A gathering of 500 industry professionals, including 300 manufacturing leaders from across Georgia, is set for Sept. 15 at the Cobb Galleria Centre.
You can find information anywhere today. What is harder to find is the right person who has already solved the problem you're working on. That's why getting leaders together face-to-face still matters”— Jason MossATLANTA, GA, UNITED STATES, August 18, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — After being absent for six years, the Georgia Manufacturing Summit is back on Sept. 15 at the Cobb Galleria Centre, bringing together hundreds of manufacturing leaders to tackle workforce, automation, technology and other issues reshaping Georgia's manufacturing sector.
Organized by the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance (GMA), the Summit is projected to attract around 500 industry professionals, including a deliberate 300 manufacturing leaders and 200 industry partners from all over the state.
This event marks the return of a Summit that started with roughly 150 attendees when it first launched in 2015 and grew to over 850 attendees in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced a halt.
“The biggest problems manufacturers are dealing with aren't being solved in isolation,” said Jason Moss, founder and CEO of the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance. “Somewhere in Georgia, another manufacturer has probably dealt with the same workforce problem, production challenge or growth issue you're facing right now. The Summit is about getting those people in the same room so we can learn from each other, build relationships and make Georgia manufacturing stronger.”
The manufacturing landscape has shifted considerably since the last Summit.
Companies are vying for skilled workers while pouring resources into automation, artificial intelligence and interconnected production systems. Manufacturers are also dealing with cybersecurity threats, legal exposure, margin pressures, leadership development and evolving customer and supplier dynamics.
Those challenges have shaped the 2026 Summit program.
Automation Takes the Morning Stage
Brandon Seadorf, Director of Manufacturing at PAI Manufacturing, will present the morning keynote, “Automation in Manufacturing: From Cages to Collaboration.”
Seadorf will explore how manufacturers are leveraging robotics and automation to boost efficiency, process consistency, quality and ergonomics while shifting employees from repetitive tasks into higher-value roles.
Statewide Workforce Forum Replaces Traditional Afternoon Keynote
GMA has devoted the afternoon general session to one of the industry's most stubborn challenges: finding and cultivating skilled talent.
The Georgia Manufacturing Workforce Forum — Building the Workforce We Need will bring together manufacturing, workforce and technical education leaders for an open conversation about attracting, developing and retaining Georgia's manufacturing workforce.
Travis Almy of TRC Talent Solutions will serve as moderator for the Forum and provide current workforce statistics.
Confirmed participants include Tyson Baker of Infinity Building Solutions and Mark Peevy, Chief of Staff for the Technical College System of Georgia. Additional senior manufacturing leaders are being confirmed.
The Forum will examine what manufacturers are encountering, where workforce pipelines are succeeding, where gaps persist and how industry, education and workforce organizations can collaborate more effectively.
Practical Issues Facing Manufacturers
Additional Summit sessions will cover financial performance and business value, operational technology and cybersecurity, legal risks, leadership development, operational excellence, Lean and continuous improvement, and the evolving role of sales and marketing in manufacturing.
The “Legal Landmines in Manufacturing: What Georgia Leaders Need to Know Now” session will address patents, intellectual property strategy, workplace safety and litigation. The session will be led by Russ Dunlap, with Micah Dickie of Fisher Phillips offering workplace safety and litigation insights.
Other sessions will look at how manufacturers can improve margins and cash flow, protect connected production systems and use relationships, video, digital visibility and artificial intelligence to generate new business.
Focused on Putting Manufacturers in the Room
GMA is deliberately aiming for 300 manufacturers among the Summit's 500 attendees rather than just maximizing overall attendance.
“You can find information anywhere today,” Moss said. “What is harder to find is the right person who has already solved the problem you're working on. That's why getting manufacturers together face-to-face still matters.”
GMA traces its roots to NetworkingMFG, started by Moss in 2008 to help Georgia manufacturing professionals build connections and find local resources. The organization became the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance in 2011 and today links manufacturers through plant tours, educational programs, networking events, Women of GMA and other statewide initiatives.
The Georgia Manufacturing Summit debuted in 2015 and expanded to more than 850 attendees by 2019. The Sept. 15 event will be the first Summit since the pandemic.
“We're not trying to build the biggest event we can build,” Moss said. “We're trying to put the right people in the room. If a manufacturing leader walks away with three relationships that help solve a problem, open a door or make their company stronger, that's where the real value of the Summit is.”
2026 Georgia Manufacturing Summit
Date: Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026
Time: 7 a.m.-4 p.m.
Location: Cobb Galleria Centre, 2 Galleria Parkway SE, Atlanta
Expected Attendance: 500 industry professionals
Target Audience: 300 manufacturing leaders and 200 industry partners
Registration includes breakfast, lunch, keynote and general sessions, educational sessions, exhibits and networking.
Manufacturing leaders interested in attending are encouraged to register in advance as GMA is limiting attendance to maintain the event's manufacturer-to-industry-partner balance.
Registration and information: GeorgiaManufacturingAlliance.com
About the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance
Founded in 2008, the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance is a statewide organization dedicated exclusively to Georgia's manufacturing community. Through plant tours, educational programs, networking events and industry partnerships, GMA helps manufacturing leaders connect with peers, share best practices and build stronger relationships throughout the state.
Media Contact
Jason Moss
Founder & CEO
Georgia Manufacturing Alliance
770-338-0051
Jason@GeorgiaManufacturing.com
GeorgiaManufacturingAlliance.com
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Georgia Manufacturing Alliance
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