Representatives from Nestlé, General Mills and MillerCoors are just a few of the world-class speakers lined up for the 2016 Food Automation & Manufacturing Conference and Expo (FA&M), which will be held at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott in Fort Myers, FL from April 10 to 13.

The event’s engineering keynote speaker will be Gregg Stedronsky, vice president of engineering, global safety & environment and manufacturing excellence for General Mills. In his address, “Harnessing the Power of Automation and Information to Achieve Manufacturing Excellence,” Stedronsky will discuss how collecting data, properly tracking it and using it effectively can advance operational excellence across an enterprise.

Other speakers include Scott Jennings and Kirk Smith of Sierra Nevada Brewing who will deliver the automation keynote presentation on leveraging manufacturing systems to implement change. Ed Rodden, CIO of Sugar Creek, will discuss understanding and utilizing the Internet of Things, while Don Monday, architectural engineering manager at Nestlé USA and Nestlé Canada, will speak on sanitary plant design implementation.

Food Engineering’s annual 2 1/2-day conference and expo unites food and beverage processors with suppliers who can provide them with valuable information on the latest trends and technologies in manufacturing, automation, sustainability and food safety. FA&M also provides educational sessions on a variety of topics, giving food and beverage professionals  a vital opportunity to reenergize their careers in a casual, highly productive networking environment.

The 2016 event will include presentations on harnessing the power of automation, sanitary plant and equipment design, understanding the Internet of Things, workforce engagement in maintenance and automation operations and  energy management. Food Engineering will also present its Plant of the Year award and host an “Ask the Experts” panel with previous award winners. On Wednesday, April 13, Food Engineering and PMMI’s OpX Leadership Network will announce the 2015 Sustainability Excellence in Manufacturing Award winners.

For more information, including a full list of speakers and topics, visit the FA&M website at http://www.foodautomationconference.com/.