Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
ODON – Artificial intelligence, robotics and rapid upgrades in technology are bringing swift changes to manufacturing.
Workers entering the workforce are doing jobs that didn’t exist 20 years ago.
To help manufacturers gain insights into these advances, the 2024 statewide roadshow Demystifying Digital Transformation 2.0 is coming to the WestGate@Crane Tech Park June 26.
The free event runs from 3 to 6 p.m. and is open to all Indiana-based manufacturers and entrepreneurs regardless of their size and capabilities.
Participants who can benefit from attending include:
• Decision maker of factory floor production
• Company leadership
• Plant/Operations manager
• Technology specialist
Attendees will hear presentations from industry experts and there will be time for networking.
The event also consists of:
• Insight on technology implementation from industry leaders
• Learn about advanced manufacturing technology solutions and workforce development training from Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
• Free qualification assessment for technology readiness
• Connections to suppliers to aid in your search for the right solution
The road show kicked off in Indianapolis and will visit seven Indiana cities this year.
David Bolling, executive director of Launch Fishers and Indiana IoT Lab, said the event’s creation was driven by a couple of things.
“Around the state, we see entrepreneurs doing a lot of neat things,” he said. “They’re telling us, ‘I have this technology, but where is my customer base?’ And the other side is this manufacturer trying to invest in new technology.”
The road show brings the latest information from around the state to small, local manufacturers.
“Just knowing technology is going to disrupt the manufacturing industry, why not go out to communities around the state, and say, ‘Here’s this new technology,” Bolling said. “Maybe it’s in Vincennes, but they don’t know about it in Fort Wayne. This is about us uplifting all of indiana.”
Indiana has a number of tools for manufacturers looking to invest in technology. Conexus Indiana has Manufacturing Readiness Grants for capital investments in smart manufacturing. Conexus has awarded more than 500 Manufacturing Readiness Grants for a total of $57 million to companies in 79 Indiana counties.
The Purdue University Manufacturing Extension Partnership can guide companies acquiring new technologies as well.
“Maybe a company is considering cobots, are those the right things to have in your facility?” Bolling said. “This is where you can have that discussion.”
The 2024 Statewide Roadshow is presented by Indiana IoT Lab Fishers, LHP Analytics, Purdue University MEP, Indiana Economic Development Corporation and WestGate@Crane Technology Park.
To register, click here. For more information, contact David Bolling at [email protected]