Executive Summits · by the Future of Manufacturing Alliance
Commercial Insurance & Risk Engineering Summit for Manufacturing Plants
Meet the plant leaders who own the fire, injury and downtime risk.
New category for 2027. Same plant leaders who came to 35 summits.
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 plant managers, EHS, risk and engineering leaders from Midwest manufacturers who own the loss-control recommendations, the claims and the renewals. Pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings. No expo hall.
The people who sign the PO for insurance and risk 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.
- Plant ManagerOwns the site
- EHS ManagerInjuries, OSHA, workers' comp
- Risk ManagerRenewals and claims
- Plant Engineering DirectorCloses loss-control recommendations
- Maintenance ManagerFire pumps, sprinklers, breakdowns
Where past delegates worked
Plant leaders at past FMA summits, by industry.
Industries we are inviting to this summit: Metals and castings (furnaces, molten metal, hot work) · Food and beverage (ammonia, dust, sanitation) · Chemicals and plastics (flammables, process safety) · Automotive and parts (multi-site programs) · Wood, paper and packaging (dust and fire load).
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
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 delegates.
Their words, not ours.
“Every year we are able to find new partners to develop breakthrough projects”
Breitner MarczewskiDirector of Energy Engineering, General MotorsRead the whole quote
“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”
“We will be partnering with a couple of the presenters at the Summit”
Read the whole quote
“…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…”
Scott CullenAmericas Environmental Compliance Manager, Bostik“…full of opportunities to network with vendors I was interested in”
Read the whole quote
“I found the experience well organized and full of opportunities to network with vendors I was interested in.”
Warren VoughtCorporate Facilities Manager, Archer Daniels Midland“…FMA is an extremely flexible, and very accommodating group. It’s been outstanding after I gave my presentation, the enthusiasm of the people, the questions continue even now, people wanting to know more details. It’s that sharing between people and myself. I’ve learned a lot myself so that’s been a great aspect of being here. The people that have come and I had interaction with have been the right kind of people I want to talk to.”
Kevin ButtGeneral Manager and Chief Environmental Officer, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.See 8 moreShow fewer
“The presenters were very knowledgeable and did a great job of communicating during the one on one time during breaks. I look forward to the site visits so we can learn more about what each company has to offer.”
John ShewmakerFacility Maintenance Manager, Hitachi Automotive Systems“Very well organized! Great topics and great speakers. Spoke to vendors regarding current initiatives and met vendors regarding their initiatives and how they can provide guidance and services to UniFirst…”
Carrie BertolinoEnergy Analyst, UniFirst Corporation“I am always skeptical with conferences whether they will be worth my time. This Summit was a very good blend and balance of solutions and testimonials. I will recommend this seminar to others in my company…”
Larry GlaserAVP, Director of Operations Support, OSI Industries“…We enjoyed attending your event and definitely appreciated presenting our LEED gold plant and our sustainability programs. … We definitely learned some things as well.”
Gregory ClarkDirector of Construction & Facilities Management, White Castle Management Co.“First time here, was impressed by many of the presenters and the issues they brought up and their solutions.”
Steven JonesElectrical Engineer, ITW Hi-Cone“First time Summit attendee. Great introduction to a number of topics important to Facility Managers of the Future.”
Alec 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.”
Reed GibsonFacilities Manager, Pall Corporation“I very much enjoyed participating in the summit…”
Kurtis JetselDirector - Facilities/ESH, Lockheed MartinWhat sponsors closed, and what buyers said.
Past sponsors on the business that came from an FMA introduction, and past buyers on the vendors they met there.
Set 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 commercial insurance and risk engineering category has room for more. If you've solved a problem like these, your story belongs on this program.
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Property loss prevention and risk engineeringInvited
How J.M. Smucker in Orrville, Ohio had a flooded campus back open in 18 days
Smucker had been working toward FM's Highly Protected Risk (HPR) status with FM engineers walking its sites; FM's flood emergency planning helped bring the situation under control, and the impacted area reopened on August 26, "just 18 days after the storm". Seven locations have reached HPR status, with four more scheduled next year, toward all 20 production facilities (as reported by FM, Apr 5, 2026).
The problem: A summer storm stalled over Orrville in August 2024 and put water into multiple buildings on the Smucker campus, which sits outside a mapped flood zone.
Published result: Smucker had been working toward FM's Highly Protected Risk (HPR) status with FM engineers walking its sites; FM's flood emergency planning helped bring the situation under control, and the impacted area reopened on August 26, "just 18 days after the storm". Seven locations have reached HPR status, with four more scheduled next year, toward all 20 production facilities (as reported by FM, Apr 5, 2026).
