We all know what happened to industry conferences when COVID hit. And we all know the benefits that a virtual conference can provide: Less expense, less time, and if you are like me, you can multi-task and prioritize — like knowing you can watch “Hogan’s Heroes” now and the recordings of the conference later.
Of course, there are downsides to the virtual conference, and they are tied to the positives. Yes, the cost is lower, but so is the ROI. Yes, you can be joined onscreen with attendees from around the world, but lost are the personal connections with peers, a deeper engagement with speakers, and the networking opportunities.
Luckily, the pendulum has swung back to in-person conferences. The upside of COVID, besides that now you can have groceries delivered within an hour, is that conference organizers have adapted what we have learned from virtual conferences into better in-person meetings.
We all know the talking points on why to attend an in-person conference.
Making the investment to attend a conference is just that, an investment. And the ROI is new strategies, new and stronger relationships, and an invigorated energy that will keep your business — and your career — thriving.
The obvious
Educational opportunities: When attending an in-person event, connecting with presenters, conference staff, and even sponsors, gives you the opportunity to ask questions, gain varying perspectives, and expand on what was covered.
Networking and relationship building: Sharing experiences with peers, developing strategic partnerships, and connecting with old friends is an integral part of an in-person event. One of my favorite stories from a conference sponsor was when he told me that at an in-person conference he can do six months of sales calls over three days because all the decision makers and influencers are all in one place — and well, captive. Plus, face-to-face interaction and shared experiences are essential in making deep connections. Why do you think so much business is done on a golf course and luxury boxes?
Study the competition: Whether you are attending as a conference participant or as an exhibitor or sponsor, your competition is there for the same reasons. Live conferences give you a chance to meet your competitors and find out about their business strategy and share ideas about overcoming common challenges.
Engage your target market: The opportunity to market your products and services to your ideal customers and clients is crucial, as is the opportunity to understand their challenges and needs.
Inspiration and creativity: Sometimes, just a change of scenery and people opens the door to new strategic relationships and gives you the time to develop creative ideas and new innovations.
The intangibles
In-person meetings have never been more valuable. Research consistently highlights the irreplaceable value of face-to-face meetings. As stated in a Forbes Insight study, more than 80 percent of executives prefer in-person meetings over virtual alternatives.
The Stanford Research Institute confirms 87.5 percent of the success of a business is based on the ability to relate to people, internally and externally. Meeting colleagues and influencers provides many ways to enhance your soft skills and business acumen:
Enhanced and clear communication: In-person meetings facilitate more transparent communication through nonverbal cues, body language, and the ability to ask questions instantly, reducing the risk of misunderstandings that can occur with texts and emails.
Boosted idea generation: Face-to-face brainstorming allows participants to share thoughts and build upon each other’s ideas.
Increased active participation: Face-to-face interactions encourage participants to be fully present in discussions. This physical presence promotes more involvement, leading to a richer exchange of ideas and better outcomes.
Strengthened interpersonal bonds: Meeting colleagues and clients in person creates a genuine human connection and allows individuals to interact personally, speak with everyone individually, and foster authentic relationships.
Minimized distractions: Being physically present in the same space makes capturing someone’s undivided attention easier. Face-to-face meetings help maintain focus and eliminate the temptation to multitask, resulting in more effective and efficient discussions.
Speak about your own business: Conferences give you the chance to speak publicly about your business, building your brand name and reputation. It also provides you with practice pitching your company and its services.
The greater good
In-person meetings have never been more valuable.
Industry conferences and trade shows provide an opportunity to gather the manufacturing community to discuss the industry’s biggest challenges and strategize ways to resolve these issues. There are overarching issues affecting the whole industry, including the workforce shortage, the skills gap, and technology adoption. With attendees including representatives from companies of all sizes, people with diverse manufacturing backgrounds, and industry thought leaders, the depth and breadth of knowledge and viewpoints is a goldmine.
So, block off some time and make some room in your budget this coming year and attend a conference or two. In fact, we’d love to see you at the upcoming AGMA/ABMA Annual Meeting this April in Austin, Texas or the 2025 Motion + Power Technology Expo this October in Detroit, Michigan.
Upcoming Courses
How to Read and Interpret a Gear Inspection Chart
December 3, 2024 | Live Online
This half-day online seminar is intended to provide you with a thorough understanding of the information contained within a typical gear inspection report. Specifically, we will look at the contents and meaning of the information contained within the gear charts, as well as the techniques used by the gear measurement system to assess gear quality. An explanation of basic gear measurement techniques, how measurement equipment and test machines implement these techniques, and how to interpret the results from these basic measurements will be covered. We will also discuss how to interpret the results and what corrective actions may be considered if the quality of a particular gear is unsatisfactory.
Design Basics of Spur and Helical Gears
January 28, 2025 | Live Online
Learn how to develop and understand customer gear drive application specifications and target performance expectations. Review, calculate, and select basic gear terminology variables and design parameters which define tooth bending and contact rating safety factors on two real-life examples. Learn how to optimize gear fatigue safety factors for a given target design life and fit new gear designs and ratios into existing center distance using profile shift. Use commercially available software to develop gear geometry factors, calculate and optimize gear set power density and performance. Review common gear failure modes if the design or final accuracy does not meet application requirements. Discuss time and cost of more than 20 other gear drive component functions and drive development steps through prototypes to shipment of compliant assembled production drives. There will be an opportunity to discuss gear design challenges which may be unique to participant industries.
To register for a course, go to: www.agma.org/events-education/upcoming-courses
Upcoming Webinars
Will the U.S. impose carbon tariffs? How are subsidies for electric vehicle production impacting U.S. investment & manufacturing?
TBD, 2024 | 1-2 p.m. ET
Last year, the European Union implemented a program of new tariffs on imports designed to impose costs related to the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases the EU determines are emitted during the production of those imports.
The United States is moving closer to a similar system, with increasingly detailed proposals being introduced in Congress with support from both sides of the aisle. At the same time, Congress and the Biden administration have rolled out a range of subsidies and other programs to promote the U.S. electric vehicle industry.
In this webinar, we will examine those programs, their impact on bearing and gear companies, and what the future holds for further legislation and regulation in this area.
Flexible Automation for High-Mix Manufacturers
December 4, 2024 | 1-2 p.m. ET
Discover how flexible automation systems expand production for gear manufacturers. Collaborative robots (cobots) offer unique technologies that put the deployment and operation of robot systems into the hands of more manufacturers than ever before.
This webinar will provide you with valuable insights into how cobots can transform your operations, enhance efficiency, and give you a competitive edge.
To register for a webinar, go to: www.agma.org/events-education/upcoming-webinars
Calendar of Events
January 15 — Wind Turbine Gear Committee Meeting — Teams
January 28 — Design Basics of Spur and Helical Gears — Live Online Course
January 29 — Analytical Gear Inspection Chart — Live Online Course
January 30 — Loaded Tooth Contact Analysis — Live Online Course
February 11-13 — Steels for Gear Applications — Live Online Course
February 25-27 — Gearbox CSI — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 4 — A Practical Approach to Managing Gear Noise — Live Online Course
March 18-20 — Epicyclic Gear Systems Design — Live Online Course
March 25-27 — Epicyclic Gear Systems Design — Live Online Course
