Brian Breuhan has over 20 years of experience working in mechanical design, project engineering and project management within the automotive engineering/manufacturing industry. Brian has held various professional leadership roles for nonprofits, including, Executive Board Member for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Metro Detroit, Industry 4.0 Advisory Council for Automation Alley and a member of the Industrial Advisory Board for Wayne State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Wayne State University and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from Central Michigan University.
October 30-31, 2024 | The Henry Hotel, Dearborn, MI
Building a Competitive Edge | North America’s flexible, digital and lean production future
Join the conversation #AMSEVO
October 30-31, 2024 | The Henry Hotel, Dearborn, MI
Building a Competitive Edge | North America’s flexible, digital and lean production future
Join the conversation #AMSEVO
October 30-31, 2024 | The Henry Hotel, Dearborn, MI
Building a Competitive Edge | North America’s flexible, digital and lean production future
Join the conversation #AMSEVO
The second AMS Evolution North America Conference returns to connect manufacturing leaders and experts on the top of their game as they steer automotive production towards greater innovation, flexibility and sustainability than ever before. The North American market and manufacturing sector continue to expand, as automotive OEMs and suppliers upgrade plants and processes, build new facilities, including for EV and battery manufacturing, and adapt lines and process for more connected, software-defined cars. However, with customer demand and regulation ever uncertain, the industry needs to be highly adaptable, which means manufacturing plants must reach new levels of agility and efficiency.
AMS Evolution North America will showcase strategies, technologies and partnerships that will support this lean and flexible transformation. Through keynotes, workshops and detailed insight from automotive OEMs and suppliers including General Motors, Ford, BorgWarner and many more, the conference will delve into smart and digital manufacturing, collaborative culture, sustainability goals and talent development.
The conference will offer insight and networking with manufacturing engineers, plant leaders, production system and technology leaders. They will share case studies and best practice on reducing cost and time in key operations, upgrading factories and layouts, integrating digital tools for efficiency, implementing lightweight and innovative materials and architectures, automation opportunities and data-driven insights.
Those who attend AMS Evolution will leave with a greater insight into the expertise and the experts who are shaping North American manufacturing towards a lean, sustainable and flexible future.
Confirmed Speakers
Be Informed and Inspired by Leaders and Innovators
Brian Breuhan
Global Manufacturing Optimization Strategist
General Motors
Trent Randles
Engineering Manager - Transfer Case Assembly & Operational Excellence
BorgWarner
Bio coming soon...
Paul Stephens
Manufacturing Transformation Lead
Ford Motor Company
Paul Stephens in an innovation leader across Ford’s manufacturing, playing a critical role in transforming the carmaker’s vehicle production, especially for electric vehicles and greenfield plants. Since February 2023, he is responsible for next-generation manufacturing innovation initiative to improve production efficiency and lower costs. His main focus is on new electric vehicles and platforms, and production at Ford’s upcoming EV factories in Tennessee and Kentucky. Stephens has been with Ford for more than eight years in a variety of manufacturing engineering roles across various model launches and tooling, and across vehicle operations for forward vehicle launches. He a degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University.
Marc Dugas
Technical Battery Production Specialist
Ford Motor Company
With over two decades of manufacturing and process engineering experience, Marc Dugas serves as a technical specialist at Ford Motor Company. A global leader, Marc has successfully implemented Stafford Beer's POSIWID approach, launching efficient engine assembly systems worldwide. Presently, Marc is revolutionizing battery pack and cell to pack assembly processes, setting new benchmarks for Ford's electrified future.
Eric Anderson
Associate Director, Light Vehicle Powertrain forecasting for the Americas
S&P Global
Eric Anderson serves as Associate Director, Light Vehicle Powertrain forecasting for the Americas at S&P Global Mobility (formerly IHS Markit), performing research and forecasts on light vehicle production, electrification and competitive forces around the region. He has an in-depth understanding of market conditions, OEM electrification and platform strategies, product lifecycles, as well as the regulatory environment. This also entails understanding consumer habits, preferences, trends, and macroeconomic conditions expected to play out in the market. Prior to joining S&P Global, Eric worked for a global Tier 1 automotive supplier and played a key role in their North American supply chain and logistics operations. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Western Michigan University and a Master of Business Administration from Walsh College.
Evolutionary Strategies in Automotive Manufacturing
Factory and automation transformation
- Redesigning factories for evolving technology and vehicle requirements
- Implementing layout, tooling, and cultural changes in automotive factories
- Exploring more advanced robotics and automation opportunities from body shop to final assembly
- Leveraging machine learning and AI to prevent stoppages and maintain accuracy
- The rise of AGVs, cobots, and flexible automation
Digital and flexible
- Implementing visualisation systems, control rooms, and digital twins
- Predictive maintenance for production equipment to avoid downtime
- Extracting insights from smart production systems and Industrial IoT
- Applications for AI and generative AI in manufacturing engineering and operations
- Using connected vehicle and battery technology to steer manufacturing
Lean, competitive and resilient
- Shortening complex value chains and process flows for enhanced efficiency
- Innovation in end-to-end processes across press, body, paint and assembly
- Human-centric technology and equipment to help teams
- Developing a culture of continuous improvement and sharing
- Advancing skills and know-how for smart manufacturing
EV and battery integration
- Redesigning factories for evolving technology, including EVs, and software-defined cars
- Adapting equipment, testing and processes for battery pack and module production
- Localising battery cell manufacturing and sourcing in North America
- Adapting production lines for maximum flexibility across powertrain and vehicle type
- Forming new supplier relationships to support transformation
Sustainable manufacturing
- Energy reduction and use of renewable energy in manufacturing
- Implementing circular economy and recycling loops in manufacturing processes
- Material and mixed material usage in manufacturing
- Using data analytics tools to reduce emissions and waste in manufacturing
PARTNERS
PARTNER
LANYARD
Should you attend?
Automotive Manufacturing Solutions North America is an opportunity to discuss the recent crises in the automotive industry and and how it is undergoing a major shift towards electrification, digitization, and sustainability. OEMs and suppliers are investing heavily in existing and new plants to build new technology and components, and are focusing on localizing vehicle and battery manufacturing in the region, we'll bring together production leaders, plant directors, engineers, and technology experts to discuss and explore this transformation.
- Manufacturing leadership: Senior manufacturing executives, plant directors and leaders in key functions aiming to optimise processes, technology, reduce emissions and develop staff to meet the needs of changing automotive production
- Plant management: Experts managing production and assembly lines, aiming to improve workflow, manufacturing visibility, automation, reduce costs and bottlenecks to ensure production targets are met
- Manufacturing engineers: For those leading on the design, development, and improvement of manufacturing processes and systems. Experts will explore new tools and technologies, integrating robotics and systems, and optimising brownfield and greenfield plants for electrification and sustainability
- Quality Control and maintenance specialists: Strategies for testing, measuring and inspecting production and tooling at various stages of manufacturing, and tools for analysing data and using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to identify defects or non-conformities, and carrying out preventative maintenance to minimise downtime
