Building Resilient U.S. Infrastructure through Excellence in Manufacturing and Operations

Tuesday, November 7, 2023
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
National Academy of Sciences building
2101 Constitution Ave N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20418

Announcing the launch of the national eXcellence in Manufacturing and Operations Initiative


Manufacturing and Operations are the backbones of America's security and livelihood. Excellence in physical, digital, and sustainable manufacturing and operations allows America to lead the second renaissance. Innovations in XMO are critical in reshoring and building new industries, retooling American plants, and retraining Americans for jobs to build a sustainable manufacturing and operations resurgence. It is Purdue's goal to combine corporate, government, and academic leaders on one bi-partisan platform to kick off a meaningful national dialogue for a long-lasting impact. In Indiana – the "Crossroads of America" – our culture is rooted in manufacturing, and, as Hoosiers, we owe it to the nation to lead the charge for the next industrial revolution. The following panels are designed to capture the three pillars of America's Resilience in Manufacturing and Operations through Reshoring, Retooling, and Retraining manufacturing and operations.

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This event will focus on three key initiatives: Reshoring Manufacturing and Operations, Retooling Manufacturing and Operations, and Retraining Manufacturing and Operations.

In Partnership with

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Confirmed Speakers to Date

  • Todd Young, U.S. Senator of Indiana - Website
  • Brent Yeagy, Chief Executive Officer, Wabash - Biography
  • Mike Molnar, Founding Director, NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing and Institutes - Biography
  • Arvind Raman, Dean of the College of Engineering, Robert V. Adams Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Professor of Materials Engineering (by Courtesy), Purdue University - Biography
  • Robert Ambrose, J. Mike Walker '66 Chair Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University - Biography
  • Victoria Coleman, Chief Scientist, United States Air Force - Biography
  • Thomas Kurfess, Professor and HUSCO/Ramirez Distinguished Chair in Fluid Power and Motion Control, Georgia Tech - Biography
  • Rick Barto, Lockheed Martin Fellow, Corporate Engineering & Technology, Lockheed Martin - LinkedIn
  • Colin Parris, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, GE Digital - Biography
  • Alton D. Romig, Jr., Executive Officer, National Academy of Engineering - Biography
  • Mung Chiang, President, Purdue University and the Roscoe H. George Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering - Biography
  • Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute - Biography
  • Meghan N. Harris, Director of Policy for Aerospace & Defense, GlobalFoundries - LinkedIn
  • Frederick Cartwright, President and Chief Executive Officer, Conexus Indiana
  • Kris Ward, Senior Director, Strategy and Business Development, SME

Agenda

9:00-9:10 am

Opening and Welcome

Frederick Cartwright, President and Chief Executive Officer, Conexus Indiana

Kris Ward, Senior Director, Strategy and Business Development, SME

9:10-9:20 am

Remarks from National Academy of Engineering

Alton D. Romig, Jr., Executive Officer, National Academy of Engineering

9:20-9:30 am

Remarks from Purdue

Mung Chiang, President, Purdue University and the Roscoe H. George Distinguished Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

9:30-9:45 am

Remarks from U.S. Air Force

Victoria Coleman, Chief Scientist, United States Air Force

9:45-10:45 am

Panel 1

Theme (Why?):
Reshoring
To build resilient, sustainable, and secure supply chains, U.S. companies are compelled to reshore major parts of their manufacturing footprint. This will require not only major national investments in physical manufacturing assets but also the digitalization of the entire value chain.

Panel moderator:
Stephan Biller, Harold T. Amrine Distinguished Professor of Industrial Engineering, Purdue University

Panelists:

  • Meghan N. Harris, Director of Policy for Aerospace & Defense, GlobalFoundries
  • Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute
  • Colin Parris, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, GE Digital

10:45-11:00 am

Break

11:00-12:00 pm

Panel 2

Theme (How?):
Retooling
New major investments in physical, digital, and sustainable innovations and translation are mission-critical for a resilient and secure national infrastructure.

Panel Moderator:
Ajay Malshe, R. Eugene And Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University

Panelists:

  • Rick Barto, Lockheed Martin Fellow, Corporate Engineering & Technology, Lockheed Martin
  • Mike Molnar, Founding Director, NIST Office of Advanced Manufacturing and Institutes
  • Brent Yeagy, Chief Executive Officer, Wabash

12:00-12:10 pm

Remarks from Nation and Indiana
Todd Young, U.S. Senator of Indiana

12:15-1:00 pm

Lunch

1:00-2:00 pm

Panel 3

Theme (Who?):
Retraining
Innovative and hands-on abilities are foundational for building an integrative and diverse manufacturing workforce across the entire educational spectrum for established and new, and small and large industries.

Panel Moderator:
John Sutherland, Fehsenfeld Family Head of Environmental and Ecological Engineering, Purdue University

Panelists:

  • Arvind Raman, Dean of the College of Engineering, Robert V. Adams Professor in Mechanical Engineering, Professor of Materials Engineering (by Courtesy), Purdue University
  • Thomas Kurfess, Professor and HUSCO/Ramirez Distinguished Chair in Fluid Power and Motion Control, Georgia Tech
  • Robert Ambrose, J. Mike Walker '66 Chair Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University

2:00-2:15 pm

Summary and Next Steps

For questions related to the summit, please email sbiller@purdue.edu; amalshe@purdue.edu