4 · Optimum Energy 2 · Orion Energy Systems 2 · OSRAM SYLVANIA 5 · Pfister Energy 2 · PowerSecure 5 · Rinnai America 2 · Rockwell Automation 2 · ROXUL 2 · Rubicon Global 2 · SAP America 2 · Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure 5 · Sloan 2 · Solar UV Solutions 3 · Solatube International 3 · Steril-Aire 2 · Synergy Investment 6 · The Dow Chemical Company 2 · Thermal Energy International 3 · Trane 2 · Tremco Roofing and Building Maintenance 2 · Viridity Energy 2 · Wahaso - Water Harvesting Solutions 2 · Zurn Industries 2
In writing, from past sponsors and delegates.
Their words, not ours.
“…the quality of people that were here and were willing to engage with Intel”
Past sponsorEric DoyleGlobal Director, IntelRead the whole quote
“In working with FMA Congresses I found they were very adaptable, very willing to fit my needs into the show. I was very pleased on how they helped me understand the clients that would be there and how I should adapt my presentation. It was a good way to get introduced to the people attending the Congress. I also liked the quality of people that were here and were willing to engage with Intel... a very good experience. This was the first time we worked with FMA Congresses and the first time we have done this type of event as Intel and I am looking forward to working with FMA on future shows.”
“FMA put us at the table with City Colleges of Chicago, and we won the work.”
Read the whole quote
“We sponsored three FMA summits. FMA put us at the table with City Colleges of Chicago, and we won the work. That one introduction was worth more than every summit we paid for.”
Past sponsorKeith La RoseDirector of Business Development, CopperTree Analytics“…the results are evident within 2 days with people that make decisions that have budget approval”
Read the whole quote
“…the results are evident within 2 days with people that make decisions that have budget approval and I am confident the investment will return to RC Cubed much faster than some of the other similar investments I have made.”
Past sponsorJames RectorCEO, RC Cubed“This is our third time with FMA – we’ll be back”
Read the whole quote
“I like the focus: good quality leads … We have found the show has added value for our organization. This is our third time with FMA – we’ll be back…”
Past sponsorKevin BinnieDirector, Project Management, CopperTree AnalyticsSee 8 moreShow fewer
“I think the quality level is superior to any other exhibitions I’ve been to…”
Past sponsorMatt SheasbySenior Director of Strategic Relations, RC Cubed“FMA Summit has been a very friendly business event for General Motors. Every year we are able to find new partners to develop breakthrough projects”
Past delegateBreitner MarczewskiDirector of Energy Engineering, General Motors“…The expertise represented at this Summit (solar, lighting, etc.) was impressive and very informative. We will be partnering with a couple of the presenters at the Summit…”
Past delegateScott CullenAmericas Environmental Compliance Manager, Bostik“I found the experience well organized and full of opportunities to network with vendors I was interested in.”
Past delegateWarren VoughtCorporate Facilities Manager, Archer Daniels Midland“The FMA Energy and Sustainability Summit provides valuable insight into where leaders in various industries are finding success in systems and processes that drive overall efficiencies and organizational sustainment.”
Past delegateBrian SkrobarcekCorporate Director of Environmental Affairs, StandardAero“First time here, was impressed by many of the presenters and the issues they brought up and their solutions.”
Past delegateSteven JonesElectrical Engineer, ITW Hi-Cone“First time Summit attendee. Great introduction to a number of topics important to Facility Managers of the Future.”
Past delegateAlec BartolaiSustainability Program Manager, Sargento Foods, Inc.“I feel that a Summit like this adds to the tools needed to elevate my abilities and my company, to enable a better building/company.”
Past delegateReed GibsonFacilities Manager, Pall CorporationSet up Wednesday. Two full days of meetings. Home Friday afternoon.
Same schedule in Columbus and Detroit.
- Wednesday afternoonSponsors set up their exhibits. Everyone checks in.
- ThursdayThe full day: plant case studies, booked 1-on-1s, the reception and dinner.
- FridayMorning case studies, more 1-on-1s, closing lunch. On the road by mid-afternoon.
