DAY ONE

8:30 am Registration & Networking

9:00 am What it Takes to Make a LEAP a Reality

9:10 am Chair’s Opening Remarks

  • Caitlin Hamstra Corporate Learning & Development Manager, Birchwood Foods

Developing a Smarter Hourly Workforce Through Reskilling & Upskilling to Boost Efficiencies & Lower Costs

9:20 am Discover: Improving Training & Development Plans to Upskill & Elevate Manufacturing Talent Without Impacting the Bottom Line

  • Albina Bhimani Regional Manager, Learning and Development, Smurfit WestRock
  • Dacia Benoit Senior Director, Operations Learning & Development, Smurfit WestRock

Synopsis

• How can we streamline and enhance our training and development initiatives to ensure they are both standardized and impactful, fostering employee growth and development?

• What strategies can we employ to accelerate the upskilling journey for our workforce to maximize efficiency, and determine the optimal timing for transitioning away from old methods?

• Establishing a clear connection between skills, capabilities, safety, efficiency, and ultimately, bottom-line performance improvement

9:40 am Discover: Improving Internal Talent Pipelines through Operator-Driven Reliability Programs to Reduce Costs

  • Jason Stanley Senior Manager, Manufacturing Workforce Development, Nissan Motor Corporation

Synopsis

• Expanding technical skill requirements for traditional manufacturing operators

• Reducing maintenance costs and improving shop floor conditions for the hourly workforce

• Improving quality and throughout through Nissan’s training and development program

10:00 am Develop: What More Can We Learn From the HR Leaders Who Are Building a Smarter Workforce?

  • Dacia Benoit Senior Director, Operations Learning & Development, Smurfit WestRock
  • Jason Stanley Senior Manager, Manufacturing Workforce Development, Nissan Motor Corporation
  • Albina Bhimani Regional Manager, Learning and Development, Smurfit WestRock

Synopsis

Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair

10:20 am Action: How Will You Adapt Training Initiatives to Ensure Workers Grow to New Heights Whilst Increasing Manufacturing Efficiencies?

Synopsis

Output Focused Action Session Facilitated by the Chair

10:40 am Innovate: The Value of Skills

Synopsis

Kahuna presents a case study demonstrating how effective skills management for frontline workers can improve operational performance while simultaneously identifying areas of wasted training & competency management spend. Centralizing skills data unlocks massive value compare to fragmented, spreadsheet-based programs and enables People leaders to partner with Operations in novel ways resulting in smarter decisions as well as improved profitability & sustainability

10:50 am Speed Networking Break

Manufacturing the Framework for Learning to Engage Employees in Training & Their Personal Development

11:30 am Discover: Breaking Language Barriers: Tactical Approaches to Multilingual Training to Engage a Diverse Workforce Population

  • Caitlin Hamstra Corporate Learning & Development Manager, Birchwood Foods

Synopsis

• Discuss the use of AI in translating and voicing over training materials and developing training content in multiple languages to increase employee engagement, understanding and safety

• Review the complexities of language diversity in the workplace, with a focus on enhancing communication between non-native English speaking employees and their supervisors

• Evaluate the effectiveness of multilingual training programs on production metrics, employee engagement, and incident reduction

11:50 am Discover: The Michelin Drive: Empowering the Wage Workforce for Career Growth in Manufacturing

  • Dana Raby Zone Competency Manager, Operator Training & Training Networks, Michelin Americas

Synopsis

• Discuss the creation and implementation of a comprehensive competency framework that enables wage operators to gain the necessary skills and qualifications to advance in their careers

• Explore the integration of learning platforms, such as the Michelin Talent Campus that provide educational opportunities for wage operators to grow while working. Share how DRIVE is the operator-facing competency development component to the Michelin Talent Campus

• Discuss the impact on employee retention and engagement, detailing how the program has evolved, and the challenges faced in its implementation

• Share how DRIVE evolved from a project focused on growing operator competencies using a practical approach in alignment with skills necessary on the shop floor

12:10 pm Develop: What More Can We Do to Ensure We Are Building the Framework for a Supportive Work Environment to Engage Employee’s in Their Development?

  • Dana Raby Zone Competency Manager, Operator Training & Training Networks, Michelin Americas
  • Caitlin Hamstra Corporate Learning & Development Manager, Birchwood Foods

Synopsis

Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair

12:30 pm Action: What Are You Going to Do to Increase Engagement & Learning?

Synopsis

Output Focused Action Session Facilitated by the Chair

12:50 pm Lunch

Cultivating an Ecosystem to Inspire, Develop & Build a Generation of Dynamic Leaders for Sustainable Manufacturing Careers

2:10 pm Discover: Fostering & Nurturing Career Growth for Our Aspiring Leaders

  • Michelle Saunders Senior Director, Global Head of Talent, Culture and DEI, Brooks Automation

Synopsis

• Reviewing strategies for assisting leaders in building authentic connections with their teams, fostering a sense of value and engagement

• Tailoring upskilling initiatives for leaders to address diverse technical needs based on their backgrounds

• Cultivating critical thinking and personal skills essential for continuous improvement among new leaders to set them up for long-term success

2:30 pm Discover: Charting Career Paths: Guiding Frontline Workers Towards Supervisory Roles & Beyond

Synopsis

• Building out a clear career path within the manufacturing industry and equipping employees for advancement

• Recognizing top-tier talent and pinpointing growth avenues within the organization, including opportunities in different departments

• How can we develop frontline supervisors and equip them for a smooth transition, and implement effective succession plans for sustained leadership development?

2:50 pm Develop: What More Can We Learn from the Leaders Transforming Leadership Development Initiatives to Foster Sustainable Careers in Manufacturing?

Synopsis

Question & Answer Session Facilitated by the Chair

3:10 pm Action: How Are You Going to Develop your Leadership & Identify Potential Untapped Talent?

Synopsis

Output Focused Action Session Facilitated by the Chair

3:40 pm Networking Break

4:00 pm Chairs Closing Remarks & End of Day One