Draft agenda - subject to change
DAY ONE - Tuesday, 28th October 2026
07:45 - 08:30
REGISTRATION, REFRESHMENTS AND NETWORKING
08:30 - 08:40
Chair’s Welcome and Opening Remarks
THINK TANK CHALLENGES
The summit opens with our Think Tank Challenges. Attendees rotate through three 25-minute small-group discussions, exploring the industry challenges most relevant to them and sharing practical ideas and solutions with peers and industry experts.
08:45 - 09:10
Think Tank Challenge 1
Working Think Tank Challenge topics:
- From Pilot to Plant: Scaling Digital Initiatives Successfully
Explore strategies to transition from pilot projects to full-scale digital implementations.
- Building Resilient Operations in a Disruptive Landscape
Learn how to enhance operational agility amidst rapid industry changes.
- Enhancing Supply Chain Integration and Security
Discover methods to create connected and secure supply chains.
- Industrial AI: Transforming Manufacturing Processes
Understand the practical applications of AI in manufacturing.
- Digital Twins: Bridging Physical and Digital Worlds
Explore the use of digital twins to optimise manufacturing operations.
- Cybersecurity in Smart Manufacturing
Address the growing cybersecurity challenges in digital manufacturing.
- Data-Driven Decision Making in Manufacturing
Leverage data analytics to inform strategic decisions.
- Sustainable Manufacturing: Achieving Green Goals
Incorporate sustainability into manufacturing processes.
- Workforce Transformation in the Digital Age
Prepare your workforce for the demands of modern manufacturing.
- Leveraging IoT for Operational Excellence
Utilise IoT technologies to enhance manufacturing efficiency.
- Predictive Maintenance: Minimising Downtime
Implement predictive maintenance strategies to improve reliability.
- Advanced Robotics and Automation
Explore the integration of robotics into manufacturing workflows.
- Cloud Computing in Manufacturing
Understand the role of cloud technologies in modern manufacturing.
09:15 - 09:40
Think Tank Challenge 2
Think Tanks Challenge topics repeated as above
09:45 - 10:10
Think Tank Challenge 3
Think Tanks Challenge topics repeated as above
10:10 - 10:35
COFFEE AND NETWORKING
10:35 - 11:00
OPENING KEYNOTE
AI: What's Real, What's Next, and What Should Manufacturers Do About It?
AI is already changing manufacturing, but the conversation is moving quickly. Agentic AI promises greater autonomy, faster decision-making and new ways of operating—but how close are we really, and where should manufacturers focus their attention today?
Key takeaways:
- Where can agentic AI realistically create value in manufacturing?
- Which use cases are ready to scale—and which remain experimental?
- How will greater AI autonomy change the role of the manufacturing workforce?
- What foundations need to be in place before organisations can adopt agentic AI with confidence?
- What should manufacturing leaders be doing now to prepare for the next phase?
Meeting session 1
11:05 - 11:30
CASE STUDY
Applying Agentic AI for Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) in Smart Manufacturing
- Applying effective MRO lifecycle data in optimising hardware and technology performance across the manufacturing sector.
- How are data quality issues undermining real-time asset management and maintenance workflows in manufacturing operations.
- Uncovering agentic AI-driven tools which resolve reliability data gaps and improve margin gains
Meeting session 2
11:35 - 12:00
CASE STUDY
Creating a Real-Time View of Manufacturing Performance
Explore how organizations are connecting data across their operations to create a real-time view of manufacturing performance, enabling quicker responses, improved efficiency and better business outcomes. Creating a single, real-time view of manufacturing performance.
- Improving productivity, quality and asset performance through greater visibility.
- Connecting existing systems without disrupting operations.
- Enabling faster, better-informed operational decisions.
- Lessons learned from implementation and adoption.
- Measuring success through operational and business outcomes.
Meeting session 3
12:05 - 12:30
DATA CASE STUDY
Generate value and create optimized visualizations to build a secure and robust ecosystem for your organization’s data
Key takeaways:
- Reduce production costs by quickly and accurately identifying production bottlenecks.
- Increase production quality by exploring key indicators on the factory floor.
- Ensure environmentally impactful planning by guaranteeing compliance with protocols.
- Enhance the productive capacity of the factory floor by discovering process opportunities through data.
