Is your business prepared to support its customers with Automation Solutions? Does your organization have the necessary skill set and in-house expertise? You’re invited to join MHEDA and your industry peers for a five-part Virtual Learning Event. This program designed to share the experiences and lessons learned from fellow MHEDA Member companies that have transitioned from providing equipment sales to providing Automation Solutions to their clients.
Dates for the 2020 Automation Solutions Virtual Learning Event
October 13 – Getting Started on the Path to Selling Automation
October 15 – Technology Solutions Utilized in Conjunction With Automation
October 22 – Let’s Talk People! Staffing for Automation Solutions
October 27 – Determining the “Right” Level of Automation for Your Clients
November 5 – Voice of the Customer: Automation Solutions Panel
Here’s How It Will Work
• This event will be hosted virtually – no travel required!
• Simply access from your laptop or mobile device.
• Register for one or more sessions. Discounted bundle pricing available.
• Each session will be presented from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm CT (Also recorded and available on-demand)
• Presented by MHEDA Members for MHEDA Members!
Event Facilitator
Scott Hennie is the President of MH Engineered Solutions, a MH Logistics Company, and was the 2014 President of MHEDA. Scott has worked in the Material Handling Engineered Systems business for over 30 years.
During his tenure, in addition to his current position, Hennie has performed in roles that include Project Engineering, Project Management, Sales, Sales Management and General Management.
Hennie has started and grown Engineered Systems businesses for three organizations, including Elite Supply Chain Solutions in 2013 which he was the sole proprietor. Hennie is the conference facilitator.
Registration Fee
Member Fee: $49 per session or $199 discounted bundle for all five sessions.
Non-Member Fee: $199 per individual session. Bundle pricing not available.
Why Register?
• Hear from industry leaders about automation technologies.
• Learn how they transitioned their companies.
• Gain insight on lessons they learned in Automation Solutions.
Who is this Event Designed For?
• Organizations just beginning their journey into Automation Solutions.
• Organizations considering implementing Automation Solutions as part of their Strategic Plan.
• Organizations who want to learn from the experiences of their industry peers.
• Dealer Principals, Executive Management, Sales Management, Project Managers and Engineers who want to learn more about Automation Solutions.
Learning Event Descriptions
On Demand
Getting Started on the Path to Selling Automation
Presented by MHEDA Member Eric McDonald, Executive Vice President, Sales & Business Strategy, Storage Solutions Inc.
Session Description
Learn about lower level automated solutions that can meet your customers’ needs. We will discuss the applications and benefits for each of the solutions and also provide suggestions on potential industry partners from which these solutions can be sourced. We will also discuss potential challenges that may arise in specifying or implementing these solutions.
Takeaways
- Review lower level automation solutions that can help a distributor get started on the path to selling automation.
- Learn how salespeople can identify opportunities for these solutions within customers’ facilities.
- Uncover applications and benefits for your customers from using these solutions.
- Learn about where to find potential industry partners to source solutions.
- And more!
About the Presenter
Eric McDonald spent the first 8 years of his career with an industrial storage equipment manufacturer fulfilling roles ranging from inside sales, distributor network development, marketing/advertising & division manager.
Eric joined Storage Solutions in 2002 and has been an integral part of developing many of the customer service and sales related programs used organization wide at SSI since his arrival. He has also been instrumental in developing many of our strategic alliances and partnerships. Eric leads our sales teams that consultatively develops automation and technology solutions for our customers.
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On Demand
Technology Solutions Utilized in Conjunction with Automation
Presented by MHEDA Member Eric McDonald, Executive Vice President, Sales & Business Strategy, Storage Solutions Inc.
Session Description
We will discuss technology solutions that are frequently combined with automation to address customers’ business challenges. We will discuss how to identify opportunities and understand the applications and benefits. We will also provide suggestions on potential industry partners from which these solutions can be sourced.
Takeaways
- Identify technology solutions that can be utilized in conjunction with automation to benefit customers.
- Review potential challenges that may arise so you can execute a successful project for your customer.
