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*New* Smart Manufacturing Automation Essentials | Winter 2027
Event Date
January 13, 2027
Event Time
8:00 AM
Event Location
Manufacturers Resource Center, 7200A Windsor Dr, Allentown, PA, 18106
The best automation solutions are the ones built around your team to improve job satisfaction.
This is a half-day workshop where participants are guided through the process of evaluating opportunities to improve operations through the practical application of automation. The approach of this class puts people first; the focus is on how to complement the team you already have in place, making their work easier, safer, and more consistent.
Labor shortages are pushing manufacturers to do more with less. This workshop reframes that challenge around doing more with what you have. Automation, when applied thoughtfully, doesn’t shrink a workforce. It strengthens one, by taking on the tasks that are repetitive, physically demanding, or error-prone and freeing your people to focus on solving more problems.
Classroom instruction is paired with technology in the Smart Manufacturing Resource Center, where participants will be able to interact with practical solutions to challenges most manufacturers are facing right now. Vision systems, collaborative robots, pick-to-light, PLCs, and 3D printing are all running and available to explore, not as a showcase, but as a spark. The goal is that the next time participants are standing in front of a problem on their floor, they have a broader set of solutions to draw from.
Participants also work through two practical tools: the Automation Opportunity Scorecard for evaluating whether a process is ready for automation, and the Automation ROI Calculator for building a financial case grounded in real numbers from their own operation.
Course Highlights
- People first approach to Automation
- Scoring and prioritizing opportunities that are candidates for automation
- Learning how to calculate Return on Investment (ROI)
- Interaction with working automation systems applicable to most manufacturers
Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for Operations/Production Managers and Supervisors, Maintenance Managers and Technicians, Process, Manufacturing, and Automation Engineers, and Small Business Owners.
Questions? Contact Nicole Pierce at (484) 655-4873 or nicole.pierce@mrcpa.org.
Instructor
Shawn Furman | MRC Director, Automation and Manufacturing Technology Strategy
Shawn Furman helps manufacturers navigate the complexity of modern operations, guiding them toward smarter, more efficient performance through automation, robotics, digital transformation, and IT integration. His work focuses on delivering measurable improvements in quality, productivity, and innovation.
With 20 years of leadership in Electrical and Automation Engineering, Shawn brings a strong blend of technical expertise and practical experience. He has led engineering and maintenance teams across well-known manufacturing organizations and understands what it takes to run high-performing facilities.
Before joining MRC, Shawn held leadership roles at Boston Beer, Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, and The Hershey Company. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College and is a certified TWI Job Instruction trainer.
Shawn partners with manufacturers to develop technology roadmaps and implement solutions that deliver lasting impact.
ENTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Note: All registration fees must be received in advance of the date of your event. MRC must be notified two weeks in advance of this event if you need to cancel, otherwise we can only grant a credit to another MRC event. Remember, you can also send a substitute.
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