Meeting session 4
12:30 - 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH
13:30 - 13:55
CASE STUDY
Manage both plant operations and energy efficiency through one connected platform
Key takeaways:
- Build margin improvement and operational visibility with key metrics such as machine runtime and production
- Increase operational sustainability and reduce energy costs with real-time visibility into energy efficiency
- Drive continuous improvement, informed by accurate data across the entire plant operation, towards more data driven, sustainable operations.
Lauren Dunford, CEO & Co-Founder, Guidewheel
Meeting session 5
14:00 - 14:25
CASE STUDY
Delivering Sustainable Manufacturing Through Digital Innovation
Rising customer expectations, investor pressure and evolving regulation are placing greater emphasis on sustainable manufacturing. This session explores how digital technologies are helping organisations reduce energy consumption, improve resource efficiency and deliver measurable business value.
Key Learnings
- Using data to reduce energy consumption, emissions and waste.
- Improving resource efficiency across manufacturing operations.
- Embedding sustainability into day-to-day decision-making.
- Balancing sustainability goals with productivity and profitability.
- Measuring the operational and commercial impact of sustainability initiatives.
Meeting session 6
14:30 - 14:55
CASE STUDY
The 3 Digital Transformation Mistakes You Can’t Afford – And the Playbook to Avoid Them
People: The heart of transformation is trust. Without it, your entire initiative is in danger. Shared goals, clear KPIs and management buy-in turn it into a foundation that scales ROI across sites.
Processes: Point-to-point connections are a liability, they tend to break under pressure. Decoupling OT and IT keeps operations resilient – and makes ROI measurable beyond a single plant.
Technology: PoCs are everywhere, but without a unified foundation they stay pilots. With a central data layer and UNS, organizations advance to Agentic AI in live production– the leap from proof to practice.
Peter Sorowka, CEO, Cybus GmbH
Meeting session 7
15:00 - 15:25
CASE STUDY
Building an Adaptive Workforce Planning Framework for the Digital Factory
As manufacturers accelerate digital transformation, attracting, developing and retaining the right talent has become just as important as investing in new technologies.
In this session, you’ll learn:
- How one manufacturer is approaching workforce planning for the digital era.
- How a build, buy or borrow strategy is helping close critical skills gaps.
- Lessons learned from balancing technology investment with workforce development.
- Practical steps for building a more agile, future-ready organisation.
Meeting session 8
15:25 - 15:50
COFFEE AND NETWORKING
15:50 - 16:15
PRESENTATION
Faster Time-To-Market manufacturing mitigating costly slowdowns, rework, and compliance risks
Integrate supply chain into the product lifecycle for improved time-to-market
Monitor conformance, traceability, and model fidelity across your ecosystem.
Feed analytics and AI engines with structured, reliable supplier data.
Meeting session 9
16:20 - 16:45
CASE STUDY
Faster Time-To-Market manufacturing mitigating costly slowdowns, rework, and compliance risk.
- Integrate supply chain into the product lifecycle for improved time-to-market
- Monitor conformance, traceability, and model fidelity across your ecosystem.
- Feed analytics and AI engines with structured, reliable supplier data.
Presented by:
Meeting session 10
16:50 - 17:35
CLOSING PANEL DISCUSSION
Turning Manufacturing Data into Competitive Advantage
Manufacturers have more data than ever before—but many still struggle to convert it into faster decisions, better performance and measurable business value. This panel explores how leading organisations are transforming data into a strategic asset.
Key questions we’ll answer:
- How can real-time data improve operational performance and decision-making?
- What does a successful manufacturing data strategy look like?
- How can organisations improve data quality, governance and visibility?
- How do you balance greater connectivity with cybersecurity and resilience?
- Where will AI, analytics and industrial data platforms deliver the greatest value?
17:35 - 17:40
Chair's Closing Remarks
17:45 - 18:45
DRINKS RECEPTION
DAY TWO – Wedesday, 29th October 2026
07:45 - 08:30
REFRESHMENTS AND NETWORKING
08:30 - 08:40
Chair's opening remarks
08:45 - 09:30
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
Small group discussions tackling your most critical challenges
Working Roundtable topics:
- Integrating AI into Legacy Systems
- Strategies for Effective Change Management
- Enhancing Supplier Collaboration through Technology
- Implementing Digital Twins for Quality Control
- Cybersecurity Best Practices for Manufacturing
- Optimising Supply Chain Visibility
- Leveraging Data Analytics for Forecasting
- Developing a Roadmap for Digital Transformation
- Sustainable Practices in Manufacturing Operations
- Training, Retaining & Upskilling a Digitally Skilled Workforce
09:35 - 10:00
CYBER SECURITY KEYNOTE
Manufacturing in the Crosshairs: Lessons from the World's Most Targeted Industry
- What are manufacturers still getting wrong when it comes to cybersecurity?
