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SME (The Society of Manufacturing Engineers), who hosted the BIG M conference, is a not for profit organisation, founded in 1932. Its purpose is advancing and educating the manufacturing industry. SME focuses its efforts on several areas of manufacturing: aerospace and defence, energy, medical and motorized vehicles.

Christine Furstoss is the Technical Director for Manufacturing and Materials Technologies based at GE's Global Research Center in New York. In addition to working with product teams across the Company, Christine leads approximately 450 researchers at GE Global Research; her team is located across North America, Europe, and Asia. 

General Electric Company (GE), incorporated on April 15, 1892, is a diversified technology and financial services company. The products and services of the Company range from aircraft engines, power generation, water processing, and household appliances to medical imaging, business and consumer financing and industrial products. It serves customers in more than 100 countries.

Christine is interested in how big companies collaborate and how they communicate a positive future of manufacturing to young people

Justin is chief strategy Officer at Local Motors. Local Motors is an Arizona based motor vehicle manufacturing company focused on low-volume manufacturing by using multiple micro-factories. They 3D print some components and have 3D printed a complete working electric car. Their ideas aim to encourage anyone anywhere with an idea to be able to see that through to production.  Justin is interested in exploring how this model might evolve around the world. 

Adrian Price is the Executive Director of the Manufacturing Business Office and is part of the Manufacturing Global Leadership team at Ford.

Ford Motor Company (Ford), incorporated on July 9, 1919 and manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. The Company operates in two sectors: Automotive and Financial Services. The automotive sector includes North America, South America, Europe, Middle East & Africa, and Asia Pacific segments. The Company has around 62 plants across the world.

Adrian is interested in how major companies like Ford remain both competitive and relevant and how they engage in collaborative ventures internally and externally.

Is a Detroit based tech entrepreneur and innovation speaker. He’s founded four tech companies, is the founder and CEO of ePrize and he works with companies large and small to promote innovative thinking and practice.  He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is a President Obama Champion of Change Award recipient. Josh is interesting in how pragmatic ‘disruption’ can be used to generate new ideas and more exciting, efficient working practices.

Instead of our usual birdsong we were lucky to have Detroit ‘soul ambassador’ Melvin Davis on stage to end our programme. We felt that as well as manufacturing, music is so important to the life and history of Detroit we should reflect that in some way. You can hear Melvin sing a shortened version of ‘Why Don’t We Communicate’ at the end of the recorded programme.

The complete version of that song as well as a second song Melvin sang for us, ‘I’m The One Who Loves You’, is available in the Forum Clips section.

Melvin is a singer, songwriter, drummer, and bandleader who has worked with everyone from Smokey Robinson and David Ruffin to Wayne Kramer and Dennis Coffey. He’s a passionate advocate for Detroit and for good soul music.