The manufacturing industry in North America is undergoing its fourth evolution into a high-technology, digitalized, and data-driven industry. This Industry 4.0 period began long before the COVID-19 pandemic affected global society but has been accelerated in response to many of the challenges associated with it. In this report, we examine and explore the current manufacturing industry in North America and the challenges and opportunities it faces as adoption of Industry 4.0 thinking, tools, standards, and processes becomes more widespread.
The manufacturing industry in North America is undergoing its fourth evolution into a high-technology, digitalized, and data-driven industry. This Industry 4.0 period began long before the COVID-19 pandemic affected global society but has been accelerated in response to many of the challenges associated with it. In this report, we examine and explore the current manufacturing industry in North America and the challenges and opportunities it faces as adoption of Industry 4.0 thinking, tools, standards, and processes becomes more widespread.
12th Annual
Peak Performance Symposium
For manufacturers, by manufacturers.
November 6, 2026 | 8:30am -3:30pm
8:30am - 9:00am: Registration & Networking
9:00am - 2:00pm: Symposium
12:00pm - 12:30pm: Luncheon
2:00pm - 3:30pm: Whirlpool Plant Tour, Cleveland, TN
Smart Factory Institute @ PIE Innovation Center
2215 Parker Street NE, Cleveland, TN 37311
#SmartFactoryInstitute #MakerNation
About the Event
Maintaining Competitive Manufacturing Operations Through
TRADE, TECHNOLOGY & TALENT
The Peak Performance Symposium is an annual event designed by manufacturers, for manufacturers. It brings together leading industry professionals to share insights, discuss best practices, and explore key topics relevant to today’s advanced manufacturing. The
symposium focuses on how manufacturers are staying ahead of the competition by leveraging cutting-edge technology and cultivating top talent.
EVENT WILL START IN
Event Schedule
Kick-Off
8:30am
Registration & Networking
Symposium Opening
9:00am
Welcome & Opening Comments
Denise (Rice) Hall
President & CEO, Peak Performance Inc.
Featured Speaker
9:15am
Mark Graban , 3 Time Shingo Award Winning Author
The Silence Tax: How Lean Leaders Drive Out Fear and Futility.
Why do shop-floor workers stay silent when critical quality, safety, or operational issues arise? In this interactive fireside chat, internationally recognized Lean author Mark Graban introduces key concepts from his book, The Silence Tax: How Lean Leaders Drive Out Fear and Futility, exploring the hidden costs manufacturers pay when problems go unreported.
Mark breaks down the crucial difference between silence driven by fear (retaliation) versus silence driven by futility (the belief that "nothing will change anyway"). While both look identical to leadership, they stem from vastly different root causes and require distinct leadership fixes.
10:00am
Break
Panel Discussion
10:15am
Proving the Value of Training with Metrics That Matter
Every plant manager knows that continuous upskilling is necessary—yet training is still far too often treated as a necessary cost center rather than a strategic driver. When times get tough, training budgets are usually the first to be cut simply because organizations lack the right metrics to defend them. In this interactive panel discussion, regional manufacturing professionals and workforce experts explore how to bridge the gap between human capital development and the plant floor P&L. Moving beyond superficial metrics like "completed hours" or "class attendance," the panel will detail how to isolate, measure, and present the true operational return on investment of employee training.
Panel Discussion
10:45am
Faster Deployment, Sooner Results with I4.0 Deployments
The biggest risk in smart manufacturing isn't adopting tech—it’s getting stuck in endless implementation cycles. Join a candid discussion with plant leaders who are in their digital initiatives journey.
Bypassing theoretical frameworks, this panel examines real-world strategies for integrating connected systems quickly, clearing organizational roadblocks, and securing early wins. Learn how facilities shrink implementation timelines, build frontline momentum, and unlock the true value of Industry 4.0 sooner.
Session Speaker
11:15am
SK AX USA: How Industrial AI Stopped Unplanned Downtime
Unplanned equipment failure is the single most expensive disruption on any factory floor—yet traditional preventive maintenance relies heavily on guesswork and rigid schedules. In this fast-paced 30-minute case study, SK AX USA breaks down how their advanced industrial AI and edge analytics platform transformed a reactive maintenance model into a real-time, predictive operating system. You will see exactly how SK's technology captures high-frequency machine data, detects micro-anomalies before a failure occurs, and delivers actionable alerts directly to maintenance teams.
Lunch
12:00am
Session Speaker
12:30pm
Pheonix Contact: Real-World Data Integration for the Shop Floor
Adopting Industry 4.0 doesn't require overhauling your existing machinery. In this 30-minute case study, Phoenix Contact showcases how a manufacturer successfully connected OT (Operations Technology) and IT using open, scalable automation.
Learn how collecting machine data in parallel—without disrupting live production—unlocked real-time shop-floor insights. Phoenix Contact will share a practical blueprint for using edge computing and secure network architecture to boost OEE, enable predictive maintenance, and drive measurable ROI on legacy and modern equipment alike.
Session Speaker
1:00pm
Ed Taylor, Boyd Center for Business & Economic Research:
Manufacturing in Turbulent Times: Navigating Trade, Labor, Supply Chain, and Cost Issues
Ed Taylor, a research associate at the Boyd Center for Business and Economics Research, returns to share an assessment of current economic conditions affecting Tennessee manufacturers. Ed holds degrees in engineering, business, and economics along with work experience in construction and research. This blend of education and experience guides his view of the current economic challenges.
This session covers areas of concern for manufacturers: volatile trade policy, rising input costs, supply chain disruptions, and the labor market. Attendees should expect a straightforward look at these challenges, along with resources and approaches other manufacturers are using to manage the uncertainty.
Closing Remarks
1:45pm
Denise (Rice) Hall
President & CEO, Peak Performance Inc.
Whirlpool Tour
