MHI Solutions Improving Supply Chain Performance
Manufacturing and supply chain professionals attended to find equipment and technology solutions to keep supply chains agile amidst concerns about COVID-19.
Manufacturing and supply chain professionals converged on Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center in March as they came together for MODEX 2020 to find new equipment and technology solutions, gain knowledge and network with industry peers to solve common supply chain challenges.
Based on the information from the WHO, CDC and local authorities at the time with regard to COVID-19, the MODEX 2020 expo was held as scheduled March 9-12 with 894 exhibits covering 355,790 net square feet. Adding in show floor theaters and networking areas, the total gross footprint of the MODEX show floor was 900,000 square feet. While registrations for MODEX totaled 33,460, representing an 8% increase over MODEX 2018, actual attendance was 49% of that total due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, which put MODEX 2020 on par with MODEX 2016 when it comes to attendance.
MODEX exhibitors expressed enthusiasm for the engagement they received from visitors who attended noting that they were serious buyers looking for solutions for their manufacturing and supply chain operations.
“I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged with the attendance given COVID-19 concerns,” said George Prest, MHI CEO. “More importantly, attendees had immediate needs for supply chain equipment and technologies and had buying plans in hand. We were very thankful for the 894 exhibitors that were on display. It says a lot about our industry and how we come together. The supply chain will be critically important during these challenging times.”
Because of the number of registered attendees who could not attend MODEX, a virtual MODEX 365 experience was created after the physical expo and is available at modexshow.com. “Manufacturing and supply chain executives who were not able to attend need access to the solutions of MODEX exhibitors now more than ever,” said Daniel McKinnon, MHI EVP of Exhibitions. “We are excited to offer this virtual component of the show to provide that access to our visitors who could not attend due to travel restrictions. We encourage them to visit modexshow.com now and often to gain the information and resources they need to power their supply chain operations in the future.”
Also, information on MODEX 2020 exhibitors and their solutions can be found at mo-dexshow.com/directory.aspx?ref=attendees and MODEX show floor seminars can be viewed as podcasts at videos.mhi.org/category/modex-2020-podcast. MHIview also has posted a variety of videos from the show floor.
MODEX is the largest international expo of its kind held in North or South America.
MODEX 2020 Highlights
Attendees experienced a wide range of manufacturing, supply chain and transportation equipment and systems solutions and education. The dominant trend at MODEX surrounded digital supply chain solutions including automation, robotics, artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, augmented reality, the Internet of Things and data analytics.
These trends were also evident in MODEX Supply Chain Conference sessions, which included 140 educational seminars and four keynotes. On March 9, Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley spoke about her experiences in leadership and government. EMOTIVE’s Olivier Ouillier discussed how neurotechnology can improve supply chain workplace safety and productivity through data aggregation and analysis during the March 10 keynote.