Invited: FM, with The J.M. Smucker Co. · Read the published case
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Brokers and risk advisoryInvited
Correcting experience-mod errors for a Midwest manufacturer
A review and analysis found and corrected the errors, leading to "a 15% reduction in annual workers' compensation costs, resulting in over $100,000 in savings" (as reported by USI Insurance Services, Dec 3, 2024).
The problem: Errors in a mid-sized Midwest manufacturer's experience mod had inflated its workers' compensation premiums.
Published result: A review and analysis found and corrected the errors, leading to "a 15% reduction in annual workers' compensation costs, resulting in over $100,000 in savings" (as reported by USI Insurance Services, Dec 3, 2024).
Invited: USI Insurance Services · Read the published case
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Workers' comp and safety loss controlInvited
How roll-former Roller Die got off its captive's watch list and cut workers' comp claims 40%
Monthly safety committee meetings across all locations, claims advocacy and annual on-site safety audits: a 40% reduction in workers' compensation claims and an 83% reduction in total incurred cost, moving from the bottom to the top half of the captive benchmark (period not stated; © 2025; as reported by Marsh McLennan Agency).
The problem: Roller Die's risk control score ranked in the bottom 15% of its group captive, with claims taking an average of 16 days to report against a 5-day target.
Published result: Monthly safety committee meetings across all locations, claims advocacy and annual on-site safety audits: a 40% reduction in workers' compensation claims and an 83% reduction in total incurred cost, moving from the bottom to the top half of the captive benchmark (period not stated; © 2025; as reported by Marsh McLennan Agency).
Invited: Marsh McLennan Agency, with Roller Die · Read the published case
See all 9 stories, in 4 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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Property loss prevention and risk engineering
3 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
How J.M. Smucker in Orrville, Ohio had a flooded campus back open in 18 days
Smucker had been working toward FM's Highly Protected Risk (HPR) status with FM engineers walking its sites; FM's flood emergency planning helped bring the situation under control, and the impacted area reopened on August 26, "just 18 days after the storm". Seven locations have reached HPR status, with four more scheduled next year, toward all 20 production facilities (as reported by FM, Apr 5, 2026).
The problem: A summer storm stalled over Orrville in August 2024 and put water into multiple buildings on the Smucker campus, which sits outside a mapped flood zone.
Published result: Smucker had been working toward FM's Highly Protected Risk (HPR) status with FM engineers walking its sites; FM's flood emergency planning helped bring the situation under control, and the impacted area reopened on August 26, "just 18 days after the storm". Seven locations have reached HPR status, with four more scheduled next year, toward all 20 production facilities (as reported by FM, Apr 5, 2026).
Invited: FM, with The J.M. Smucker Co. · Read the published case
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Invited
How Great Lakes Cheese in Hiram, Ohio kept its cheese cold through a three-day power outage
The company's contingency plan had dozens of refrigerated trucks at the loading bays blow cold air into the building until power returned three days later. "The vast majority of the cheese was saved", property damage and business interruption losses were "minimal", and an FM adjuster on site the next day helped it recover the cost of keeping the facility cool under its FM policy (as reported by FM, Apr 5, 2026).
The problem: An August 2024 storm cut grid power to Great Lakes Cheese's 650,000-square-foot refrigerated facility in Hiram, Ohio, with restoration potentially weeks away.
Published result: The company's contingency plan had dozens of refrigerated trucks at the loading bays blow cold air into the building until power returned three days later. "The vast majority of the cheese was saved", property damage and business interruption losses were "minimal", and an FM adjuster on site the next day helped it recover the cost of keeping the facility cool under its FM policy (as reported by FM, Apr 5, 2026).
Invited: FM, with Great Lakes Cheese · Read the published case
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Invited
How gChem's single DMSO plant in Alabama closed nine engineering recommendations in three months
FM's first engineering visit found nine improvement opportunities, including fire protection in a plastic-drum warehouse and oil testing on a new transformer. Seven of the nine were completed in about six weeks and all within three months; the oil test revealed early signs of a defect while the transformer was still under warranty. gChem attained HPR status in 2024 and again in 2025 (as reported by FM, Apr 5, 2026).
The problem: gChem makes all of its DMSO in one Alabama facility, so there is no second site to absorb a fire or equipment loss.
Published result: FM's first engineering visit found nine improvement opportunities, including fire protection in a plastic-drum warehouse and oil testing on a new transformer. Seven of the nine were completed in about six weeks and all within three months; the oil test revealed early signs of a defect while the transformer was still under warranty. gChem attained HPR status in 2024 and again in 2025 (as reported by FM, Apr 5, 2026).