- Learn how salespeople can identify opportunities for these solutions within customers’ facilities.
- Uncover applications and benefits for your customers from using these solutions.
- And more!
About the Presenter
Eric McDonald spent the first 8 years of his career with an industrial storage equipment manufacturer fulfilling roles ranging from inside sales, distributor network development, marketing/advertising & division manager.
Eric joined Storage Solutions in 2002 and has been an integral part of developing many of the customer service and sales related programs used organization wide at SSI since his arrival. He has also been instrumental in developing many of our strategic alliances and partnerships. Eric leads our sales teams that consultatively develops automation and technology solutions for our customers.
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On-Demand
Let’s Talk People! Staffing for Automation Solutions
Presented by MHEDA Members Troy Carter, Senior Account Executive, Daifuku Wynright, and Tim Hoj, CEO, HOJ Innovations.
Session Description
Let’s talk People is a session dedicated to the staffing requirements of a successful automation integrator. This virtual session will discuss staffing roles within your business to cover all aspects of projects from the initial sale to completion. We will look at internal employee positions and their responsibilities as the company grows, when it’s a good time to outsource employee functions in order to flex your workforce, and considerations for partnering with manufacturing partners or other automation providers. This discussion will allow you to lay out a staffing roadmap for your business’s future.
Takeaways
- Discuss what employees will be required for your company’s growth path.
- Review when is a good time to outsource employee responsivities.
- Understand how your partnerships can help you as you grow.
About the Presenters
Tim Hoj is naturally visionary with an emphasis on how to deliver highest value to Hoj’s client base through innovative material handling design and mobile computing technologies to drive productivity in the warehouse fulfillment environment. Following a business finance degree at the University of Utah in 1992, Tim Hoj came to work with his Father and Brother at Hoj Engineering. Tim Hoj learned the details of the material handling integration business through the sales and project management of racking, conveyor and automation storage solutions. As he moved into the role of CEO for the HOJ Innovation companies, his vision and focus on leading change with innovation and engineering design drove HOJ to become a leader in innovative warehouse fulfillment design and mobile computing technology for managing warehouses. Tim is currently serving on the MHEDA Board of Directors.
Troy Carter is a Senior Account Executive for Daifuku Wynright and a warehouse automation professional. Accruing over 20 years of experience in the industry he has seen the birth, death, and rebirth of e-commerce along with the transformation from store supporting warehouses into today’s blend of direct to consumer and brick and mortar supporting facilities. Troy has seen the inrush of automated equipment and the demand for data in warehousing today. Troy is currently serving on the MHEDA Board of Directors.
On-Demand
Determining the ‘Right’ Level of Automation for Your Client
Presented by MHEDA Member James Emmitt, Sales Engineer, MH Engineered Solutions
Session Description
Countries around the world are beginning to experience a shortage of labor. Whether the cause is an inversion of the population pyramid, pandemic, political constraints, or an explosion of demand in the short term; the question is the same: “How does our business complement or supplement to compensate for this shortage in order to meet our fill rate?” The second question is: “How much automation do we need to solve in the short term, and is this a long term problem?”
Automation solutions can be scalable or all-in. The capital outlay is usually large. The returns can be deceiving. Thought processes on scalability are usually not linear in nature with respect to automation. A lot of money can be spent on highly automated solutions which still fail to reach the require rate of return and end up as sunk costs – never to be recovered. Conversely, it is easy to invest too much, only to watch unused assets sit idle. It becomes necessary to have a full understanding of exactly how automation provides benefits, and how to structure the ROI, prior to spending the millions on investment.
Takeaways
- Gain an understanding of when to consider automation, and when not to consider.
- Understand the major pitfalls awaiting the inexperienced designer.
- Learn the real benefits of automation and their true characteristics.
- Recognize how much automation is required.
- And more!
