The manufacturing industry in North America is undergoing its fourth evolution into a high-technology, digitalized, and data-driven industry. This Industry 4.0 period began long before the COVID-19 pandemic affected global society but has been accelerated in response to many of the challenges associated with it. In this report, we examine and explore the current manufacturing industry in North America and the challenges and opportunities it faces as adoption of Industry 4.0 thinking, tools, standards, and processes becomes more widespread.
The manufacturing industry in North America is undergoing its fourth evolution into a high-technology, digitalized, and data-driven industry. This Industry 4.0 period began long before the COVID-19 pandemic affected global society but has been accelerated in response to many of the challenges associated with it. In this report, we examine and explore the current manufacturing industry in North America and the challenges and opportunities it faces as adoption of Industry 4.0 thinking, tools, standards, and processes becomes more widespread.
EV Battery Innovations Conference
Electric Mobility & Sustainable Transportation
January 31, 2024 | 12:00pm - 4:00pm (ET)
Smart Factory Institute at the PIE Innovation Center
2215 Parker Street NE, Cleveland, TN 37311
#SmartFactoryInstitute
About the Event
The Electric Vehicle boom is here and the Southeast US is positioned to lead the way in the EV manufacturing revolution. A forecast suggests that by 2035, more than half of new passenger vehicles sold worldwide will be electric. The EV Battery Innovations Conference will feature professionals from EV infrastructure, battery manufacturers, and OEMs, along with transportation and energy officials, to discuss EV opportunities and how to invest in the workforce to meet the demands of the automotive sector.
EVENT WILL START IN
TICKETS
INDIVIDUAL
Single Ticket
In-Person Attendance
$35
Access to all Sessions
Conference Bag
Lunch
*GROUP RATE: Use code GROUP6 for $70 off total price of 6 tickets.
VIRTUAL
Single Ticket
Online Attendance
$25
Access to all Sessions
Conference Box
Brett C. Smith
Consultant, Automotive Industry & Retired Research Fellow
Formerly of:
The Transition to Electrification:
An Industry in Revolution
Brett Smith joined CAR in 2000 after 12 years at the University of Michigan’s Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT). In his current role, Mr. Smith is responsible for enabling CAR and the organizations researchers to achieve automotive industry thought leadership by collaborating with innovators and strategic thinkers from industry, academia, and government.
During his career, Mr. Smith research has spanned many critical aspects of the automotive industry. He actively researched vehicle and component manufacturing; materials forecasting; product development and analysis; supplier--manufacturer relations; technology development; facility location analysis; product launch strategy and human resource and talent issues. Mr. Smith’s recent research and leadership activities have focused on the challenges and opportunities of implementing innovative technologies and services in the automotive industry.
From 2012 through 2018, Mr. Smith has also served as Co-Director Strategy, CAR Management Briefing Seminars. In that role, he has guided strategic planning for the CAR Management Briefing Seminars and other CAR conference activities. Mr. Smith was the chair of the Business of Plugging In, a Plug in Electric Vehicle conference in Detroit, Michigan (2009-2011). Mr. Smith was also active as a labor educator for 15 years.
He received a B.S. in Economics and an M.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University and spent nearly 35 years studying the most dynamic consumer product and the industry that builds them.
Keynote Presenter
2023 CONFERENCE AGENDA
(Speaker list is being continuously updated.)
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
9:45am
The Transition to Electrification: An Industry in Revolution
The Automotive Industry is undergoing a remarkable and challenging transition to electrified vehicles. Brett will discuss how the changing product may alter the manufacturing and supplier structure in North America during the next several years.
Brett Smith
Consultant, Automotive Industry & Retired Research Fellow
Formerly of:
BREAKOUT SESSION
10:30am
Session A:
Key Challenges Facing Automotive Battery Pack Designers and Obstacles in Creating a U.S. Lithium-Ion Battery Material Supply Chain
This talk will focus on a number of key issues facing lithium-ion battery and materials manufacturing including: New LIB technologies that may enable a next generation of safer and higher energy density lithium-ion batteries; Cell-to-pack and passive propagation resistance considerations for automotive pack designers that may lean towards higher energy density LFP batteries and; Critical supply chain issues affecting the financial and technical viability of battery material manufacturing companies.
