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Made Local

Made Local Event Poster

From Manual to Automated

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.

Event Details

  • Date: April 3, 2025 | 4pm-6pm
  • Location: 67 Chad ln. Williston, VT

Why Attend Made Local?

Agenda At A Glance

Part 1: Why Automate?

The conversation will begin with exploring the foundational “why” behind automation. We’ll highlight core benefits, motivations, and strategic goals.

Part 2: Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them

From there, we’ll dive into common challenges manufacturers face when adopting automation and real strategies to avoid or overcome them.

Part 3: Practical Advice for Automation

Finally, you’ll leave with actionable advice to successfully optimize your own operations.

Chris Coulter, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Advisor at VMEC

A problem solver by nature, Chris has been helping product development and manufacturing companies overcome challenges throughout his career. He has been instrumental in developing new products and implementing manufacturing technology in regulated industries including defense, medical devices and ISO / FDA environments.

Chris joined VMEC to assist companies with advanced manufacturing technologies and automation. He works as the manufacturing liaison to the Vermont Manufacturing Collaborative and Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Colin Riggs, CEO at Rigorous Technology

Colin is the CEO and Founder of Rigorous, a Vermont-based robotics company dedicated to making industrial automation more accessible to small and medium-sized businesses.

Colin brings extensive expertise in robotics integration, working closely with local manufacturers to implement collaborative automation solutions that boost efficiency and productivity. Rigorous leverages modern software to provide flexible, reliable systems that operators love to use.

Garth Blocher, Technical Program Manager, R&D at Revision Military

Garth, a research engineer at Revision, shares his firsthand experience designing and implementing cutting-edge automation strategies in a high-precision manufacturing environment.

Revision isn’t just innovating protective eyewear for military and law enforcement—they’re pioneering advanced manufacturing processes right here in Vermont.

Garth will take us behind the scenes of Revision’s automation journey, offering valuable lessons for manufacturers looking to improve efficiency, scale production, and future-proof their operations.