Breaking Down Barriers to Manufacturing Automation
Manufacturing in Vermont can be tough. Automation can be a valuable tool for overcoming the challenges of workforce shortages and rising costs. But figuring out where to begin and how to maximize your investment can feel daunting.
At Rigorous, we talk with manufacturers every day about these challenges. In conversations with VMEC, we recognized the need for a space where manufacturers can have open, educational discussions about automation without the pressure of selling anything.
That’s why we are hosting an interactive seminar designed to give you clear, practical advice that manufacturers need.
How do manufacturers transition from manual processes without unnecessary risk, cost, or complexity? That’s exactly what we’ll be addressing at Made Local: From Manual to Automated, an educational discussion designed for plant managers, operations leaders, and process engineers.
Event Overview
📅 Date: April 3, 2025 | 4pm-6pm
📍 Location: 67 Chad ln. Williston, VT
🎤 Speakers: Garth Blocher (Revision) and Chris Coulter (VMEC)
This event will bring together industry experts and manufacturers who have successfully navigated automation adoption. Expect real-world insights, candid discussions, and actionable strategies to help you evaluate, implement, and optimize automation in your facility.
What You’ll Learn
- Assessing Readiness: How to determine if automation is right for your operation and where to start.
- Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them: From workforce concerns to technical hurdles, learn what to expect.
- Real-World Success Stories: Hear firsthand how manufacturers have implemented automation successfully—and the lessons they learned along the way.
- Practical Next Steps: How to make a plan that fits your budget, workforce, and production goals.
Why Should I Attend?
Cross-functional opinions.
Automation conversations shouldn’t always be confined to vendor-customer relationships.
Our panelists come from distinctly different roles in manufacturing—from operations and consulting to robotics integration. This diversity provides different opinions and useful insights. You will leave with a complete view of automation’s potential and challenges.
Real talk.
You’ll hear directly from people who’ve successfully implemented robotics in their operations. But we will also talk openly about the mistakes they made, the challenges they faced, and the important lessons they learned.
Interactive discussion.
This isn’t another standard presentation, this event is all about dialogue. Our small-group format encourages you to bring specific questions, concerns, and challenges directly to our panelists. Engage with your manufacturing peers in a vendor-neutral environment, sharing experiences and finding collaborative solutions to shared issues.
Practical guidance.
Theory is great, but practical advice is better. Our panelists will share practical tips you can use right away in your manufacturing operations. This is true whether you are just starting with automation or want to improve your current setup.