Wisconsin manufacturers are navigating a moment of real pressure. Automation and AI are reshaping what's possible on the plant floor, customers are demanding more variety and faster response, and the workforce that built the last generation of operations is changing. In the rush to digitize, it can be tempting to treat Operational Excellence, Quality, and Continuous Improvement as legacy disciplines. They aren't.
This UWEBC event convenes leaders from across Wisconsin and beyond to wrestle honestly with that tension. We will hear from Clint Wenthur at Plexus and Jeff Wilkerson at Caterpillar how their organizations are building durable OpEx and quality capability while integrating new technology, growing the workforce of the future, and sustaining improvement through volatility. Jared Petersen, COO of Schuette Inc., will share how a multi-generational metal fabricator in Central Wisconsin is building operational excellence into the next chapter of the business. A panel bringing together David Ding (UW-Stout), Sara Kraemer (UW-Madison), Mike White (Secchi), and Be Ware (Husco) will explore what's working in industry and what's not. Peer-facilitated breakout sessions will give participants direct space to compare notes with counterparts wrestling with the same questions.
Participants will leave with:
A clearer view of how manufacturers are connecting OpEx fundamentals to AI and automation investments
Practical approaches to building and sustaining the OpEx function, modernizing quality systems, and developing the 2030 workforce
Direct connections to peers across the state working on the same challenges
Whether your organization is early in its OpEx journey or extending mature capability into new territory, this workshop offers a focused day of substantive content and collaborative peer learning.
Agenda
Start Time
Title
Speaker(s)
9:00 AM
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Jim Rink, Manufacturing Practice Director in Residence (UWEBC)
9:10 AM
Member Spotlight: Plexus
Clint Wenthur, Global Director, Digital Manufacturing Operations
