Upcoming Events
Advanced Manufacturing Summit 2026
The Advanced Manufacturing Summit is where manufacturing leaders come to unlock what’s next. In one powerful day, attendees gain practical strategies to accelerate innovation, adopt transformative technologies, and implement modern manufacturing practices that drive measurable results. Designed for decision-makers who want to stay competitive and future-ready, the summit delivers actionable insights, peer-to-peer learning, and real-world solutions that cannot be found anywhere else in the Prairies. This is more than a conference, it is a catalyst for growth, operational excellence, and long-term success. If you are ready to lead, adapt faster, and outperform the competition, the Advanced Manufacturing Summit is where it begins.
Attendees will gain practical insights into how manufacturing excellence, powered by innovation, technology adoption, and a culture of continuous improvement – drives sustainable growth and creates measurable value for employees, customers, and stakeholders. The conference is designed to deliver actionable strategies, real-world examples, and tools that participants can apply directly within their own organizations.
As the newest edition of this premier Prairie summit, this first-of-its-kind regional gathering sets a new benchmark for manufacturing excellence across the Prairies. Throughout the day, participants will have the exclusive opportunity to design their own personalized learning journey – selecting from multiple concurrent sessions and immersive experiences-making this debut event a must-attend experience for industry leaders eager to be part of something new, impactful, and region-defining.
Student Registrations
Student registrations accepted via email. Find our team contact details below.
Contact Our Team For More Information
If you have any questions or inquiries, please contact:
Sam Colby
Manager, Events and Membership, Prairies
(780) 297-2582
samuel.colby@cme-mec.ca
Carlos Artieda
Senior Events, Training & Partnerships Coordinator, Prairies
(431) 371-7720
Email: carlos.artieda@cme-mec.ca
Thank you to our Sponsors
Women In Manufacturing Sponsor
Presenting Sponsor
Innovation, Technology & Productivity Sponsor
Table Sponsor
Economic Growth Sponsor
Intelligent Operations Tour Sponsor
Printing Sponsor
About our Sponsors
CENOVUS ENERGY
We operate in Canada, the United States and the Asia Pacific region. Our operations include oil sands projects in northern Alberta, thermal and conventional crude oil and natural gas projects across Western Canada, crude oil production offshore Newfoundland and Labrador and natural gas and liquids production offshore China and Indonesia. Cenovus’s downstream operations include upgrading, refining and marketing operations in Canada and the United States
NTWIST
From data to decision, seamlessly. Unlock hidden value by turning raw industrial data into instant and confident action without changing your tech stack.
Mode40
From developing a technology strategy and roadmap to implementing all phases of transformation. Our holistic approach captures data seamlessly from the shop floor to the C-Suite and back, ensuring comprehensive integration and long-term success. This industry-specific focus and expertise in consulting services have strengthened our market position and driven sustained growth.
GHY INTERNATIONAL
GHY prioritizes maintaining excellent compliance with Customs to prevent costly penalties, ensuring clients’ reporting systems are secure. We invest in skilled staff for superior client service, boasting a dedicated team and experienced Client Care Managers. Our integrity-based approach emphasizes 24/7 support, proactive compliance, and technology-driven solutions for streamlined trade activities.
METRIE
With nearly 100 years of experience, we offer one of North America’s largest assortments. Metrie operates 7 facilities in Canada and the U.S., producing premium millwork in various profiles and pre-finished options.
Our MDF mills produce top-quality moldings and boards, while other facilities source Douglas Fir and Pacific Coast Hemlock for fine moldings and door jambs. Our pre-finished wood products are ready to be installed for professional results. With over 5000 profiles and producing over 400 million lineal feet annually, we provide trusted quality millwork.
In collaboration with
Calgary Exhibition
Edmonton Exhibition
Saskatoon Exhibition
Panel Discussion – Women in Manufacturing: Operational and People-Centric Innovation
Sponsored by Cenovus Energy, this featured panel, featuring Taban Sabih and Patricia Hill from Cenovus Energy and Abigail Watt from Engineered Air, will explore how women leaders are driving both operational excellence and people-centered innovation in the manufacturing sector. The discussion will highlight diverse perspectives, leadership approaches, and strategies that foster inclusive growth and sustainable performance. Taban and Abigail will present in Calgary. Patricia will present in Saskatoon.
Patricia Hill |
Taban Sabih |
Abigail Watt |
Tracy Gromniski from mode40 and Brenda Suru, Dean of the Faculty of Technology and Skilled Trades at Saskatchewan Polytechnic, will explore the women leadership in operational excellence and people-centered innovation. Tracy will present in Calgary, Saskatoon, and Edmonton. Brenda will present in Saskatoon.
