Executive Summits · by the Future of Manufacturing Alliance
Material Handling & Loading Docks Summit for Manufacturing Plants
Meet the plant leaders still moving parts by forklift between the same two buildings all day.
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, operations, logistics and safety leaders from Midwest manufacturers planning conveyors, AMRs, cranes, dock equipment and doors. Pre-scheduled 1-on-1 meetings. No expo hall.
The people who sign the PO for material handling 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 ManagerFlow, space and capex
- Operations / Logistics ManagerIn-plant moves, shipping
- Manufacturing EngineerLayouts and automation
- EHS ManagerForklift and dock safety
- Facilities ManagerDoors, docks, energy
Where past delegates worked
Plant leaders at past FMA summits, by industry.
Industries we are inviting to this summit: Automotive and parts (line-side delivery) · Food and beverage (cold docks, washdown doors) · Metals and fabrication (cranes, heavy loads) · Consumer products (pallets and shipping) · Building products (long, heavy, awkward loads).
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“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“…Enjoyed the Summit and met some good contacts.”
Russ DelozierDirector of Sustainability, J+J Flooring Group“Great Summit to attend and see the diversity of industry and government. Several vendors presented new ideas to problems we all face in the industry.”
Ed HagerstromDirector EHS, Refresco Beverages US Inc.“Excellent set of presenters on a wide range of subjects, lots of new and forward thinking. Great networking with small groups- startup dinners and circulation times.”
John DeVinneySenior Project Manager, Perdue Farms“I’ve been to a lot of conferences and I found the FMA sessions to be excellent, engaging and interesting. I think it had some of the best speakers I’ve ever seen in a conference I’ve been to. I certainly liked the format, the 20 minutes sessions, so you can get the top level ideas or thoughts without having to hear in infinite detail. The format is well structured, the speakers were really, really good and I would highly recommend this conference to anybody in this field.”
Brendan SullivanExecutive Director, Facilities, Estée Lauder“The Summit was truly ‘eye-opening’. I got an excellent sense of momentum building for companies and institutions making significant changes for the future. Woe betide those organizations who turn a blind eye to the need and benefits of changing how they manage and operate their facilities.”
Chris WendtFacilities Manager, Standard Motor Products, Inc.“…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.What 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 material handling and loading docks category has room for more. If you've solved a problem like these, your story belongs on this program.
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Mobile robots & AGVsInvited
How Rockwell Automation's Twinsburg, Ohio plant stopped pushing carts by hand
Phase 1 put three OTTO 100 robots and forty carts to work: $162,000 a year in labor savings, an estimated $1 million in impact, and space use improved by 70% (as reported by OTTO by Rockwell Automation, July 13, 2026).
The problem: About 52% of the plant's daily material moves were done by people pushing carts, which tied up labor and floor space.
Published result: Phase 1 put three OTTO 100 robots and forty carts to work: $162,000 a year in labor savings, an estimated $1 million in impact, and space use improved by 70% (as reported by OTTO by Rockwell Automation, July 13, 2026).
Invited: OTTO by Rockwell Automation, with Rockwell Automation's Twinsburg, Ohio plant · Read the published case
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Loading docksInvited
How Neenah Paper's Wisconsin mills took the strain out of 23 dock levelers
After hydraulic conversion kits and safety barriers went on all 23 dock positions, the plant says "We have not had any reported incident or injury with raising or lowering dock levelers" (as reported by Rite-Hite, April 5, 2024; installed 2020–2021; no savings figures).
The problem: Workers pulled chains with 55 to 70 lbs of force and walked plates down onto trailers, and broken chains caused one to two hours of downtime per dock several times a month.
Published result: After hydraulic conversion kits and safety barriers went on all 23 dock positions, the plant says "We have not had any reported incident or injury with raising or lowering dock levelers" (as reported by Rite-Hite, April 5, 2024; installed 2020–2021; no savings figures).
Invited: Rite-Hite (Arbon Equipment), with Mativ / Neenah Paper · Read the published case
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Mobile robots & AGVsInvited
How GE Appliances in Louisville, Kentucky automated its new water filter plant
Around 60% of operations are now automated, a water filter comes off the line every 5 seconds, and only 30 employees across three shifts are needed for water filter processing; workers "no longer have to manage heavy loads" (as reported by Modern Materials Handling, July 1, 2026).
The problem: GE Appliances wanted to take the dull, dirty and dangerous material-handling jobs out of Building 4 at Appliance Park.
Published result: Around 60% of operations are now automated, a water filter comes off the line every 5 seconds, and only 30 employees across three shifts are needed for water filter processing; workers "no longer have to manage heavy loads" (as reported by Modern Materials Handling, July 1, 2026).
