ISM-Twin Cities, Inc.

Seeing Shortages Before They Hit: AI in Materials Management 

Most materials issues don’t start as emergencies; they start as weak signals that get lost in the noise of daily execution. This session examines how the application of AI to support proactive materials management issue resolution is changing how risks are detected, prioritized, and addressed, helping supply chain teams surface problems earlier, focus on the decisions that truly matter, and stay ahead of shortages and excess before they disrupt production.

We are pleased to welcome Nicolas Moreno-Cely, Senior Director of Materials Planning and Operational Excellence at Daikin and Richard Lebovitz, Chief Strategy Officer at LeanDNA as featured speakers for this session. Together, they will combine industry research and real-world experience to examine how supply chain teams are applying AI to proactively identify, prioritize, and resolve materials issues before they impact production or customer delivery.

Presentation Outline

The Materials Management Problem Hiding in Plain Sight
A look at why materials issues surface too late - how disconnected signals and manual prioritization slow response and increase supply execution risk

Applying AI to Proactive Materials Management Issue Resolution
How the application of AI is changing the way materials issues are detected, ranked, and addressed - shifting teams from reacting to disruptions to resolving root causes earlier.

What the Data Is Revealing Across Global Manufacturers
Richard will share insights from a recent study of global manufacturing leaders, highlighting where materials management breaks down and where teams are gaining an advantage.

Execution in Practice: Materials Management at Daikin
A moderated discussion with Nico on how Daikin approaches materials planning and execution - focusing on the signals they pay attention to, how decisions are made, and the impact on inventory, production flow, and delivery performance.

Audience Q&A
An open discussion with attendees to explore challenges, lessons learned, and practical takeaways that can be applied across manufacturing environments.

Who should attend?
This session is designed for supply chain and operations practitioners and leaders looking to strengthen supply chain execution, improve decision-making on the factory floor, and connect day-to-day materials management to broader business outcomes. If any of these challenges sound familiar, you will not want to miss this session!

Location
Daikin Applied
3033 Campus Drive
Plymouth, MN 55441 

The ISM World experience gives you the opportunity to be face-to-face with thought leaders, peers and suppliers and have dedicated time to build your network and expand your knowledge on critical topics impacting the supply management profession. Get inspired by amazing keynotes, interact in engaging breakout sessions and have fun swapping supply chain “wins” (and war stories) in a variety of attendee celebrations and small group experiences.

The electronics industry has gone through significant challenges over the last several years. One of the few successful companies to emerge from the turmoil is Best Buy. Join us for a plant tour of this industry leader to see how they are managing their logistics and warehousing processes. Following the tour, Best Buy will make a short presentation in the conference room about the history of the DC, relevant statistics, etc., which will be followed by a Q&A.

For those who are able to stay, we will gather for an optional dinner at a nearby restaurant following the tour. Attendees will be responsible for their own meal.

Important Notes
Every attendee must bring a government-issued ID to join the tour. All attendees must pass through a very sensitive metal detector on the way to the warehouse and upon exiting. No steel-toed shoes, belts, watches, jewelry, etc. Please leave all personal items (laptops, cell phones, etc.) in your vehicle. Everyone will need to check in with their ID upon arrival, then go to the conference room area. We will tour in groups of 15.

Location
Best Buy Corporation
6203 W 111th Street
Bloomington, MN 55438