TROY – Automation Alley is set to debut the findings of its 2017 Technology Industry Report Feb. 13 at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The event, Automation Alley’s 2017 Technology Industry Outlook, will also include technology demonstrations and a panel discussion centered around Industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution, which is the convergence of physical and digital technologies transforming manufacturing today.
The 8 am event draws hundreds from the technology and manufacturing industries annually to connect during a strolling breakfast that includes technology demonstrations from Automation Alley’s key technology partners. Following the tech demonstrations and networking will be a formal presentation of the 2017 report’s key findings and a panel discussion about local and national readiness for Industry 4.0, which includes the Industrial Internet of Things, autonomous robotics, advanced materials, additive manufacturing, big data, cybersecurity, cloud computing, and modeling, simulation and visualization.
Panelists include moderator Walter Kaufmann, managing principal of P3, an international management consulting and innovative engineering solutions firm; Jeff Hohlfeldt, vice president of Northern Industrial Manufacturing, a premier tier 1, 2 and 3 automotive supplier; and Gary Krus, vice president of business development for Hirotec America, a provider of innovative and highly flexible closure manufacturing solutions for the automotive industry.
For this year’s report, Automation Alley conducted a survey of technology and manufacturing executives from across the country to determine their knowledge of Industry 4.0 and whether both industries are ready for the rapid changes ahead as technology transforms manufacturing.
“Our goal is to get the technology and manufacturing industries together so we can work through any challenges and ensure our region is at the forefront of this rapid transformation,” said Tom Kelly, Automation Alley’s executive director. “Southeast Michigan has a long history of manufacturing prowess, and now we have the potential to be a national leader in Industry 4.0. We want to be an advocate for our region’s adoption of Industry 4.0 and a springboard for new developments in advanced manufacturing.”
Each year, Automation Alley publishes the Technology Industry Report to provide the technology business community with valuable insights into the future of the tech industry, both locally and nationally. Since the organization began publishing the report more than a decade ago, businesses and municipalities have used it for business planning and business and talent attraction.
Automation Alley’s 2017 Technology Industry Outlook is sponsored by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, SME, Oakland University, Comcast B2B, Tech248, NEI, Oakland Community College, New Horizons Computer Learning Centers and Kelly Services.
For more information or to register for this event, visit http://www.automationalley.com/Events/TechnologyIndustryOutlook.aspx