Invited: FM, with gChem · 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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Workers' comp and safety loss control
3 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
How roll-former Roller Die got off its captive's watch list and cut workers' comp claims 40%
Monthly safety committee meetings across all locations, claims advocacy and annual on-site safety audits: a 40% reduction in workers' compensation claims and an 83% reduction in total incurred cost, moving from the bottom to the top half of the captive benchmark (period not stated; © 2025; as reported by Marsh McLennan Agency).
The problem: Roller Die's risk control score ranked in the bottom 15% of its group captive, with claims taking an average of 16 days to report against a 5-day target.
Published result: Monthly safety committee meetings across all locations, claims advocacy and annual on-site safety audits: a 40% reduction in workers' compensation claims and an 83% reduction in total incurred cost, moving from the bottom to the top half of the captive benchmark (period not stated; © 2025; as reported by Marsh McLennan Agency).
Invited: Marsh McLennan Agency, with Roller Die · Read the published case
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Invited
Ergonomics training at a building products manufacturer cut strain injuries in half
A customized training program and project support from the insurer's ergonomics team: 50% reduction in strain injury frequency and 58% decrease in workers compensation incurred claim costs, as of October 30, 2022 compared to October 31, 2020 (measured; page undated, online since at least Dec 2023; as reported by Travelers).
The problem: A building products manufacturer had strain injuries plus machine safeguarding, slip, trip and fall, and product damage issues.
Published result: A customized training program and project support from the insurer's ergonomics team: 50% reduction in strain injury frequency and 58% decrease in workers compensation incurred claim costs, as of October 30, 2022 compared to October 31, 2020 (measured; page undated, online since at least Dec 2023; as reported by Travelers).
Invited: Travelers · Read the published case
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Invited
Keeping a trailer plant's $12M modernization safe and on schedule
The insurer's risk engineering consultant used TrueMotion (powered by TuMeke) video analysis to adjust the plan; the $12M project stayed on schedule, production rose by up to two trailers per line per shift, and the page reports a 996% ROI (page undated; as reported by The Hartford).
The problem: A trailer manufacturer's plant modernization brought new equipment and processes that could have created ergonomic injury risks.
Published result: The insurer's risk engineering consultant used TrueMotion (powered by TuMeke) video analysis to adjust the plan; the $12M project stayed on schedule, production rose by up to two trailers per line per shift, and the page reports a 996% ROI (page undated; as reported by The Hartford).
Invited: The Hartford · 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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Brokers and risk advisory
3 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
Correcting experience-mod errors for a Midwest manufacturer
A review and analysis found and corrected the errors, leading to "a 15% reduction in annual workers' compensation costs, resulting in over $100,000 in savings" (as reported by USI Insurance Services, Dec 3, 2024).
The problem: Errors in a mid-sized Midwest manufacturer's experience mod had inflated its workers' compensation premiums.
Published result: A review and analysis found and corrected the errors, leading to "a 15% reduction in annual workers' compensation costs, resulting in over $100,000 in savings" (as reported by USI Insurance Services, Dec 3, 2024).
Invited: USI Insurance Services · Read the published case
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Invited
How a multi-plant U.S. manufacturer cut its property premium 13% by showing underwriters its risk control
The broker's risk control team helped put an emergency flood response plan in place more than a year before renewal, coordinated property reviews with four carriers and started marketing about 180 days out; the program moved to a new carrier with better coverage and limits, "reducing annual premium costs by approximately $215,000, resulting in a 13% year-over-year premium reduction" (© 2026; as reported by IMA).
The problem: Tariffs and operating costs were squeezing a manufacturer with multiple U.S. production facilities, which wanted lower property premiums without weaker protection.
Published result: The broker's risk control team helped put an emergency flood response plan in place more than a year before renewal, coordinated property reviews with four carriers and started marketing about 180 days out; the program moved to a new carrier with better coverage and limits, "reducing annual premium costs by approximately $215,000, resulting in a 13% year-over-year premium reduction" (© 2026; as reported by IMA).
Invited: IMA · Read the published case
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Invited
A property loss control survey that cut a chemical-risk manufacturer's premium rates
The new broker ran a strategic property loss control survey for underwriters and approached more than two dozen carriers: a 40% reduction in the property premium rate and a 55% reduction in the general liability premium rate (page undated, online since May 2026; as reported by Hylant).
The problem: The U.S. operations of a global beauty products manufacturer had a chemical risk few carriers would write, and a broker that had outsourced underwriting to an MGU and was hard to reach.
Published result: The new broker ran a strategic property loss control survey for underwriters and approached more than two dozen carriers: a 40% reduction in the property premium rate and a 55% reduction in the general liability premium rate (page undated, online since May 2026; as reported by Hylant).
Invited: Hylant · 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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Captives and alternative risk
Open: no story invited yet
"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 programCapped at 20 sponsors per summit. Meet the people who close out the recommendations.
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.