The hour-by-hour plan and the venues
| Time | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Breakfast at your company table | Breakfast at your company table | |
| 8:00–10:00 AM | Plant case studies | Plant case studies | |
| 10:00 AM | Coffee and shop talk in the exhibit room | Pre-booked 20-minute 1-on-1s at your table | |
| 11:00 AM | Plant case studies | Plant case studies | |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch with your booked 1-on-1 meetings | Closing lunch with your booked 1-on-1 meetings | |
| 1:00 PM | Plant case studies | Plant case studies, then head home | |
| 2:00 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Pre-booked 20-minute 1-on-1s at your table | |
| 3:00 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Coffee and shop talk in the exhibit room | |
| 3:30 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Plant case studies | |
| 5:00–7:00 PM | Sponsor setup and check-in | Reception and dinner, with more 1-on-1s |
The full package's 15 pre-booked 20-minute 1-on-1s run Thursday and Friday: in the meeting blocks above, at lunch, and at the reception. Each is with a plant leader who asked to meet you, at your company table. You get your meeting schedule before you arrive, and the delegate list, with names, titles and companies, 30 days before the summit.
Venue photos via Wikimedia Commons: Hilton Columbus Downtown by Ɱ (CC BY-SA 4.0); Renaissance Center by Crisco 1492 (public domain).
The program: plant leaders come to hear how other plants fixed it.
The program is built from projects plants actually finished, presented by the plant and the company that did the work. Every AI category has room for more. If you've solved a problem like these, your story belongs on this program.
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Vision and quality inspectionInvited
150 million AI inspections: how Ford catches defects before they leave the station
Phone-based AI inspection built on IBM Maximo Visual Inspection logs issues straight into Ford’s quality system. It runs in 17 North American plants with over 1,000 workstations: 150 million inspections and 400,000 quality issues flagged. Ford added 40 systems in Michigan this year, and Kentucky Truck Plant has six times as many AI inspection tools for the 2026 Expedition (as reported by WardsAuto, June 2026).
The problem: A defect missed at a workstation travels down the line and costs far more to repair at the end of it.
Published result: Phone-based AI inspection built on IBM Maximo Visual Inspection logs issues straight into Ford’s quality system. It runs in 17 North American plants with over 1,000 workstations: 150 million inspections and 400,000 quality issues flagged. Ford added 40 systems in Michigan this year, and Kentucky Truck Plant has six times as many AI inspection tools for the 2026 Expedition (as reported by WardsAuto, June 2026).
Invited: IBM, with Ford Motor Company · Read the published case
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AI assistants and agentsInvited
A production AI assistant in four weeks: Jabil’s debug tool for technicians
An assistant built on Siemens Mendix and Amazon Bedrock pulls product context from a scanned serial number and returns troubleshooting steps with their sources. It went from concept to a working solution in four weeks and is in production: defect analysis about 25% faster, scrap and rework down 15% and diagnostics 20% faster (as reported by AWS and Jabil, June 2026).
The problem: Jabil’s diagnostic technicians spent up to 30% of their time searching fragmented technical documents, which slowed repairs and caused errors.
Published result: An assistant built on Siemens Mendix and Amazon Bedrock pulls product context from a scanned serial number and returns troubleshooting steps with their sources. It went from concept to a working solution in four weeks and is in production: defect analysis about 25% faster, scrap and rework down 15% and diagnostics 20% faster (as reported by AWS and Jabil, June 2026).
Invited: Siemens (Mendix) and AWS, with Jabil · Read the published case
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Plant energy and utilitiesInvited
AI that picks the most efficient way to run refrigeration: 17% less energy at a frozen-fry maker
Actemium’s Real-Time Coefficient of Performance system, built on Rockwell’s PlantPAx, monitors the cooling system and picks the most efficient way to run it: energy use down nearly 17% and nearly $130,000 a year saved per site, now being scaled across the producer’s plants (as reported in May 2026; customer not named).
The problem: Refrigeration can use up to 70% of a frozen-food plant’s electricity, and a large French fry producer wanted it run as efficiently as possible.
Published result: Actemium’s Real-Time Coefficient of Performance system, built on Rockwell’s PlantPAx, monitors the cooling system and picks the most efficient way to run it: energy use down nearly 17% and nearly $130,000 a year saved per site, now being scaled across the producer’s plants (as reported in May 2026; customer not named).
Invited: Rockwell Automation and Actemium · Read the published case
See all 8 stories, in 6 categories, and how a session runs
- 1The problemWhat was happening at the plant.
- 2The costEnergy, maintenance, downtime or lost output.
- 3The decisionThe options they weighed, and why this one.
- 4The workWhat changed, how long it took, what went wrong.
- 5The resultsMeasured before and after. Achieved, estimated or identified, said plainly.
- 6The lessonsWhat another plant should check first.
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Vision and quality inspection
2 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
150 million AI inspections: how Ford catches defects before they leave the station
Phone-based AI inspection built on IBM Maximo Visual Inspection logs issues straight into Ford’s quality system. It runs in 17 North American plants with over 1,000 workstations: 150 million inspections and 400,000 quality issues flagged. Ford added 40 systems in Michigan this year, and Kentucky Truck Plant has six times as many AI inspection tools for the 2026 Expedition (as reported by WardsAuto, June 2026).