- Which attack vectors represent the greatest risk to modern manufacturing?
- How can organisations reduce cyber risk while accelerating digital transformation?
- What practical steps should leaders take to improve operational resilience?
- How can cybersecurity become a business enabler rather than a barrier to innovation?
Meeting session 11
10:00 - 10:25
COFFEE AND NETWORKING
10:25 - 10:50
IT/OT CASE STUDY
Unifying IT/OT systems with seamless edge data integration for an interoperable IIoT infrastructure
Best practices for modernising outdated OT to enable secure and resilient IT/OT convergence.
- How to ensure the integrity and reliability of data streams from integrated legacy and OT systems for accurate insights and automation?
- What proven cybersecurity protocols mitigate escalating risks in interconnected IT/OT environments, considering evolving regulations?
- What network segmentation architectures are critical for a disruption-ready factory, safeguarding converged IT/OT systems?
Shashank Sharma, Senior Product Marketing Manager, HiveMQ
Meeting session 12
10:55 - 11:20
PILOT TO PLANT CASE STUDY
Leading Digital Transformation Beyond the Pilot Phase
This session explores the leadership, governance and organisational changes needed to turn successful pilots into business-wide transformation.
- Scaling successful pilots into enterprise-wide transformation.
- Building leadership support and cross-functional alignment.
- Creating governance that balances innovation with operational stability.
- Measuring transformation through business value and operational outcomes.
Meeting session 13
11:25 - 11:50
CONNECTIVITY SESSION
Connectivity is Critical: Building Real-Time Data Collection, Automation and Scalable Network Expansion
- Evolution of 5G private networks: defending against data loss, protecting data storage and enhancing transmission capabilities
- Network connectivity and real-time equipment monitoring: Network APIs, Intelligent Overlays and Hyperconnectivity
- Real-time data transmission to multiple field operators: facilitating collaboration across operating regions, optimising IoT deployment and enhancing plant safety
Mike Weller, Director of Global Solutions – Manufacturing, Verizon
Meeting session 14
11:55 - 12:20
INTEROPERABILITY SESSION
From Factory Floor to Cloud: Enabling Scalable Interoperability Through OPC UA
- Discover how OPC UA enables seamless IT/OT integration and supports scalable digital manufacturing architectures.
- Learn how the new OPC UA Cloud Initiative connects factory floor data with major cloud platforms and analytics tools.
- Explore real-world use cases showing OPC UA in action for digital twins, predictive maintenance, and edge-to-cloud deployments.
- Understand the role of open standards in modernizing legacy systems and unlocking long-term interoperability.
Stefan Hoppe, President, OPC Foundation
Meeting session 15
12:20 - 13:20
LUNCH
13:20 - 13:45
OPEX CASE STUDY
Driving Operational Excellence Through AI and Data
This session explores how one manufacturer is using AI, connected data and digital tools to improve efficiency, quality and plant performance.
Key takeaways:
- Identifying the digital initiatives delivering the greatest operational value.
- Using data and AI to improve productivity, quality and asset performance.
- Lessons learned from implementing digital change across manufacturing operations.
- Where the organisation is focusing its next phase of investment.
13:50 - 14:35
CLOSING PANEL
What's Next? The Manufacturing Digital Roadmap for the Next 24 Months
- Which technologies will have the biggest impact on manufacturing over the next 24 months?
- How can manufacturers build a trusted data foundation for AI and advanced analytics?
- What are the biggest barriers to scaling digital transformation—and how can they be overcome?
- How can organisations modernise legacy systems without disrupting operations?
- What will the most successful manufacturers be doing differently by 2027?
14:35 - 14:45
Chair's Closing Remarks
Manufacturers only permitted to attend as delegates.
Interested in Sponsoring? Call +44 (0) 20 3004 8930 or learn more here.
Interested in Sponsoring? Call +44 (0) 20 3004 8930 or learn more here.