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MiMfg Magazine May 2017
“
The Forum’s manufacturing panel shared strategies to identify when your business
could be a target and what to do to reduce the risk of losing everything.
training and whether a dedicated security
team is the right step to protect your future.
How Hackable Are You?
The spread of network-connected
devices has greatly impacted the way we
live, the services we use and how products
are manufactured. While manufacturers
see the benefits of connecting these
devices to collect metrics and data,
organizations may not understand the
risks involved. Experts from Merit
Network touched on how hackers can
and do eavesdrop on unprotected
corporate networks, providing Forum
attendees with valuable ways to protect
staff and equipment — even against the
threat you never see coming.
Sustaining a Culture of
Innovation
Innovation is in the DNA of
manufacturing and is the mother of
necessity for competitiveness. Yet, not
every manufacturer has learned how to
develop or embrace a culture of innovation.
Mike Walton, a global leader with
experience at Microsoft and Google,
shared how manufacturers can learn to
link culture and innovation together to
ensure long-term success.
“
Walton delved into audience questions
on the future of Industry 4.0, why failing
fast can be the best thing to ensure your
future success, and the tools available to
manufacturers to predict cyber attacks
instead of waiting to react to them.
The MFG Forum was
invaluable to me and my
team. The keynote and
discussion panels were
highly informative, lively,
and helped motivate me to
make positive changes in
my organization.
”
— Eric Bowers
Butterball Farms Inc.
Audience Engagement
An interactive audience
experience is part of every
MMA event and the
Forum offered attendees
the chance to speak
directly with event
speakers during multiple
networking breaks and
participate in Q&A
sessions using interactive
technology available on
their smartphones.
The Forum also gave
attendees opportunities
to share what they loved
about manufacturing
through MMA’s
continuing “I Heart
MFG” campaign (see
page 9) and a post-event
networking reception
featuring Michigan’s own
Founders Brewing Company.
The MMA provided yet another top-notch collaborative
and informative event at the 2017 MFG Forum. The
caliber of presenters and robust discussion resulted
in a remarkably valuable experience.
— Rebecca Dorian
Lomar Machine
”
Forum attendees learned from Microsoft’s Mike
Walton why sustaining a culture of innovation
isn’t impossible and how failures lead to success.