For years, manufacturing leaders have focused on closing the so-called skills gap — the belief that we simply need more people trained to do traditional tasks. But what if that assumption is holding us back? What if the real opportunity is not in filling gaps, but in rethinking how work gets done?

In this session, Al Whatmough, CEO of Toolpath, challenges the dominant narrative and introduces the idea of a productivity gap — the growing difference between what skilled individuals are capable of and what outdated systems and workflows allow them to achieve. With the rise of artificial intelligence and connected systems, the future of manufacturing is not about replacing people, but about equipping them to do more with less effort and greater impact

This presentation will spark a live discussion about the future of work in manufacturing. What new roles are emerging? What skills will actually matter in tomorrow’s shops? And how can we design tools, teams, and cultures that increase output by empowering people rather than trying to replace them?