Where Manufacturing Breakthroughs Take Center Stage The Spotlight Series is a high-impact, 30-minute virtual program designed to showcase the latest technologies, groundbreaking research, and outstanding initiatives shaping the future of manufacturing. Each session delivers powerful insights from industry leaders and innovators, giving attendees an inside look at transformative ideas and solutions driving progress in the manufacturing sector. Join us for concise, engaging presentations that keep you ahead of the curve - perfect for busy professionals who want maximum value in minimal time. Please note: Spotlight Series programs featuring independent speakers are available exclusively to members for live and on-demand viewing; email membership@sme.org for on-demand links. Company-sponsored Spotlight Series programs are open to members and non-members. Dates and topics are subject to change. Interested in sponsoring a Spotlight for your company? Learn More. Member Exclusive – Register Now Pareshkumar Hotchandani Spotlights...Accelerating Digital Transformation in Regulated Manufacturing June 10 | 2–2:30 p.m. ET Register Now Registrants receive the recording in email after the live session. Regulated manufacturing requires rigorous documentation, validated processes, and fully traceable workflows-all while maintaining operational efficiency. This session introduces a practical, site level approach to accelerating digital transformation by focusing on three key enablers: compliance driven frameworks, smart digital inspection systems, and citizen development. Drawing from real implementations in highly regulated environments—including the deployment of validated electronic Device History Record (eDHR) frameworks and OEE systems in a MedTech setting-the program illustrates how modular, auditable architectures strengthen traceability, enhance audit readiness, and improve data integrity. Building a scalable compliance framework: How modular eDHR structures, OTaligned architectures, and validated digital workflows establish consistent, audit ready operations adaptable to any regulated industry. Using smart digital inspection systems to enhance quality: Practical examples of wireless metrology, barcode validation, CNC telemetry, visual traceability, and automated routing that reduce errors and improve operational performance. Accelerating transformation through citizen development: How empowering engineers and frontline teams to build and refine validated applications reduces IT constraints and speeds deployment of compliant digital solutions. Attendees will gain a clear, actionable roadmap for modernizing regulated manufacturing using scalable frameworks, frontline focused smart digital systems, and citizen driven innovation. Pareshkumar HotchandaniOperational Technology Lead & Staff Automation EngineerSmith & Nephew Inc.Pareshkumar Hotchandani is a Staff Automation Engineer and Site Operational Technology Lead at Smith and Nephew Inc., with more than 19 years of experience advancing automation and digital transformation in regulated manufacturing environments. His work spans MedTech, automotive, and food & beverage industries, where he has led the deployment of validated electronic Device History Record (eDHR) frameworks, smart digital inspection systems, OEE solutions, and connected OT architectures that enhance traceability, compliance, and operational performance. He has delivered largescale digital programs integrating platforms such as Tulip IoT, ThingWorx, SAP, Kepware, and robotics technologies across global facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. Known for his collaborative leadership, Pareshkumar specializes in validated system implementation, process optimization, and scalable automation design. A certified PMP®, CSM®, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, he actively contributes to ISA, IEEE, PMI, and multiple technical review and standards committees. Previous Webinars ECI Software Solutions 3-Part Spotlights Series ECI Software Solutions has helped businesses around the world grow with industry-specific, cloud-based ERP. ECI sponsored a 3-part Spotlight to help job shops and mixed-mode manufacturers advance Manufacturing Business Maturity with practical insights and actionable steps to improve efficiency, visibility, and competitiveness. Watch Part 1 Watch Part 2 Watch Part 3 Learn more about each session below: Expand / Collapse All Part 1: Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Manufacturingkeyboard_arrow_down View the Presentation Watch the Replay For many job shops, "Level 1" maturity means living in a constant state of firefighting—relying on tribal knowledge, disconnected spreadsheets, and paper travelers that disappear the moment they hit the shop floor. This "visibility gap" doesn't just cause stress; it leaks profit through missed deadlines, inaccurate quoting, and hidden operational costs. The first session will talk about: How to examine the realities of reactive manufacturing and how to spot it in your business How to diagnose Level 1 bottlenecks and identify the manual workflows currently slowing your production Leave with a clear understanding of the foundational digital steps required to stop reacting to problems and start building a predictable, scalable operation. Part 2: Building a Repeatable Success Enginekeyboard_arrow_down View the Presentation Watch the Replay Growth without integration is just more chaos. As manufacturers move to "Level 2," the goal shifts from simple survival to system discipline. This is where "streamlined" becomes a reality rather than a buzzword. By integrating core systems, such as linking your Bill of Materials (BOM) directly to purchasing and establishing formal routing, you create a repeatable "success engine" that reduces variability and human error. The second session will talk about: What a truly streamlined workflow looks like, from disciplined routing to basic scheduling How to align your office and shop floor so everyone is working from a single version of truth How to build a digital foundation that supports your team’s growth instead of hindering it Leave with a clear understanding of how to transition from disconnected tools to an integrated ERP environment. Part 3: Data-Driven Dominance: Achieving Foundational Automationkeyboard_arrow_down View the Presentation Watch the Replay Stepping into foundational automation is where your data transforms from a record of the past into your greatest competitive advantage. At Level 3 maturity, we eliminate the friction of manual touchpoints. By automating scheduling against real-world capacity and syncing barcoded inventory directly to your ERP, your shop floor becomes a high-performance engine that gives you the real-time pulse of your production for faster, smarter decision-making. The third session will talk about: The power of digital work orders, real-time job costing, and live WIP (Work-in-Progress) dashboards How to capture labor and material data as it happens, allowing for "right-now" decision-making Walk away with a clear roadmap for moving into Level 4 proactive optimization, ensuring your shop is future-proofed for the long term. Jake McKee Spotlights...Turning Customer Conversations into Product Decisions Manufacturing teams talk to customers every day, yet much of what they learn never makes it into real product decisions. Jake McKee, Principal Strategist at Customer Conversations, introduces the Customer Conversation Compass, a practical framework for turning everyday customer conversations into clearer insight, better tradeoffs, and stronger product direction. Rather than adding more surveys, dashboards, or reports, the session focuses on how teams can take back ownership of customer conversations, listen more deliberately, and recognize which signals actually deserve attention. Using concrete examples from manufacturing environments, see how small changes in how conversations are framed, interpreted, and shared can dramatically improve decision-making. This replay is member exclusive. Members can email membership@sme.org for the replay link.