Invited: ATC Automation, Milvus Robotics and Raymond/Seegrid, with GE Appliances · Read the published case
See all 6 stories, in 5 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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Mobile robots & AGVs
3 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
How Rockwell Automation's Twinsburg, Ohio plant stopped pushing carts by hand
Phase 1 put three OTTO 100 robots and forty carts to work: $162,000 a year in labor savings, an estimated $1 million in impact, and space use improved by 70% (as reported by OTTO by Rockwell Automation, July 13, 2026).
The problem: About 52% of the plant's daily material moves were done by people pushing carts, which tied up labor and floor space.
Published result: Phase 1 put three OTTO 100 robots and forty carts to work: $162,000 a year in labor savings, an estimated $1 million in impact, and space use improved by 70% (as reported by OTTO by Rockwell Automation, July 13, 2026).
Invited: OTTO by Rockwell Automation, with Rockwell Automation's Twinsburg, Ohio plant · Read the published case
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Invited
How GE Appliances in Louisville, Kentucky automated its new water filter plant
Around 60% of operations are now automated, a water filter comes off the line every 5 seconds, and only 30 employees across three shifts are needed for water filter processing; workers "no longer have to manage heavy loads" (as reported by Modern Materials Handling, July 1, 2026).
The problem: GE Appliances wanted to take the dull, dirty and dangerous material-handling jobs out of Building 4 at Appliance Park.
Published result: Around 60% of operations are now automated, a water filter comes off the line every 5 seconds, and only 30 employees across three shifts are needed for water filter processing; workers "no longer have to manage heavy loads" (as reported by Modern Materials Handling, July 1, 2026).
Invited: ATC Automation, Milvus Robotics and Raymond/Seegrid, with GE Appliances · Read the published case
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Invited
How Jasper Group's Orleans, Indiana furniture plant freed three people from parts runs
Three MiR600 robots carry up to 1,250 lbs per trip and "now run nonstop from the start of the day through the end of the shift"; the job had taken three people working eight hours a day, and they moved to other work (as reported by Robotics Tomorrow, January 16, 2025; no savings figures).
The problem: Workers drove golf carts on shuttle runs between receiving and the lines, and parts were often not there when needed.
Published result: Three MiR600 robots carry up to 1,250 lbs per trip and "now run nonstop from the start of the day through the end of the shift"; the job had taken three people working eight hours a day, and they moved to other work (as reported by Robotics Tomorrow, January 16, 2025; no savings figures).
Invited: MiR (Mobile Industrial Robots) and Robotic Solutions LLC, with Jasper Group · 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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Conveyors & sortation
Open: no story invited yet -
Cranes & hoists
Open: no story invited yet -
Loading docks
3 stories invited · 1 open slot-
Invited
How Neenah Paper's Wisconsin mills took the strain out of 23 dock levelers
After hydraulic conversion kits and safety barriers went on all 23 dock positions, the plant says "We have not had any reported incident or injury with raising or lowering dock levelers" (as reported by Rite-Hite, April 5, 2024; installed 2020–2021; no savings figures).
The problem: Workers pulled chains with 55 to 70 lbs of force and walked plates down onto trailers, and broken chains caused one to two hours of downtime per dock several times a month.
Published result: After hydraulic conversion kits and safety barriers went on all 23 dock positions, the plant says "We have not had any reported incident or injury with raising or lowering dock levelers" (as reported by Rite-Hite, April 5, 2024; installed 2020–2021; no savings figures).
Invited: Rite-Hite (Arbon Equipment), with Mativ / Neenah Paper · Read the published case
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Invited
How Mativ's Middletown, Delaware plant cut truck detention fees by 90%
Detention fees fell by 90%, from $100k to $10k per year; trailer turns dropped from five hours to two, with a 50% increase in throughput and a 60% reduction in backlog (as reported by Rite-Hite; period for throughput not stated).
The problem: Trucks often waited five hours, detention fees passed $100k a year, and handwritten logs gave the plant no proof to push back on carriers.
Published result: Detention fees fell by 90%, from $100k to $10k per year; trailer turns dropped from five hours to two, with a 50% increase in throughput and a 60% reduction in backlog (as reported by Rite-Hite; period for throughput not stated).
Invited: Rite-Hite, with Mativ · Read the published case
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Invited
How Sweet Harvest Foods raised dock throughput 44% after consolidating warehouses
Dock data let the team spread out schedules and balance shifts: a 44% throughput increase in six months with no increase in load times (as reported by Rite-Hite).
The problem: After moving into one large warehouse, manual dock assignments caused confusion, congestion and safety worries.
Published result: Dock data let the team spread out schedules and balance shifts: a 44% throughput increase in six months with no increase in load times (as reported by Rite-Hite).
Invited: Rite-Hite, with Sweet Harvest Foods · 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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Industrial & high-speed doors
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. The plant and logistics leaders are in one room.
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.