Arkansas Manufacturing Showcase 2026

How do high-performance manufacturers scale operations while building a workforce connected to purpose, culture, and long-term success? CoorsTek will share practical lessons and real-world experiences in hiring, onboarding, employee development, and retention while expanding operations in Arkansas.

Artificial intelligence is transforming manufacturing operations by helping companies improve efficiency, enhance quality, reduce downtime, and make better decisions. In this session, FactoryXT and Keathley-Patterson will share practical examples of how AI is being used in production environments today, along with key considerations for manufacturers looking to explore or expand AI initiatives within their facilities.

Arkansas manufacturers continue to face measurable safety challenges that extend beyond compliance. In 2024, the state reported over 23,000 work-related injuries, with a TRIR of 2.1 per 100 workers, reflecting ongoing exposure to equipment and energy hazards in key industries.
Arkansas also ranks 39th nationally in occupational fatality rate, placing it in the bottom quartile for worker safety performance. At the same time, OSHA reports nearly 8,000 violations across 7,800 inspections, largely driven by manufacturing sectors.

Machine guarding (OSHA 1910.212) remains the most cited violation, highlighting a persistent gap between regulatory requirements and real-world implementation.

This session addresses that gap—focusing on the Machine Safety Lifecycle which provides structured, practical, field-proven safeguarding strategies that reduce risk while supporting production, and helping organizations move from compliance-driven actions to a sustainable functional safety performance.

Hack Attack is an interactive simulation that puts attendees in the role of defenders responsible for securing an industrial control system under active cyberattack. Participants will work through real-world scenarios, identifying vulnerabilities, implementing defensive strategies, and responding to evolving threats in real time.

Throughout the session, attendees will explore foundational and practical cybersecurity concepts including network segmentation, firewall strategy, access control, and policy management—learning how these controls work together to protect critical industrial assets. This course is designed to bridge the gap between theory and application, giving participants a hands-on understanding of how to defend modern control systems against common cyber threats.

Virco Manufacturing will share practical lessons from its efforts to improve onboarding, employee engagement, and workforce development inside a manufacturing environment. Moving beyond a traditional compliance-driven onboarding process, Virco is building a more intentional experience focused on culture, connection, and workforce readiness. The session will include real-world examples, employee feedback, apprenticeship insights, and honest discussion around both successes and ongoing challenges. Manufacturers attending will gain actionable ideas they can apply within their own operations.