Building an Agile, Resilient and Connected Workforce

October 13 - 15, 2026 | Westin North Shore, Chicago IL

📅 October 13, 2026 (Deep Dive Workshop Day & Site Tour)
📅October 14-15, 2026 (Main Conference)

Manufacturers are operating in a moment of intense pressure and rapid change, as economic volatility, workforce shortages, and rising costs collide with accelerating advances in digital technology. Leaders are being pushed to modernize aging systems, strengthen operational resilience, and empower their workforce with tools that improve safety, productivity, and agility. Connected worker strategies are now essential, helping organizations unlock real-time insights, standardize processes, and bridge the gap between people and technology.

The Connected Worker: Manufacturing Summit is built for leaders who own or influence Connected Worker programs and frontline‑focused digital transformation. It is designed for executives and practitioners across Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, IT/OT, and Digital Manufacturing who are responsible for digitizing frontline workflows, deploying connected worker platforms, and enabling safer, more productive, and more autonomous plant-floor operations.

Whether you are rolling out digital work instructions, scaling AI‑guided support tools, modernizing MES and work execution systems, or building the infrastructure and change management required for enterprise‑wide adoption, you'll be joined by the people driving the next generation of connected, data‑enabled manufacturing workforces, at The Connected Worker: Manufacturing Summit.

2026 Manufacturing Expert Speakers Include:

Join us and learn how to:

Empower the Frontline with AI‑Driven, Connected Worker Technologies

Discover intelligent digital tools, AI‑guided workflows, mobile instructions, real‑time support, and computer‑vision‑enabled safety, that will elevate performance, reduce errors, and increase autonomy across the plant floor.

Accelerate the Shift to Smart, Integrated Manufacturing

Learn how to create seamless, end‑to‑end connectivity by integrating Connected Worker platforms with MES, CMMS, OT systems, and automation technologies to improve visibility, agility, and operational resilience.

Elevate Data‑Driven Decision Making Across the Plant

Discover how manufacturers are using unified OT/IT data, real‑time analytics, and predictive insights to enhance quality, reduce downtime, and enable faster frontline and supervisory decision‑making.​​​​

Deliver Quick Wins That Demonstrate ROI and Unlock Enterprise Investment

Return to the office and show measurable, early impact through targeted digital initiatives that improve productivity, accelerate training, strengthen adoption, and build the financial case for long‑term Connected Worker scaling.

 Drive Sustainable Change and Frontline Adoption

Learn to overcome resistance, tribal knowledge, and “extra‑work” perceptions by using proven change‑management models that increase usage, strengthen data quality, and enable scalable Connected Worker adoption.

What is holding Manufacturing back from Realizing the Promise of AI

Learn to build clear governance, secure technical pathways, and discover practical frontline use cases for Agentic AI, computer vision, and LLMs to ensure safe, trusted, and high‑value AI deployment across industrial operations.

What our attendees say: 

Manufacturing Industries Attending Include:

Automotive

Industrial Equipment

Consumer Goods

Food & Beverage

Chemicals

Electronics & Semiconductors

Building Materials

Paper & Packaging

Thanks to our Industry Partners

Sponsorship Opportunities

"Two of the most successful pilots that we are running right now is because we were introduced to those customers at this event"

Our attendees are looking for solutions to help them develop the next frontier of digital manufacturing by empowering workers with technologies that close the skills gap, build supply chain resilience, improve plant efficiency, and reduce costs. Hear why leading connected worker technology providers join the event each year to forge connections and build their reputation as a market -leader. Our team will help you customize a sponsorship package that best aligns with your target prospects and sales and marketing objectives. Learn more here.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Read the Blog

Discover interviews, tips, tricks, and exclusive industry insights on The Connected Worker: Manufacturing Blog

View Event Speakers

See who is taking the stage to share lessons learned and practical advice to transform the future of manufacturing!

Sponsorship Opportunities

Can you help the manufacturing industry transform their frontline operations and build a connected workforce?