From AI Pilots to Enterprise Impact: A Practical Framework for Scaling AI in F&B Manufacturing
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With 90% of food and beverage manufacturers using or planning to use AI within the next year, adoption is accelerating across the industry. Yet F&B manufacturers report effectively utilizing less than half of the data they collect, creating a significant gap between AI's potential and realized business value. Moving from pilot projects to measurable, enterprise-wide impact requires more than selecting the right AI application. Manufacturers also need connected operational and business systems, accessible and contextualized data, scalable processes, organizational alignment, and a workforce prepared to use new capabilities effectively.
In this webinar, industry experts will examine the practical foundations required to move AI beyond isolated experimentation. The discussion will explore why pilots stall, how IT/OT integration enables AI to produce more useful insights, and how connected data and workflows can improve decision-making across production, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and plant operations.
Attendees will learn how to evaluate potential AI initiatives based on business value and scalability, establish meaningful success measures, and build a repeatable approach for expanding proven applications across facilities and functions.
Key takeaways will include:
- The most common operational and organizational barriers that prevent AI pilots from scaling
- How connected IT and OT data provide the context AI needs to generate actionable insights
- Ways to align AI initiatives with quality, cost, productivity, and risk-reduction objectives
- The roles of data governance, process standardization, and workforce readiness in enterprise adoption
- A practical framework for moving from proof of concept to sustainable business impact
Speakers:
Maria Araujo
Principal, Consumer Packaged Goods, Secure Digital Operations
Rockwell Automation
Maria Araujo is an Industry 4.0 executive with more than 22 years of experience leading digital transformation across Fortune 500 companies. As an Industry Principal at Rockwell Automation, she partners with Consumer Packaged Goods manufacturers to drive business outcomes through digital, AI, and autonomous technologies.
Prior to Rockwell, Maria served as Vice President, Global Innovation Engineering at McCain Foods, leading global initiatives in IoT, advanced robotics, process control, and smart manufacturing. She previously held leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson, where she was an Engineering Fellow and Director of the Advanced Technology Center of Excellence, driving digital transformation across pharmaceutical, medtech, and consumer businesses.
Earlier in her career, Maria held engineering and technology leadership positions at Honeywell Aerospace and the Southwest Research Institute. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in Electrical Engineering from UCLA.
Maria is a recipient of an R&D 100 Award, was recognized as one of Manufacturing USA's Modern Makers, and was named one of San Antonio's Top 40 Under 40 by the San Antonio Business Journal.
Greg Schmidt
VP Global Industry, Consumer Packaged Goods
Rockwell Automation
Greg Schmidt is the VP Global Industry, CPG at Rockwell Automation. In his 24yrs with Rockwell Greg has seen the portfolio of software and the value it drives for manufacturing companies grow considerably. When not helping world class customers execute their digital transformation strategy, Greg spends his time racing mountain bikes, rock climbing and competing in various fitness sports. He’s very happily married to his high school sweetheart and has 3 amazing adult children.
