DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — Small and mid-sized manufacturers across Illinois will gather Thursday, November 12, 2026, for the NextGen Manufacturing AI Summit, hosted by the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Downers Grove. The full-day summit will focus on practical, real-world applications of artificial intelligence designed to improve operations, strengthen data readiness, and increase workforce productivity.
The event will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at 5 p.m.
Unlike broad technology conferences, the summit will focus on high-impact AI strategies built specifically for manufacturing environments. Attendees will hear directly from manufacturing executives who have deployed AI to improve production, automate quoting and administrative workflows, and address operational bottlenecks.
The opening keynote address will be delivered by Tim Dickson, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital & Information Officer at Regal Rexnord, presenting “From Experimentation to Execution: Scaling AI in Manufacturing”. Dickson will share how industrial enterprises are leveraging data, copilots, and AI agents to transform operations.
The morning session will also feature practical case studies from Illinois manufacturing leaders in food processing, building products, and industrial equipment manufacturing.
Interactive afternoon sessions with industry experts will cover growth and customer experience, data foundations and ERP workflows, operations and shop-floor execution, and enterprise infrastructure and adoption. A central atrium showcase will also provide dedicated networking opportunities with industrial solution providers and opportunities for one-on-one conversations.
Closing the summit, Erin Ramirez, CEO of Real Change Studio, will present “Leading Through Transformation: Adaptability Science and Change Management on the Shop Floor,” offering practical strategies for leading workforce culture through technological change.
“Manufacturing excellence isn’t about chasing technology trends, it’s about finding practical, proven tools that deliver measurable results on the shop floor,” IMEC President & CEO Michael Cabonargi said. “This summit gives Illinois manufacturers clear, hands-on frameworks and peer-driven insights to move beyond the daily status quo toward long-term competitiveness.”
“Our goal is to give Illinois manufacturers clear, startable frameworks they can put to work the very next day,” IMEC Director of Marketing Jaclyn Kolodziej said. “By connecting plant leaders with hands-on technology demonstrations, data experts, and peer success stories, we are bridging the gap between AI experimentation and measurable operational impact.”
Registration remains open for manufacturing leaders and professionals. To view the complete schedule and register, visit IMEC Events.
About the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC)
IMEC is a public-private partnership committed to driving growth for small and mid-sized Illinois manufacturers. As a state center of the NIST MEP National Network, IMEC provides hands-on technical assistance, operational consulting, and workforce solutions to help manufacturers compete and excel. Learn more at IMEC.org.
