Now that you've figured out the lay of the land, it is time to explore! Leave your comfort zone behind and venture out to some of these sessions. You might be surprised at what you learn, who you meet and how to look at situations from different angles. Some of the key events taking place today are: the Keynote this morning on "Industry 4.0, How intelligent machines are transforming supply chains;" an education session on the updated U.S. Roadmap for Material Handling & Logistics; an afternoon session on "Women in the Supply Chain Industry Forum" and, this evening, an MHI Young Professionals Networking Event. Plus, there will be nine seminars in the theater and 36 education seminars!

The fourth industrial revolution is upon us: machines infused with intelligence. This transformation will change how manufacturing and supply chains work today. During this keynote, Markus Lorenz will explore the many ways this revolution will impact our industry, the economy and what kinds of new jobs it will create. All keynotes are held in Room S100 on Level 1 of McCormick Place South

If seeing is believing, then there will be a lot of truth being shared during the course of ProMat. Each day, a video crew will be interviewing keynotes, talking to exhibitors, getting feedback from attendees and sharing their view of the action at ProMat. The videos will be emailed out daily or you can access this link to catch up on what you missed or to see the latest clips.

The future is all about change, and this point was driven home during the Keynote address Monday morning moderated by Andrew Winston, a sustainability expert and author of Green to Gold. There are "very deep changes happening," he said, and they are affecting how we come together as people and live out our lives. This point was elaborated on and illustrated during Winston’s introduction to "Building Sustainability for Competitive Advantage: Lessons learned from supply chain leaders" and the ensuing panel discussion with Tamara Barker, Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President of Environmental Affairs, UPS; Randolph L. Bradley, Technical Fellow, Supply Chain Management, The Boeing Company; and Rick Bingle, Vice President of Supply Chain, REI.

From its start in 1953, to where they are headed in the future, automated guided vehicles (AGVs) were the sole topic of discussion during Monday-morning session, "AGVS of MHI Presents: Breaking Down the Barriers: A New Generation of AGVs" led by Brian Keiger, Chief Sales Officer, Grenzeback Corp., and Sarah Carlson, VP of Marketing & Business Development, AutoGuide AGV.

This is your opportunity to have access to this new report on trends and technologies that are transforming supply chains. Scott Sopher, the principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP's supply chain practice will join George W. Prest, CEO of MHI, in presenting the findings. Sopher and Prest also will moderate a panel of manufacturing and supply chain leaders to discuss the real-world significance of the report's findings.

MHI is pretty "pumped" to have comedian Dana Carvey headlining MHI Industry Night tonight. Also during Industry Night, the 2017 MHI Innovation Awards will be given to ProMat exhibitors in three categories: Best New Innovation, Best IT Innovation and Best Innovation of an Existing Product.
Tickets for MHI Industry Night are $50, and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Material Handling Education Foundation, Inc. Plus, the door prize is a $30,000 trip of a lifetime. Online ticket sales are closed, but you still may purchase tickets at the registration desk.

The following events are planned for today at the Sustainable Facility Solutions Theater in the North Hall:
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM: Automation Trends in Reusable Packaging
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Unlocking One-Touch Omni-Channel Distribution
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Selecting the Right Reusable Bulk Packaging Solution For Your Supply Chain
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Internet of Things (IoT) Solutions for Asset Management
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Investing in Solar Energy
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Sustainability Trends Within Supply Chain Management

On today’s schedule you’ll find four seminars taking place throughout the day from "Scanners Taking Flight: The World of Warehouse Sensing Is changing" to "Town Hall Discussion: Art of the Possible, UAS in the Supply Chain Industry." The Autonomous Vehicle Solution Center is new to ProMat this year and is featuring an array of autonomous systems including automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS), automatic guided vehicles (AGVs), self-driving vehicles (SDVs), delivery drones and automated cranes. Located in the Autonomous Vehicle Solutions Theater in the North Hall

MHI has partnered with MHEDA (Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association) and AWESOME (Achieving Women’s Excellence in Supply Chain Operations, Management and Education) to bring an afternoon of discussion, education and networking for women in our industry at ProMat. Join your peers for this interactive event to address common issues faced by women in the supply chain force today.

