There were a lot of things different about this year's ProMat, and every one illustrated how need nurtures innovation. There was a need this year to make ProMat more than it has ever been and different in so many ways. It was a need that sparked innovation, that defined resilience and that ensured that everyone in the material handling and supply chain industry had a forum and a platform to share, learn, listen and network—and see some of the ideas that have been created specifically to make our supply chain even more resilient, efficient and innovative. Ideas that were designed and created to power up our supply chain and make it more than it has ever been and different in so many ways, just like ProMatDX. 
 
We hope you enjoyed all that ProMatDX had to offer, and that as you navigated the all-new platform, experienced AI via the Grip app, engaged in video conferences, watched the presenters and keynotes share their knowledge and insight, and explored the multitude of products that were imagined and created with your needs in mind, you were able to appreciate its content, innovation and value.
 
Next year, be assured that the innovation that blossomed as a result of the need this year will make for an even more incredible experience next year at MODEX 2022, too. The need that had the brightest minds in the industry (and at MHI) creating this year's unforgettable ProMatDX are already planning an event that will include even more and will take this year's innovation to the next level.

We look forward to seeing you in-person at MODEX 2022! Make plans now by registering to attend, March 28-31 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center.

ProMat 2019 was recently honored with two prestigious Trade Show Executive (TSE) Grand Awards:
 
• The Fastest-Growing Non-Annual Gold 100 Show in Net Square Feet in 2019 (By Percentage of Growth)
• The Fastest-Growing Show in Sheer Numbers in Attendance in 2019 
 
These Grand Awards recognize ProMat 2019 for its net square footage growth over the 2017 expo of 33,691 to 425,076 Net Square Feet and for its attendance growth of 4,846 to a total of 49,718 attendees. To learn more about these honors, visit https://tse.pub/3d8Dp0V.

The ProMatDX Challenge rewards the most engaged ProMatDX attendee for each day during ProMatDX. Today's prize is a $500 gift card to the attendee with the most engagement on the portal plus a $500 donation to Feeding America in their name. ProMatDX attendees are automatically entered when logging in. Winners acquire points based on their activities within ProMatDX.
Day 1 Winner: Al Batista from Gold Medal Bakery 
Day 2 Winner: Ronaldo Gruta from SPP Pumps
Day 3 Winner: Chuck Boyer from Precision Planting

Day 4 Winner: Greg Beck from Zollner Electronics

Day 5 Winner: To be revealed later today, check out the leaderboard!

Grand Prize Winner: Raffle taking place shortly!

During the April 13 keynote, American Logistics Aid Network’s Kathy Fulton and a panel of supply chain thought-leaders from Clorox, FedEX and C&S Grocers explored lessons learned from the pandemic and how building long-term resiliency into supply chain and logistics operations will be key to adapting and recovering when future disruption or disaster strikes. And the reason for this conversation? “We’ve just gone through a year’s worth of insanity in our supply chains due to the pandemic,” said Fulton.

Each year, the results of the MHI Annual Industry Report contain some surprises, almost like the running of the Kentucky Derby, where the winner oftentimes is not the horse you expected. This year’s report, Innovation Driven Resilience follows true. While some of the results are typical and much like previous years, there are a few surprises.

Being resilient is almost a given if you are a woman who has achieved success and a leadership position in the supply chain industry. So, who better to ask about achieving resiliency, especially when it comes to personal challenges, but also how they have applied those lessons to organizational resilience factors, as well?

 

After receiving 93 submissions for this year’s awards, eight independent judges completed the initial vetting process. Ten finalists were chosen as the most innovative products in each category - Best New Innovation; Best Innovation of an Existing Product; and Best IT Innovation based on concept, value and impact. The winners were announced today during the keynote hosted by MHI's CEO John Paxton at ProMatDX.

While learning to embrace new technology has always been a challenge, said Moustafa Sharawy, business development at FL-Simulators Inc., virtual reality and gamification training is getting some real attention lately, especially when it comes to dangerous or mundane training. “VR represents the next generation of technology that will affect our daily lives. It is happening now and it is here to stay with us,” said Sharawy during a Friday education session at ProMatDX. 

MHI is no stranger to using artificial intelligence to better tailor its content to your needs. In December 2019, MHI transitioned its weekly newsletter, Newswire, to AI. Each week, the articles contained in your MHI Newswire are selected by the AI program as ones that will be most valuable to you, based on your clicking and reading habits from previous weeks. The more articles you click, the more the program will be able to fine-tune its selections for you, giving you a truly customized reading experience. Want to see what AI has in store for you? Start your journey by signing up at the link below.

Click "Learn More" below to see a summary from the Day 5 video recap.

Digital transformation has been a staple of the past year and Dematic is bringing it to supply chains. Brian Vezza talks about the demand for this digital transformation, where it originated from, and how Dematic helps create customized solutions for smart distribution centers.

Tracy Niehaus from Honeywell Intelligrated fills us in on their new Momentum Warehouse Management System. Seamlessly integrating with the Momentum Warehouse Execution Software, this new WMS enables a single-software approach that eliminates issues and provides a simple user-friendly experience.

As the nation’s largest material handling, logistics and supply chain association, MHI provides guidance, education, business development, networking and solution sourcing for members, their customers and the industry as a whole through programming, events and member communications such as its quarterly magazine, MHI Solutions. 

 
Columns in MHI Solutions are intended to keep readers abreast of news, events and developments in the manufacturing and supply chain industry. Features in the magazine address events and technological advances impacting the overall supply chain, provide solutions for shared challenges, share expert advice geared to manufacturing and supply chain professionals and promote MHI events and its trade shows, MODEX and ProMat. 

 

If you aren't receiving the digital version of MHI Solutions, be sure to sign up here for your free copy!