Tracy Gromniski |
Brenda Suru |
Keynote Presentation
Attendees will hear from industry leaders and experts in Lean, innovation, and technology adoption on leadership, operational excellence, and the future of manufacturing. Eli Latak, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt | Lean + TOC Consultant | Empowering Teams to Increase Throughput, Reduce Operating Costs & Improve Flow, will present Operation Excellence.
Eli Latak will present in Calgary, March 19, Saskatoon, March 31, and Edmonton, May 20. |
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Keynote Presentation
Attendees will hear from industry leaders and experts in Lean, innovation, and technology adoption on leadership, operational excellence, and the future of manufacturing. Francisco Villarroel, ACQBuilt Inc, will present Strategies to Leverage Smart Manufacturing Systems, sharing Alberta’s perspective on advanced, automated facilities and driving performance through digital integration.
Francisco Villarroel will present in Calgary, March 19, and Edmonton, May 20. |
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Practitioner-to-Practitioner Breakout Sessions
The summit centers on real-world knowledge sharing, featuring four interactive practitioner-led sessions.
Lean Management and New Technology Integration
This session explores how Lean Management practices can be strategically applied to ensure manufacturing operations are prepared to successfully integrate new technologies. Rather than layering automation onto unstable processes, participants will learn how to use Lean tools such as PDCA, visual performance scorecards, waste identification and Kaizen to strengthen process stability, align frontline teams, and build true change readiness. Designed for manufacturers navigating technology adoption, this session provides a practical framework to assess operational maturity, reduce implementation risk, and maximize return on investment while improving throughput, cost performance, and operational effectiveness.
Jody Strom, Nimble Science, with 25+ years leading operations in food & beverage, modular construction, and medical devices, will discuss how Lean Management and strategic technology drive operational excellence and sustainable growth. Jody will present in Calgary.
Grant Lindemulder, MP Supplies Inc, contributes over a decade of field-tested expertise spanning large-scale civil infrastructure and specialized manufacturing. His session will focus on practical approaches to Lean Management and the integration of emerging technologies to enhance efficiency, productivity, and competitive advantage. Grant will present in Saskatoon and Edmonton.
Human Collaboration and Technology Adoption
In today’s digital era, one of the greatest challenges organizations faces is fostering effective human and team collaboration to fully realize the benefits of technology adoption. Human capital remains central to the successful implementation of smart manufacturing systems and advanced technologies. Around the world, numerous technology initiatives have fallen short due to limited employee engagement and collaboration. This session will explore proven strategies and best practices for managing technology integration and workforce engagement hand in hand, ensuring people and technology advance together.
Amy Ford, Zen-living, is a Digital & Operational Transformation Leader specializing in scalable systems, cross-functional leadership, and business transformation. She will discuss how organizations can blend technology adoption with human collaboration to achieve sustainable operational excellence. Amy will present in Calgary and Edmonton. Amy will present in Calgary and Edmonton.
Hanna Bauer, Heartnomics, helps leaders eliminate burnout and misalignment to build resilient, high-performing cultures. Drawing on deep executive experience and her journey as a heart-disease survivor, she blends human-centered leadership with operational excellence to create lasting impact. Hanna will present in Saskatoon.
From Pilot to Plant: How to Roll Out Industrial AI in Real Operations
Most manufacturers are held back by fragmented production data. Dashboards help, but data still lives in silos, forcing teams to reconcile what’s true across systems and spreadsheets. Trusted, connected, contextualized data is what makes AI actionable. In this session, mode40 will deliver a live demo showing how machine, operator, maintenance, and quality data come together in a real-time operating view, surfacing downtime drivers and constraints earlier to improve output and reduce delays.
Cameron Bergen is the founder and CEO of mode40 ltd., where he leads the team behind MAST, the world’s first agentic-AI Manufacturing Execution System (MES) platform built to turn real-time production data into measurable profit on the shop floor. With more than three decades dedicated to the agri-food sector, his career began hands-on in the field before advancing into senior roles at one of Canada’s largest food companies. There, he helped design a $150M processing facility that became central to the company’s growth into a leading exporter and ultimately supported a landmark $1B acquisition.
Over his career, Cameron has helped pioneer practical methods now used across North America to modernize manufacturing through AI, analytics, and Industry 4.0 execution systems. He is known for his grounded, common-sense approach with customers and partners. His standard is simple: the solution must adapt how plants truly operate, and the data must prove its worth.
This breakout session will be led by Cameron, exploring how to drive collaborative innovation in AI and smart manufacturing. Cameron will present in Calgary, Saskatoon, and Edmonton.
