Seeing Shortages Before They Hit: AI in Materials Management 

Most materials issues don’t start as emergencies; they start as weak signals that get lost in the noise of daily execution. This session examines how the application of AI to support proactive materials management issue resolution is changing how risks are detected, prioritized, and addressed, helping supply chain teams surface problems earlier, focus on the decisions that truly matter, and stay ahead of shortages and excess before they disrupt production.

We are pleased to welcome Nicolas Moreno-Cely, Senior Director of Materials Planning and Operational Excellence at Daikin and Richard Lebovitz, Chief Strategy Officer at LeanDNA as featured speakers for this session. Together, they will combine industry research and real-world experience to examine how supply chain teams are applying AI to proactively identify, prioritize, and resolve materials issues before they impact production or customer delivery.

Presentation Outline

The Materials Management Problem Hiding in Plain Sight
A look at why materials issues surface too late - how disconnected signals and manual prioritization slow response and increase supply execution risk

Applying AI to Proactive Materials Management Issue Resolution
How the application of AI is changing the way materials issues are detected, ranked, and addressed - shifting teams from reacting to disruptions to resolving root causes earlier.

What the Data Is Revealing Across Global Manufacturers
Richard will share insights from a recent study of global manufacturing leaders, highlighting where materials management breaks down and where teams are gaining an advantage.

Execution in Practice: Materials Management at Daikin
A moderated discussion with Nico on how Daikin approaches materials planning and execution - focusing on the signals they pay attention to, how decisions are made, and the impact on inventory, production flow, and delivery performance.

Audience Q&A
An open discussion with attendees to explore challenges, lessons learned, and practical takeaways that can be applied across manufacturing environments.

Who should attend?
This session is designed for supply chain and operations practitioners and leaders looking to strengthen supply chain execution, improve decision-making on the factory floor, and connect day-to-day materials management to broader business outcomes. If any of these challenges sound familiar, you will not want to miss this session!

Location
Daikin Applied
3033 Campus Drive
Plymouth, MN 55441 

ISM-Twin Cities: AI in Materials Management