About the Presenter
James Emmitt is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, where he served as a Marine Corps Infantry Officer in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He started in the material handling engineering industry in 1993 working for the Raymond Corporation and has worked in various material handling capacities since in both the supplier and user roles. His latest experience in the corporate side was working for Amazon Worldwide Engineering Design and Innovation in Seattle, WA; where he worked on various lift truck automation projects and storage media automation projects; specifically, on Seegrid VGV implementation and RTLS/Lidar safety detection systems for lift trucks in the field. Jim currently works for MH Engineered Solutions as a Consulting and Sales Engineer; designing diverse automation systems for a variety of industries. Jim holds a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt from the Ohio State University and an MBA from Franklin University.
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Voice of the Customer: Automation Solutions Panel
Session Description
This session will be a panel of experts that source and purchase automation solution products and technologies. Hear the objectives and challenges facing your end user customers and how to meet their needs.
Facilitator:
Mark Richards, VP, AWI, Associated Warehouses Inc. – Mark Richards began his career in supply chain over 40 years ago. He has held a variety of operations and administrative positions at two different third-party logistics companies. In addition, he held the position of Regional Director, Distribution and Customer Service for the Food Service Division of Nabisco and National Distribution Manager for Gillette’s Oral-B division of oral health care products. Mark has also been actively involved with WERC (Warehousing Education & Research Council), CSCMP (Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals), and ILWA (International Warehouse Logistics Association) as a speaker plus holding various leadership roles, including serving as President of both WERC and CSCMP in Southern California. He was appointed to the CSCMP Executive Committee and ultimately served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the global organization. During his tenure as Chairman of CSCMP, Mark helped form the humanitarian relief organization American Logistics Aid Network or (ALAN). Thirty years ago, Mark left Oral-B to become Vice President of Associated Warehouses, a consortium of over 50 third party logistics service providers operating over 110 million square feet of space throughout North America, Europe, India, and Asia.
Panelists:
Matt McClure, Manager, National of Special Packaging Operations, United Facilities – Matt McClure is the Senior Packaging Manager for United Facilities packaging operations. His responsibilities include profitability, customer relationships, and the vision of packaging operations. He also provides subject matter expertise in the development and integration of mechanization and automation within both the packaging operations and warehouse operations of United Facilities. He has led United Facilities through most of their mechanization era with a vision for automation and customer service in mind. This has led to delivering hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to customers. This last year the United Facilities team was identified as Partner of the Year with a Fortune 500 partner for leading the way in innovation. His years in the Marine Corps have molded much of who he is today. He values quality information and decisive leadership.
Tim M. Siddiq, Chairman & CEO, Merchandise Warehouse Co – While a student at Ball State University, Tim Siddiq worked at Merchandise Warehouse on weekends and summer breaks. Merchandise Warehouse was founded by his Grandfather, Howard Foley, in 1951.Tim soon realized that warehousing ran in his blood and decided to work for the family business after graduating from Ball State University in 1993. Working his way up from warehouseman to President and CEO, he is proud to say he has spent time working in every department of the company. Tim was promoted to the position of President and CEO in 2008, which successfully maintained the family atmosphere and culture set in place by his Uncle, Don Foley, Sr. Since taking over the role of President and CEO, Merchandise Warehouse implemented leading edge technology in their award winning 2016 freezer addition. Tim’s detailed and customer focused management style has enabled tremendous growth the last three years, including the 159,000 sq. ft. expansion of refrigerated space in Pendleton, Indiana. Merchandise Warehouse is a sponsor of Rise Against Hunger and actively participates in supporting a number of local projects and organizations and food banks.
Megan Smith, CEO, Symbia Logistics – As a 3rd generation operator, Megan Smith has been getting her hands dirty since day one. She’s started and sold multiple businesses and found opportunities in the most challenging of situations. Megan is a pioneer among women in the rugged logistics industry, and she is now situated at the top her game, overseeing a workforce of over 1,000 employees and a network of warehouses from Coast to Coast. Megan’s entrepreneurial spirit, tenacity and firm conviction that we are all equal, have driven her to build powerful, successful teams. By focusing on Symbia’s strengths she has guided the company to unprecedented levels and made Symbia a formidable force in the industry.
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