GPAD | Glass Processing Automation Days kicked off in Nashville this week, running through March 6. The event welcomed 126 fabricator and supplier attendees to investigate new and innovative glass fabrication technologies and discover the potential of automation and integration.
To kick off GPAD, Dave Miller & Craig Morris of Cyncly walked attendees through how AI will change the glass fabrication industry. Miller says there are three types of learning: supervised, unsupervised and reinforcement learning. Miller adds that successful AI will include data-informed development, ethical application and practical solutions. From a strategic standpoint, you want to make sure you're staying on top of recent technology upgrades. Morris dug into real-life case studies on this topic. One company successfully used AI reinforcement learning to optimize its production schedules.
In her presentation on product launch success, Syndi Sim, VP of marketing and business development for DFI, says when launching a new product or product line, companies should always have goals in mind, such as capturing new customers, up sell existing customers, differentiate your business, increased/new revenue stream, and more. Sim added that the product pre-launch "is the bulk of the work" and the most important step. This phase includes market research, identifying the target audience, creating a launch plan, develop market collateral and clear communication across teams, always.
“Your sales teams are critical in the success of a launch. They are the key to our success.” Your solutions partner should educate the sales team on competing products, key value propositions and product differentiators, product demos and review common customer questions. Sim says the launch itself is “your day to scream it from the mountains.” Post launch, review its status about 5-6 months afterwards. Ask your sales team “What do they think of the new product?” Once you get that feedback, you have to implement it.
To start day two of the conference, Joe Hague and Scott Knisley of Forel covered Manufacturing High-Performance Glass, Triple IGUs with Thin Glass, discussing the importance of high performance, triple IGUs when it comes to creating energy-efficient homes. According to the DOE, commercial & residential buildings account for 40% of all energy consumed; highlighting the role windows & doors play.
See the full conference schedule. Follow NGA on LinkedIn and Glass Magazine on X for live coverage of the event.