Registration for Women in the Supply Chain Industry begins at 12:00 PM with a lunch and welcome from 12:30-1:30 PM. A panel on "How to Influence Your Company and the Industry" will begin at 1:30 PM, and you’ll hear from Judy Hoberman, author, Selling in a Skirt, at 2:30 PM about what men and women have in common when it comes to leadership. Located in Room S102BC. Purchase Tickets

Speaker David DeLong, president of Smart Workforce Strategies, will explain why industry executives can no longer be complacent when it comes to recruiting, developing and retaining high potential employees and future leaders. His discussion, "Closing the Skills Gap: Innovative Talent Solutions for a Changing Workforce," will be 3:45 PM to 4:30 PM on Tuesday.Article courtesy of Modern Materials Handling

This year there are 131 educational seminars at ProMat 2017. That’s a lot of seminars – and a lot of leaning. Our most popular times are 10:30-11:15 AM, 11:15-Noon, and 12:00-12:45 PM, a good, solid block in the morning. You’ll want to visit the website and check out all the seminars at that time so that your team can plan to divide and conquer. Make the most of your ProMat!

ProMat is in Chicago, home of... well, lots of stuff. It’s a big city, and it's pretty cool.

While you're in Chicago for ProMat 2017, you’re going to need to meet some basic human necessities. Like food. Here are some ideas and options if you're out on the town. 

If you're looking for a place while on the show floor, the ProMat Bistro is the most convenient and well-balanced lunch option located just off the show floor.

 

>> 8:45 AM –  9:45 AM: Keynote, "Industry 4.0- How intelligent machines are transforming supply chains"
>> 10:00 AM –  5:00 PM: Show Floor Hours
>> 10:30 AM – 4:30 PM:  Education Seminars
>> 10:45 AM – 3:30 PM: Autonomous Vehicle Solutions Theater
>> 10:15 AM – 4:00 PM: Sustainable Facility Solutions Theater
>> 5:00 – 6:30 PM:  MHI Young Professionals Networking Event

 

  

Here is a look at some of the key events taking place tomorrow. More details to follow or check them out here. 

8:45 – 9:45 AM: Keynote, "Preview of MHI 2017 Annual Industry Report"

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Show Floor Hours

10:30 AM – 4:30 PM:  Education Seminars

10:45 – 11:30 AM: Autonomous Vehicle Solutions Theater

1:00 – 2:00 PM: Keynote, "The Power of Magic: Know your customer and where they are going"

4:30 – 7:00 PM:  MHI Industry Night with Dana Carvey

Follow along and see what we’re up to at ProMat by following us at @Poweredbymhi for the latest show information, photos, and specials, and use #ProMatShow as your hashtag!

Located in the middle of the ProMat 2017 show floor, The Hub is an interactive resource center that offers multiple informational and networking opportunities for ProMat visitors. Stop by, plug in, catch up with colleagues at the Social Networking Lounge and Wireless Internet Center, learn more about MODEX 2018, and about the opportunities we offer to manufacturing and supply chain professionals.  

Download the ProMat 2017 mobile app – promatshow.com/app – on your Apple iPhone®, iPod, iPad®, or Android® smartphone. This is a helpful tool for your time at the show. It includes exhibitor listings, the schedule, a floor map, and even a shuttle bus schedule – all at the touch of a button. You can even tweet using the show hashtag (#ProMatShow) and reserve a table at the Bistro with a tap and hold. Also, try the Notes option when at a session. This option is getting rave reviews from attendees!

The latest issue of MHI Solutions is here! Published quarterly, MHI Solutions offers in-depth articles specifically addressing the material handling industry and the accomplishment and challenges experienced by those involved in it. This issue focuses on hiring and retaining a skilled workforce, from the technologies driving changing skillsets, to industry–academia collaboration, to how to adapt to a new, more tech-savvy generation of supply chain workers.

Join the MHI Young Professionals Network and PMMI’s Emerging Leaders Network at our Young Professionals Meet & Greet networking reception April 4th, 5:00 – 6:30PM. Meet other young professionals in the material handling, supply chain & packaging industries including myself! Hope to see you there! Located in Room S102D.

ProMat is in the news, and securing attention from all types of media. Here are some articles from Monday's events.