One thing people quickly learn about me is that I like to raise the bar. Whether I’m working with customers or colleagues, I’m always looking for that edge – the next level of performance. And this mindset isn’t limited to the workplace. 

I’ve been doing triathlons for years and, for a long time, I trained solo. I had a routine. It worked. I was comfortable. Well, that all changed when I joined a Masters swim group. Suddenly I was surrounded by exceptional athletes pushing their pace, working on technique and chasing new goals. I wasn’t the fastest in the pool by a long shot, but just being in that environment motivated me to be faster, stronger and better. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and into a new level of performance I didn’t know I had in me.

That’s what Champions of Manufacturing is all about. Not just showing up. Leveling up. Being surrounded by people who are driving forward – so you can, too.

A New Foundation, Inspired by You

QAD Champions of Manufacturing isn’t a reboot of something that came before. It’s something entirely new, built with intention and shaped by what we’ve heard from the people who matter most: our customers.

We designed this event not just to showcase production innovation, but to build trust, ignite a sense of community and re-center everything we’re doing around the people who use QAD every day. 

And, if you’re new to QAD, or still exploring, this is the best way to see what we’re about: a company that listens, learns and leads with its customers – not just for them.

We’re not just unveiling what’s next (hint: it’s BIG). We’re showing how we got here, with our customers’ voice at the center of it all. 

You Asked. We Listened. We’re Building Differently.

Full transparency, one of the things I love most about QAD is that we, as a company, are deeply committed to helping our customers move from where they are today to where they need to be. Many companies think the project ends when a deployment goes live but, for us, that’s where the real work begins. 

Through our Net Promoter Score (NPS) survey, the work of our Customer Advisory Board and executive interviews, we’re always gathering feedback and trying to figure out how we can do better. And this is where it gets real – we didn’t always love what we heard. 

Our customers have challenged us to go further. You’ve asked hard questions, raised the bar (yes!) and pushed us to return to the principles that have always set QAD apart: access, transparency, performance and partnership.

We listened, and have decided that simply adjusting the roadmap is not enough. We stepped back and asked: What do our customers need from us? Not just to move forward with confidence, but to lead? To drive real impact within their organizations? To become champions of modern manufacturing? 

That’s what Champions of Manufacturing was built to answer.

The Place Where Champions Connect

This event is about so much more than product demos or keynote speakers (though we have some great ones!). And yes, you should join us for these reasons alone, but… the real value is what happens between the sessions.

It’s inside the conversations that turn into strategic insight – that moment when you realize the person next to you is solving the same challenge, and might be a few steps ahead. It’s where you get to connect one on one with QAD leaders, not just to hear where we’re going, but to tell us what you need. 

Champions of Manufacturing is where ideas get sharper. Priorities get clearer. And progress gets real. It’s your Masters swim group.

We created this event to bring the right people into the room – customers, peers, industry influencers, partners, product leaders – so that we can learn from each other and move forward, faster and more efficiently. That’s how champions are built.

From Buzz to What’s Next

Agentic AI is everywhere right now – and for good reason. But what is it, really? And what does it mean for your operations, your team and your outcomes?

That’s one of many conversations we’ll be having at Champions of Manufacturing.

You won’t just hear the big ideas – you’ll get hands-on time with technology and have real conversations with the people building it. You’ll hear from customers who are already exploring how it fits into their workflows, and you’ll walk away with a clearer view of how to move forward – not just with AI, but with the larger shifts shaping our industry. 

Championing the Future of Manufacturing – and Those Who Lead It

Every company talks about listening. Fewer follow through. At QAD, we’ve made it a priority to do both.

Over the past year, we’ve taken a hard look at what we deliver; not just what we release, but how we support, respond and show up. I’m excited to say that we’ve made tremendous progress, and we’re not slowing down. 

But Champions of Manufacturing isn’t just a reflection of how far we’ve come. It’s a moment to define where we’re going – together.

This event was built for leaders who are navigating uncertainty, driving transformation and preparing for what’s next. It’s about building manufacturing champions who can adapt quickly, compete boldly and lead with confidence. 

If you’ve been with QAD for years, this is your opportunity to re-engage and go further. If you’re new to QAD, this is the clearest view of who we are and what we stand for: Championing the people and companies that will define the future of manufacturing.

I’ll be there, and hope you will too. I’m looking forward to taking this next step – together.

Join us for Champions of Manufacturing and discover the future of manufacturing technology.