The Most Significant
Manufacturing Event of the Year

Wednesday, November 6

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST)
Exhibitor move in at the Greenville Convention Center:

Exhibitors will load in to set up their booths.

5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (EST)
Exhibitor & Sponsor Welcome Cocktail Reception:

Cocktail Reception for Exhibitors, Sponsors & VIP Guests. Closed to the general public.

Thursday, November 7

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST)

Visit the Manufacturing Expo to have access to our Exhibitors. The Expo Floor spans approximately three football fields in size and attendees are encouraged to explore the entire space.

8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (EST)

COFFEE KICKOFF/ Ribbon cutting with Greenville Chamber of Commerce/Greenville mayor

This coffee mixer will serve as the official welcome to the 2024 South Carolina Manufacturing Conference and Expo with our host city and chamber of commerce welcoming guests and exhibitors.

Special Guests:

Carlos Phillips, CEO, Greenville Chamber of Commerce

Knox White, mayor, city of Greenville

9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. (EST)

HANDS OFF: How autonomous technology is driving the future of the manufacturing industry

12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. (EST)

PALMETTO PROUD unveiling/Inaugural BEST PLACES TO WORK IN MANUFACTURING AWARDS

What: Luncheon/recognition event

This luncheon will serve as the recognition event for our inaugural Palmetto Proud program and the first Best Places to Work in Manufacturing Awards. We will recognize 30 of the most interesting products being manufactured right here in South Carolina, preceded by a keynote address, highlighting the Palmetto Proud program. This will be followed by recognition of our inaugural group of Best Places to Work in Manufacturing awards, which is a partnership with Best Companies Group.

Panelists:

Keynote speaker: Cody Thacker, vice president of growth, Scout Motors

2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (EST)

ALL ABOUT AI: How your company can leverage artificial intelligence to enhance production and increase success

What: Tech talk

Artificial intelligence is changing the face of the manufacturing industry, creating a new era of optimization. The technology addresses challenges on multiple fronts, including summarization, contextual data understanding, coding assistance and asset management. Our panelists address opportunities created by this emerging technology and reveal how you can leverage neural networks to improve production and take your company to new heights.

Panelists:

Ramy Harik, Professor of Automotive Engineering, Clemson University

Rahul Rai, associate director, The Artificial Intelligence Research Institute for Science and Engineering (AIRISE), Clemson University

Navid Hashemi, assistant professor of computer science, director of Data Science Graduate Program, College of Charleston

Joe Delpercio, head of AI and data analytics, Zeus Industrial Products

Thorsten Wuest, professor of mechanical engineering, University of South Carolina

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (EST)

GOING GREEN: How a circular economy can drive sustainable packaging in South Carolina

What: Tech talk

Sustainability and the demand for more circular materials — packaging that can be reused, recycled or composted — is driving innovation like never before in the manufacturing industry. Our panelists offer advice and best practices to implement a circular materials program at your company while adopting the
latest technology, and highlight the latest in sustainable packaging research, development and implementation that can improve efficiencies and increase cost savings while helping save the environment.

Panelists:

Wes Carter, president, Atlantic Packaging; founder, A New Earth Project

James Sternberg, assistant professor, sustainable packaging, Clemson University

Scott Byrne, director, global sustainability services, Sonoco

Leslie Skardon, CEO, Sustain SC

Friday, November 8

8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. (EST)

Visit the Manufacturing Expo to have access to our Exhibitors. The Expo Floor spans approximately three football fields in size and attendees are encouraged to explore the entire space.

9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. (EST)

KEEPING IT REAL: How virtual reality is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry — and what it means for your company

What: Breakfast

Virtual reality is revolutionizing processes for the manufacturing industry, to everything from improving worker safety, designing and building, speeding new products to market, reducing training costs, managing inventory, to increasing productivity. Our panelists will offer insight on best practices with capturing virtual reality technology to streamline and improve processes at your company.

Panelists:

Michael Ross, program director, advanced manufacturing and skilled trades, Midlands Technical College

SueZanne Driscoll, project manager, Be Pro Be Proud SC

Kelvin Byrd, dean of advanced manufacturing and transportation technologies, Greenville Technical College

Laura Cox, regional workforce advisory director, South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. (EST)

MANUFACTURING MAVENS: Celebrating women leaders elevating South Carolina’s manufacturing industry

What: Recognition luncheon event/keynote address

Join us for the second-annual Manufacturing Mavens awards where we recognize women trailblazers in the South Carolina manufacturing industry, followed by a keynote address.

Keynote speaker:

Lou Kennedy, owner, Nephron Pharmaceuticals