Dr. Edward Buiel, Ph. D.
President & CEO, Coulometrics
Session B:
Charging Technology 101
powered by
Not all chargers are alike…Level 1, 2, and 3 charging levels, different charge ports and plugs. Charging technology 101 will help answer your questions on how to "fill up" an EV automobile.
Dr. Nan Chen
Assistant Professor College of Engineering, Tennessee Tech University
SESSION
11:15am
Solving Battery Materials Supply Chain Issues
EV battery demand is expected to quadruple by 2025, increasing the strain on the supply chain. Today, most lithium-ion batteries and their raw materials are sourced from Asia, with a virtually non-existing supply chain in North America. Learn about solutions to this dilemma through advanced battery materials and manufacturing processes.
Malissa Gordon
Vice President for Government Affairs, Piedmont Lithium
PANEL DISCUSSION
12:45pm
EV Boom in the Southeast
Although overall U.S. auto sales increasing just 3% last year, electric vehicle sales in the Southeast jumped 48%. Federal funding expected later this year could help expand charging development in the Southeastern states. Competition among Southeastern states for EV manufacturing investment and jobs is heating up and state policymakers and regulators would be wise to enable the most robust EV market possible. Despite these developments, the Southeast is still catching up with other regions of the country in terms of transportation electrification.
Moderated by: Tom Ballard
Chief Alliance Officer, PYA, P.C.
Robert Ferber, Jr.
Chief Technology Officer, Xos Trucking
Savannah Robertson
Drive Electric TN Director, East TN Clean Fuels Coalition
Sam Wills
Regional Director, Tennessee Department of Economic Community & Development
BREAKOUT SESSION
1:30pm
Session A:
Insights of Your Battery Production Line with AI Based Inspection Solutions
AI based inspection solutions are used to detect defects, anomalies, and other quality issues in products produced or assembled on production lines. AI bases inspection solutions help manufacturers to identify issues more quickly and accurately than traditional human-based inspections, resulting in improved efficiency and productivity.
Ryan Lilly
President, Senswork Inc.
Session B:
Optimized Battery Manufacturing Processes
Manufacturers are challenged to safely and efficiently meet the demands of producing new electric vehicles and components. Retrofitting lines can be costly. Flexible robotic solutions can help manufacturers "do more with less" to meet customer needs. Learn about solutions such as adding a 7th axis to achieve a quick ROI. The size of EV batteries create a challenge in the assembly process. Retrofitting lines can be costly. Adding a 7th axis to enable movement along the length of a linear guide gives a smaller robot the possibility to perform the duties of a robot with a larger arm/reach.
Cade Webster
Specialist, Low Cost Automation, igus
SESSION
2:15pm
EV Workforce Innovation
Similar to many other industries, EV businesses, both for automotive manufacturing and the supply chain, including batteries, are desperate for workers. It is especially crucial in this rapidly changing field, where employees are constantly learning new skills for new technology. Car manufacturers are providing hands-on learning opportunities for new workers as well as upgrading the skills of incumbent workers. Chattanooga State and other TBR institutions will meet industry demands with a new curriculum.
Dr. Lyn Potter
Department Head, Engineering & Information Technology Division, Chattanooga State
Albert Curtis
Professor, Engineering & Information Technology Division, Chattanooga State
PANEL DISCUSSION
2:45pm
Building Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
A charging infrastructure is key to reaching the goal of half of all new vehicles sold being EV or plug in hybrids by 2030. The federal infrastructure package includes $7.5 billion to build a national network of charging stations. But many questions remain on how this will be implemented. Experts will discuss charging options, standards, and the impact to transportation.
Moderated by: Rick Youngblood
President, Tennessee Automotive Manufacturers Association
Drew Frye
Manager Commercial Energy, Tennessee Valley Authority
Andrea Noel
Programs Supervisor, TN Department of Transportation
Mark Finlay
Senior Energy Analyst, TN Department of Environment & Conservation
CLOSING
3:30pm
Closing Remarks
Denise Rice
President & CEO, Peak Performance Inc., Operators of the Smart Factory Institute