Event will draw hundreds of tech and manufacturing professionals to Detroit Institute of Arts for Smart Technology Expo, Tech Talks and dive into report’s key findings

Media Contacts: Nicole Kampe, Automation Alley, kampen@automationalley.com, 248.457.3301; Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications, barbara@eafocus.com, 248.260.8466

TROY, Mich.— April 12, 2019 — Automation Alley, Michigan’s Industry 4.0 knowledge center, is set to release its 2019 Technology in Industry Report, a guide to Industry 4.0 implementation, at the Technology in Industry Reveal at the Detroit Institute of Arts the morning of Monday, April 29. All attendees will receive a copy of the 2019 report during the event, which includes a strolling breakfast and the opportunity to network with hundreds of the region’s technology and manufacturing professionals. The event will also feature a Smart Technology Expo showcasing the latest Industry 4.0 innovations and insights from corporate and academic experts highlighting trends in the Industry 4.0 space.

Speakers and topics for the Technology in Industry Reveal will include:

  • Welcome: Tom Kelly, Executive Director & CEO, Automation Alley
  • 2019 Technology in Industry Report Key Findings: Cynthia Hutchison, Senior Director, Automation Alley
  • The State of Industry 4.0 in Education: David Pistrui, Ph.D., Industry Liaison, Director of Graduate Recruiting, Clinical Professor of Engineering, College of Engineering & Science, University of Detroit Mercy
  • Clash of the Titans—Industry 4.0 vs Hacking 4.0: Daimon Geopfert, Principal, National Leader of Security and Privacy Risk Consulting, RSM
  • Equipment Condition Monitoring with Acoustics and AI: Chris Martin, Ph.D., Director, AI Development Group, Bosch (USA)
  • The New Black Box: Using Small Failures to Prevent Major Catastrophe: Brian Gilmore, Chief Technology Advocate, Splunk
  • Big Data and the Managerial Decision-making Process: Debasish Chakraborty, Ph.D., Professor of Economics, Department of Economics, Central Michigan University
  • Additive Manufacturing: Trends, Opportunities, and Challenges: Anca Sala, Ph.D., Dean, College of Engineering, Baker College & Peter Wawrow, Ph.D., Director of Applied Research and Development, St. Clair College

Titled “From Vision to Implementation,” Automation Alley’s 2019 Technology in Industry Report combines research from Michigan and Canadian universities with corporate partner insights and is designed to help manufacturers keep pace with rapid technological change. It includes case studies of Industry 4.0 adoption strategies, emerging trends, opportunities, action items and workforce implications based on a survey of 500 Southeast Michigan engineering students. New to the report is the Velocity Index™, which illustrates the maturity of each Industry 4.0 technology and its expected rate of growth to determine the risks associated with investment. Report research centers on the eight core technologies of Industry 4.0, including the Internet of Things, robotics, artificial intelligence, Big Data, cloud computing, cybersecurity, advanced materials and additive manufacturing, and modeling, simulation, visualization and immersion.

Academic research partners include the University of Detroit Mercy, Lawrence Technological University, Central Michigan University, Oakland University, Baker College, Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College, Walsh College, Henry Ford College and Windsor’s St. Clair College. Corporate partners providing insight include Ford Motor Company, Bosch, Intel, Dow Chemical Company, PTC, Altair, Splunk, Configit, Marco, Ghafari Associates, TTI Success Insights, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Plante Moran and RSM, all providing guidance through peer review and industry-specific feedback.

“Automation Alley’s mission is to lead the charge for Industry 4.0 in Michigan and beyond, both for our members and our state’s strong manufacturing ecosystem. The 2019 Technology in Industry Report is an actionable example of that,” said Tom Kelly, Automation Alley executive director and CEO. “This report is a collaborative effort between industry and academia that should be mirrored in the Industry 4.0 ecosystem. In order for Industry 4.0 to work, companies of all sizes must explore partnerships and look at this revolution holistically.”

Automation Alley’s 2019 Technology in Industry Reveal is Monday, April 29, from 8-11:30 a.m. at the Detroit Institute of Arts. To register, visit automationalley.com/techreveal. For information on exhibitor or sponsorship opportunities, contact Kristin O’Neill oneillk@automationalley.com.

About Automation Alley

Automation Alley is a nonprofit manufacturing and technology business association and Michigan’s Industry 4.0 knowledge center, with a global outlook and a regional focus. We connect industry, academia and government to fuel Michigan’s economy and accelerate innovation. We offer programs, resources and knowledge to help our members grow and prosper in the digital age.

Our Mission

The mission of Automation Alley is to position Michigan as a global leader in Industry 4.0 by helping our members increase revenue, reduce costs and make strategic decisions during a time of rapid technological change.

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