Manufacturing 4.0 Symposium: Transforming Manufacturing Operations with IBM, AWS, SAP, and Agentic AI

Symposium

February 19, 2026 - Rosemont, IL

Visionaries

Grant Ecker Ecolab
Grant Ecker

VP Chief Enterprise Architecture

Ecolab

About Me

Grant Ecker is the Founder and Chairman of the Chief Architect Network, and most recently the Vice President Chief Enterprise Architect at Danaher where he partnered closely with the architects across the company to lead strategy development, establish technology standards and to identify opportunities for modernization and transformation.  Prior to Danaher, Grant was the VP, Global Head of Architecture at Walgreens Boots Alliance, and he held a similar role at Medtronic. Earlier in Grant’s career he held architecture and management roles with expanding responsibility at Lowe’s and General Mills.  Grant is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, he received an MBA from University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management, and his BS in Computer Science from Washington University in St. Louis.  Grant is a board member of the Women in Architecture initiative and he holds various board advisory roles out of Chicago, Illinois. Please connect with Grant at

February 19, 2026

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Agenda

All times Central Time

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Registration & Lunch


1:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Opening Remarks


1:15 PM - 1:45 PM

The Agentic AI Tipping Point: Rewiring the Enterprise for the Next Era of Manufacturing

This session examines the inflection point of AI adoption within enterprises—and what separates organizations that capture transformative value from those still waiting on the sidelines. As Agentic AI moves beyond isolated use cases, it is fundamentally automating core operating procedures across finance, procurement, and supply chain functions, compressing cycle times, and redefining how work gets done at scale.

During this session we will explore how established business models are being disrupted as AI-native competitors and AI-augmented operations redraw the competitive landscape. To win in the new AI era, enterprises must assess their culture of speed, experimentation, and decision making in order to pivot AI from a strategic initiative to an operational reality.


1:45 PM - 2:30 PM

When AI Runs the Factory: Lessons from the Front Lines

This session showcases real-world examples of manufacturers driving meaningful operational transformation by embedding agentic AI into their core business and production systems. Attendees will hear how organizations are moving beyond manual processes to enable autonomous planning, execution, and decision-making across manufacturing operations.

The discussion highlights measurable gains from AI-driven automation, including predictive maintenance, real-time quality management, and continuous performance optimization. Leaders will also gain practical insights into improving system performance, scaling accurate AI models, and navigating integration and adoption challenges—along with the lessons learned that turn innovation into sustained business value.


2:30 PM - 2:45 PM

Networking Break


2:45 PM - 3:45 PM

Beyond Pilots: Executive Leadership in the Age of Intelligent Manufacturing

This executive panel brings together senior leaders to share firsthand perspectives on navigating large-scale digital transformation and adopting agentic AI to power the next era of manufacturing. Panelists will discuss how strategic decision-making, leadership alignment, and technology readiness come together to move organizations from experimentation to enterprise-wide impact.

The conversation will explore how manufacturers overcome common barriers to scaling AI, optimize costs, and drive operational efficiency while strengthening supply-chain resilience. Attendees will also gain insight into how intelligent manufacturing capabilities are becoming a source of market differentiation—and what it takes to turn innovation into sustained competitive advantage.


4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Cocktail Reception


Together With