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*New* Smart Manufacturing Forum 2026-27
Event Date
October 8, 2026
Event Time
10:00 AM
Event Location
Manufacturers Resource Center, 7200A Windsor Dr, Allentown, PA, 18106
MRC’s Smart Manufacturing Forum brings together automation engineers, controls technicians, and maintenance leaders in a peer-driven setting to tackle real challenges on the shop floor.
Members share practical solutions, lessons learned, and proven strategies that are making a difference in their facilities.
Forum participants hear from industry guest speakers on topics that matter most, including emerging automation technologies, plant floor connectivity, machine monitoring and data collection, workforce upskilling, and reliability best practices. Real-world case studies keep discussions grounded and applicable to your work.
Forums are held in a variety of formats, including in-person meetings, virtual sessions, and on-site visits at host manufacturing facilities that open their doors to showcase their own smart manufacturing solutions, giving participants a firsthand look at real-world implementations in action.
MRC’s facilitator keeps the conversation focused and productive, balancing structured topics with open discussion, so every voice in the room gets heard. Whether you’re troubleshooting a recurring control system issue or planning your next automation investment, the Smart Manufacturing Forum connects you with peers who get it.
Members will find the forum a high-valued use of their time, walking away with a stronger professional network, fresh ideas, and solutions they can put to work right away.
Who Should Attend
This course is ideal for Plant Managers and Operations Managers, Continuous Improvement and Lean Managers, Manufacturing Engineers, Quality Managers, Business Owners and General Managers, and Project Managers.
Questions? Contact Nicole Pierce at (484) 655-4873 or nicole.pierce@mrcpa.org.
Facilitator
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.
This is a no-cost event, but registration is required.Please complete the registration form below and click “Register for this Event.” You will then be taken to a Checkout page to complete your registration. Please enter your name, company, address, and other requested information under Billing Details, then click “Register.” No payment information is required or collected. |
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.