The problem: A defect missed at a workstation travels down the line and costs far more to repair at the end of it.
Published result: Phone-based AI inspection built on IBM Maximo Visual Inspection logs issues straight into Ford’s quality system. It runs in 17 North American plants with over 1,000 workstations: 150 million inspections and 400,000 quality issues flagged. Ford added 40 systems in Michigan this year, and Kentucky Truck Plant has six times as many AI inspection tools for the 2026 Expedition (as reported by WardsAuto, June 2026).
Invited: IBM, with Ford Motor Company · Read the published case
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Invited
AI that finds paint defects on a moving line, and robots that fix them: GM Spring Hill
Inovision’s AI inspection scans each vehicle at line speed and maps and classifies defects over 0.2 millimeter; FANUC robots with 3M’s Finesse-it system then sand and polish them. It is the first such system on a moving line. No savings figures published (Assembly magazine, March 2025).
The problem: GM wanted to find and repair small paint defects automatically on the moving assembly line at its Spring Hill, Tennessee plant, which builds Cadillac SUVs.
Published result: Inovision’s AI inspection scans each vehicle at line speed and maps and classifies defects over 0.2 millimeter; FANUC robots with 3M’s Finesse-it system then sand and polish them. It is the first such system on a moving line. No savings figures published (Assembly magazine, March 2025).
Invited: Inovision, 3M and FANUC, with General Motors · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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AI assistants and agents
1 story invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
A production AI assistant in four weeks: Jabil’s debug tool for technicians
An assistant built on Siemens Mendix and Amazon Bedrock pulls product context from a scanned serial number and returns troubleshooting steps with their sources. It went from concept to a working solution in four weeks and is in production: defect analysis about 25% faster, scrap and rework down 15% and diagnostics 20% faster (as reported by AWS and Jabil, June 2026).
The problem: Jabil’s diagnostic technicians spent up to 30% of their time searching fragmented technical documents, which slowed repairs and caused errors.
Published result: An assistant built on Siemens Mendix and Amazon Bedrock pulls product context from a scanned serial number and returns troubleshooting steps with their sources. It went from concept to a working solution in four weeks and is in production: defect analysis about 25% faster, scrap and rework down 15% and diagnostics 20% faster (as reported by AWS and Jabil, June 2026).
Invited: Siemens (Mendix) and AWS, with Jabil · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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Plant energy and utilities
1 story invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
AI that picks the most efficient way to run refrigeration: 17% less energy at a frozen-fry maker
Actemium’s Real-Time Coefficient of Performance system, built on Rockwell’s PlantPAx, monitors the cooling system and picks the most efficient way to run it: energy use down nearly 17% and nearly $130,000 a year saved per site, now being scaled across the producer’s plants (as reported in May 2026; customer not named).
The problem: Refrigeration can use up to 70% of a frozen-food plant’s electricity, and a large French fry producer wanted it run as efficiently as possible.
Published result: Actemium’s Real-Time Coefficient of Performance system, built on Rockwell’s PlantPAx, monitors the cooling system and picks the most efficient way to run it: energy use down nearly 17% and nearly $130,000 a year saved per site, now being scaled across the producer’s plants (as reported in May 2026; customer not named).
Invited: Rockwell Automation and Actemium · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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Machine health and predictive maintenance
1 story invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
A failing melt pump fixed in a planned shutdown: Fiberon’s New London, North Carolina plant
Augury’s AI flagged gearbox and bearing wear on an extrusion-line melt pump in March 2024, and the motor and gearbox were replaced in a planned shutdown with no lost production. Over the eight-month pilot: an estimated $274,000 saved, 178 hours of downtime avoided and a 2.5x return (as reported in Plant Services, August 2025).
The problem: Fiberon needed earlier warning of failures on 40 critical machines at its decking plant in New London, North Carolina.
Published result: Augury’s AI flagged gearbox and bearing wear on an extrusion-line melt pump in March 2024, and the motor and gearbox were replaced in a planned shutdown with no lost production. Over the eight-month pilot: an estimated $274,000 saved, 178 hours of downtime avoided and a 2.5x return (as reported in Plant Services, August 2025).
Invited: Augury, with Fiberon · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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Process optimization
2 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
Cutting alloy costs $3 a ton without risking quality: Gerdau
Fero Labs’ explainable machine learning recommends the lowest-cost alloy addition for each heat while operators can still adjust the chemistry: $3 per ton saved on raw materials and 15% less quality variation (as reported by Fero Labs).
