Automation with Intention: Inside MRC’s 2026 AMT Show
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC)
April 15, 2026
610.628.4640
WFMZ Channel 69
BREINIGSVILLE, PA — At a time when “lights-out manufacturing” and AI-driven factories dominate headlines, the 2026 Automation & Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Show delivered a different message to Pennsylvania manufacturers:
Start practical. Stay intentional. Put people first.
Hosted by the Manufacturers Resource Center (MRC), this year’s half-day event brought together regional manufacturing leaders, engineers, and solution providers for a highly visual, hands-on experience focused not on hype, but on what’s actually working on the shop floor today.
From live demonstrations, including an autonomous mobile robot navigating the show floor, to candid, manufacturer-led case studies, the event emphasized a clear and consistent theme:
The companies seeing results from automation aren’t doing the most — they’re doing the right things, on purpose.
A Shift Away from “All-In” Automation
Opening the program, MRC’s Shawn Furman challenged one of the biggest misconceptions in manufacturing today: that success requires full automation or advanced AI at scale.
Instead, he pointed to where real momentum is happening:
- Office & administrative efficiency through automation of repetitive tasks
- Visibility tools that turn guesswork into real-time insight
- Targeted shop floor improvements that solve specific problems
The takeaway was clear: manufacturers are gaining ground not by replacing people, but by freeing them to focus on higher-value work.
Equally important, Furman emphasized that the most successful initiatives share a common trait: They are built with employees, not deployed to them.
— From Paper to Real-Time: A Measured MES Journey
One of the most detailed case studies came from Kevin Wadiak of Just Born, the Bethlehem-based confectionery company known for producing millions of PEEPS® daily.
Their journey implementing a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) illustrated the power of phased, disciplined adoption.
Starting from a baseline of:
- Paper-based tracking
- Manual data collection
- Limited real-time visibility
The company progressed through structured phases:
- Measuring performance (OEE)
- Automating inventory and production tracking
- Achieving full product traceability across processes
The result? A shift from reactive problem-solving to data-driven decision-making, along with measurable gains in visibility, collaboration, and error reduction.
But perhaps the most important lesson shared: Technology alone does not improve performance — adoption, data ownership, and continuous improvement do.
— Start Small, Scale Smart: Lessons from Highwood USA
Danielle Hess of Highwood USA reinforced a theme echoed throughout the event: start smaller than you think you should.
Rather than investing in large-scale automation upfront, Highwood focused on:
- High-volume, repeatable processes
- Bottlenecks impacting throughput
- Ergonomic and safety improvements
Initial projects — like deploying a simple collaborative robot took months to refine. But those early efforts laid the groundwork for more advanced systems, including full assembly automation.
Key insight: The supporting systems around automation feeding mechanisms, workflow design, and team involvement often matter more than the automation itself. The company also highlighted the role of grants in offsetting costs, reminding attendees that funding opportunities are more accessible than many realize.
— From AI Overwhelm to Action
For many manufacturers, AI remains more intimidating than actionable. Andrew Buczewski of Viwinco addressed that hesitation head-on.
His message: You don’t need to understand AI to start using it effectively.
Instead, he introduced a practical framework:
- Awareness: Structured exploration of tools
- Experimentation: Start with one small, defined problem
- Embedding: Integrate successful solutions into daily workflows
Grounded in Lean principles, this “LeanAI” approach shifts the focus from technology to outcomes—eliminating waste, improving flow, and continuously refining results. One standout example showed how automating just the formatting and distribution of reports, not the analysis itself, freed up significant time for higher-value work. The greatest risk, Buczewski noted, isn’t trying and failing, it’s waiting too long to start.
A Hands-On Experience with Real Conversations
Beyond the presentations, the AMT Show’s design played a critical role in its impact.
With dedicated spaces for demonstrations and discussion, attendees were able to:
- Interact directly with technologies like robotics and vision systems
- Ask candid questions of manufacturers already implementing solutions
- Explore tools in a real-world, applied context
This combination of peer learning and live technology is what continues to set the AMT Show apart as a regional resource for manufacturers seeking practical next steps, not theoretical possibilities.
The Bottom Line: Progress Over Perfection
Across every session and conversation, one idea stood out: There is no single path to automation success, but there is a common starting point. It begins with a simple question:
Where are we losing time, struggling with quality, or frustrating our team? From there, the most successful manufacturers take one step forward, intentionally.
Not the biggest step.
Not the most advanced.
The right one.
Looking Ahead
As manufacturers continue to navigate workforce challenges, rising costs, and increasing complexity, events like the AMT Show underscore a critical shift in mindset: Automation is no longer about replacing people or chasing the latest technology.
It’s about building smarter systems around the people who make them work.
If your organization is exploring automation, AI, or process improvement, MRC works alongside manufacturers every day to turn ideas into practical results. For more information, or to schedule a conversation, connect with Diane Lewis, at (610) 554-5196 or email her at diane.lewis@mrcpa.org.