How to Re-Wire the Manufacturing Workforce for AI – From People to Production
Workday's Manufacturing Resilience Webinar Series
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Summary
Manufacturers are discovering that their biggest AI constraint isn’t just data or machines – it’s people. COOs, CHROs, CIOs, and CFOs are wrestling with how to design and govern a hybrid workforce of blue‑collar employees, contractors, and AI agents fast enough to keep up with nearshoring, aging plants, labor shortages, and supply chain volatility.
In this webinar, IDC Research Director Sarah Lee will reframe AI as a workforce and talent supply chain as much as technology one– and show how a platform‑centric approach gives leaders a realistic blueprint for turning AI into a governed workforce advantage that plugs into your SAP/Oracle ERP, MES, and OT landscape.
The session will offer pragmatic guidance CIOs, COOs, and CFOs can use to shape their own roadmaps:
- Where to start with governed agents in manufacturing environments
- How to keep AI as an intelligent layer on top of existing systems
- How to bring finance into a hard‑ROI story that ties labor, safety, skills, throughput, and scrap improvements directly to P&L.
Throughout, the discussion will balance quantitative KPIs with the qualitative foundations of success – worker trust, data privacy, and human validation steps in agent‑driven workflows – giving leaders a realistic blueprint for turning AI into a governed workforce advantage rather than another fragile pilot.
Speakers
Sarah Lee
Senior Research Director - Manufacturing - AI, Platforms and Technology
IDC
Sarah leads IDC’s Worldwide Manufacturing Platforms and Technologies research practice, where she focuses on trends and innovations in artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and advanced technologies such as IIoT, cloud, robotics, simulation, and automation that are shaping the manufacturing sector. Her research examines IT investment strategies and priorities, and tracks manufacturers’ progress in digital transformation, with an emphasis on the tools and technologies that enable better operational decision-making.
Before joining IDC, Sarah worked as an analyst and consultant within a Big Four technology strategy advisory team. She specializes in data-driven analysis and research-backed guidance to help organizations prioritize and execute technology initiatives. Her experience spans emerging technologies, organizational transformation, and industry trends across asset-intensive, engineering-driven, brand-oriented, and technology-focused manufacturing value chains.
David Sweetman
Senior Manager - Global Manufacturing Industry Marketing
Workday
David Sweetman has worked for over 30 years in a variety of Global management, strategy, launch, business development and marketing positions helping Manufacturing organizations drive innovation and productivity through enterprise software and consulting.
At Workday, David leads global solution marketing for the Manufacturing Industry, where over 50% of the Fortune 500 and DAX Manufacturers are realizing the value of Workday Software.
David holds MBA in Management and International Business from the University of Colorado and a B.A (Honors) in Business and Information systems from Huddersfield University.
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