The problem: With raw material prices up, a Gerdau special-steel mill needed to cut alloy costs, but its recipes were set conservatively to avoid any chance of an off-spec heat.
Published result: Fero Labs’ explainable machine learning recommends the lowest-cost alloy addition for each heat while operators can still adjust the chemistry: $3 per ton saved on raw materials and 15% less quality variation (as reported by Fero Labs).
Invited: Fero Labs, with Gerdau · Read the published case
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Invited
Closed-loop AI on the kiln: Oxbow’s petroleum coke calciners
Imubit’s reinforcement-learning controller sends setpoints minute by minute within limits set by Oxbow’s engineers, and Oxbow says all three of its US calciners now run this way: yield up 1 to 3% and natural gas use down 15 to 30%, with specifications met (as reported by Imubit).
The problem: Oxbow’s rotary kilns had to balance calcining yield against natural gas use while meeting strict product specifications on varying feed.
Published result: Imubit’s reinforcement-learning controller sends setpoints minute by minute within limits set by Oxbow’s engineers, and Oxbow says all three of its US calciners now run this way: yield up 1 to 3% and natural gas use down 15 to 30%, with specifications met (as reported by Imubit).
Invited: Imubit, with Oxbow · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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Planning and scheduling
1 story invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
AI-enabled planning across a brewing network: AB InBev
o9’s platform for demand, supply network and materials planning and inventory optimization: inventory down 20%, forecast accuracy up more than 11 points to 87%, and US service levels at 99.5% (as reported by o9 Solutions; period not stated).
The problem: AB InBev wanted demand, supply and materials planning on one AI-enabled platform across its markets.
Published result: o9’s platform for demand, supply network and materials planning and inventory optimization: inventory down 20%, forecast accuracy up more than 11 points to 87%, and US service levels at 99.5% (as reported by o9 Solutions; period not stated).
Invited: o9 Solutions, with AB InBev · Read the published case
- Open slot
Your customer's story goes here.
Solved a plant problem in this category? Propose it for the program.
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"Invited" means invited: none of these companies has confirmed. Results are as published by the supplier; we ask every presenter for dates, baseline costs and verified results before the program is final.
Real FMA Summit rooms. No stock photography.
Get in front of the decision makers, not the crowd.
Full package
- 15 guaranteed pre-scheduled meetings
- A 20-minute case-study session
- A fully furnished exhibit
- Your corporate dining table
- Three people at full access
Add meetings up to 40 at $1,500 each.
- Any booked meeting that doesn’t happen is added to your next summit, written into your sponsor agreement.
- Each summit is capped at 20 sponsors, each solving a different problem for the people in the room.
Want the category to yourself? Each summit is capped at 20 sponsors. To talk about your category, .
- Plant leaders ask to meet you. We seat the ones who asked at your table.
- Your booked meeting schedule arrives before the summit.
- Any booked meeting that doesn't happen is added to your next summit: miss 3, and you get 15 plus 3. It's written into your sponsor agreement.
- You get the delegate list 30 days before the summit: names, titles and companies.
- Three people are included with full access. Extra passes are $2,900 each.
Or pick only what you wantMeetings from $15,000, talk $15,000, exhibit $15,000, dining table $10,000
One category, one summit. Prices in USD. Whatever you pick includes three people with full access. Meetings are booked on an opt-in basis before the summit; any booked meeting that doesn't happen is added to your next summit.
No vendor walks the show. Solution providers attend only as sponsors. A vendor that has not sponsored cannot register, attend or work the room, so the plant leaders you meet are not being chased by your competitors in the hallway.
The ten questions every sponsor asks.
Past sponsors answer all ten in one 5-minute film. Pick a question and the film jumps to its answer.
Now ask your own questions.
Answered on camera by past FMA sponsors. Recorded at past FMA summits.
Who's behind it.
Started FMA in Montreal in 2007 and has run every summit himself: 35 of them, 17,000+ meetings. Capped at 20 sponsors per summit, meetings booked before anyone arrives, and no vendor walks the show.
Read the full story
30 printed programs, with every sponsor and speaker as printed.
Open any programPlant leaders come here to find new technology. Be the AI company they meet.
Twenty minutes with Joe Piazza: who is coming to your summit, where your company fits among its 20 sponsors, and what the agreement says. The sponsor brief has the delegate profile, the full agenda and the itemized pricing.
35 summits since 2007. Joe Piazza, who founded FMA, runs every summit himself. The videos on this page are from past summits.