Beyond Features: How to Choose an ERP That Drives Business Growth
Selecting an ERP system—whether for the first time or as an upgrade—requires striking the right balance between functionality and alignment with a company’s business and operational model. Beyond system features, there are critical underlying factors that influence long-term success. This session will feature practitioners discussing the essential preparation steps organizations should take to ensure that their ERP investment drives business growth, improves efficiency, and enhances overall operational productivity.
Michael Saroka, Goldray Industries has seen ERP projects succeed and fail – on the factory floor and behind the scenes. In Beyond Features: How to Choose an ERP That Drives Business Growth, he shares practical strategies and lessons that help organizations select ERP systems that truly drive growth. Michael will present in Saskatoon and Edmonton.
Donglin Xie, Founder and Managing Director of FH Munition Inc., has led the growth of a Canadian manufacturing business where operations, production, quality systems, and process discipline are critical to scaling successfully. In Beyond Features: How to Choose an ERP That Drives Business Growth, he shares a practical manufacturer’s perspective on how to evaluate ERP systems beyond feature lists, focusing on decision-making, execution, and long-term business growth. Donglin will present in Calgary.
Plant Tours
Kick off the morning with tours of the state-of-the-art facilities at SAIT and NAIT, then continue the journey in the afternoon at ACQBuilt Inc. See firsthand how advanced technologies, innovative thinking, and modern operational practices are driving results across Prairie manufacturing.
Designed to spark collaboration and modernization, the Advanced Manufacturing Summit empowers manufacturers to embrace smart practices, strengthen their teams, and lead with confidence in a rapidly evolving industry.
Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and experience how innovation and engaged leadership are shaping the future of manufacturing.
CIRAMM TOUR
The Centre for Innovation and Research in Advanced Manufacturing and Materials (CIRAMM) at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) drives innovation by bringing together transdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art facilities in advanced materials, digital manufacturing technologies, and artificial intelligence. CIRAMM is one of 13 designated NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) centres in Canada and is also home to the Alternative Construction Technologies (ACT) Hub.
CIRAMM is SAIT’s newest research centre, launched in 2020, and is led by Dr. Hamid Rajani, Research Chair. CIRAMM includes five integrated labs that are well positioned to provide industry agnostic applied research responding to all points of the innovation cycle, from design and simulation to prototyping and testing. The labs reflect $20M+ invested in capabilities unique across Western Canada:
- Advanced Manufacturing Lab
- Robotics and Automation Lab
- Advanced Materials Characterization Lab
- Intelligent Design and Additive Manufacturing Lab
- Novel Materials Lab
Agenda
| 7:30 AM | Registration and Breakfast | ||
| 8:00 AM | Opening Remarks | ||
| 8:10 AM | Keynote Speech | ||
| 9:00 AM | Women in Manufacturing: Operational and People-Centric Innovation | ||
| 10:00 AM | Networking Over Coffee | ||
| 10:15 AM | Facility Plant Tours: SAIT & NAIT
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| 11:30 AM | Keynote Speech | ||
| 12:00 PM | Lunch | ||
| 1:00 PM | Facility Plant Tours
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| 3:30 PM | Networking Over Coffee | ||
| 4:00 PM | Closing Remarks |
Sponsorship
sponsorship opportunities
Unlock Exclusive Sponsorship Opportunities: Connect, Engage, and Lead at the 2025 CME Lean Transformation Conference!
For more information, please reach out to
Sam Colby Manager, Events and Membership, Prairies | Mobile: (780) 297-2582 | Email: samuel.colby@cme-mec.ca
Carlos Artieda, Senior Events, Training & Partnerships Coordinator, Prairies | Mobile: (431) 371-7720 | Email: carlos.artieda@cme-mec.ca
Speaker Opportunity – For Manufacturers and Service Companies
Become a Speaker: Submit Your Bio & Topic
For more information, please reach out to
Sam Colby Manager, Events and Membership, Prairies | Mobile: (780) 297-2582 | Email: samuel.colby@cme-mec.ca
Carlos Artieda, Senior Events, Training & Partnerships Coordinator, Prairies | Mobile: (431) 371-7720 | Email: carlos.artieda@cme-mec.ca
Contact us for more information - Exhibitors
Sam Colby Manager, Events and Membership, Prairies | Mobile: (780) 297-2582 | Email: samuel.colby@cme-mec.ca
Carlos Artieda, Senior Events, Training & Partnerships Coordinator, Prairies | Mobile: (431) 371-7720 | Email: carlos.artieda@cme-mec.ca