6 Innovators You Must See At Pacific Design & Manufacturing 2020

Experts from major technology companies, federal agencies, and top universities are all gathering at Pacific Design & Manufacturing 2020 in Anaheim to highlight and discuss the latest innovations impacting manufacturing across all sectors. From the growing influence of AI, to the latest advancements in 3D printing, to the rapid changes and advancements coming to the aerospace and defense industries, we've rounded up some of the most innovative speakers and sessions that are not to be missed at the show in February.

3D Printing Is Disrupting Aerospace

Melissa Orme, Vice President Additive Manufacturing at Boeing, will be discussing the impact additive manufacturing has had on the aerospace sector. Orme says additive manufacturing offers a number of benefits to aerospace including: part consolidation, on-demand manufacturing, faster time to market, decreased downtime, and light-weighting.Orme was an early pioneer in the field of metallic 3D printing and holds 15 patents in the field. She'll be guiding attendees through strategies in implementing additive manufacturing in aerospace and sharing case studies.

Does Generation Z Care About Manufacturing?

How can the manufacturing sector do more to engage those born from the mid-90s to the early 2000s? Keith Barr, President & CEO at Leading2Lean LLC, believes Gen Z is the perfect fit for the new world of smart factories and Industry 4.0. A 20-year US Air Force veteran who has enjoyed a long career as a leader in the manufacturing technology sector, Barr will be discussing the human equation that manufacturers often ignore and the new techniques that will help attract, train, and retain a new generation of quality workers.

Where Are AI's Ethics?

As artificial intelligence continues to proliferate, so have concerns over our privacy and security. Should we trust technologies like facial recognition? Are we putting too much trust in AI already? Jerry Condra, Senior Technical Account Manager at Microsoft, will be joining a panel discussion on just how far is too far when it comes to AI and what can be done to safeguard our rights in an increasingly AI-driven world. Condra previously served as a technical consultant for Hewlett-Packard and has more than 20 years of experience supporting customers with their technical and software services, as well as leading teams.

Artificial Intelligence Meets Additive Manufacturing

AI has touched nearly every industry, and additive manufacturing is no exception. Dr. Satyandra Kumar Gupta, Smith International Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science/Director, Center for Advanced Manufacturing at University of Southern California, will be discussing how AI is improving the speed and efficiency of additive manufacturing. But there are also downsides to implementing AI with AM, most notably cost and availability. Gupta will also discuss a new challenge companies are taking on – training robots to independently oversee and optimize 3D printing of complex parts.

How Safe Is Your 3D Printer?

Additive manufacturing has its benefits, but it also comes with its own health and safety considerations. Laura Hodson, Deputy Branch Chief - Emerging Technologies at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, will be revealing the safety hazards and potential long-term health risks that additive manufacturing poses to workers. Hodson is a Certified Industrial Hygienist and a Fellow of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and will also discuss industry best practices for working with additive manufacturing equipment.

How Do You Build A Flying Autonomous Vehicle?

Gaurav Bansal, Principal Engineer at Airbus A^3 (ACubed) Labs, is currently leading Airbus' initiative to create autonomous flying vehicles. Bansal is an expert in vehicular communications who has made pioneering contributions in Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC), congestion control, and in innovative use-cases to leverage connectivity in vehicles. He will be part of panel discussing the latest design and manufacturing challenges facing the aerospace and defense industries, and how engineers are working to find new solutions to them.