GREENVILLE, S.C. — The SC Manufacturing Conference & Expo (SCMCE) has added Joern Petri, Vice President of Plant Launch at Scout Motors, to its 2026 speaker lineup.

Petri will join Catherine Hayes, Director of Industry Solutions at the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA), and Braden Guliano, USC Darla Moore MBA candidate, for “AI Vision for the Future of Automotive Manufacturing,” on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 3:10 p.m., part of SCMCE’s pre-conference day at the Greenville Convention Center. Registration is open now at scmanufacturingconference.com.

Petri brings a rare, on-the-ground perspective to the conversation. Scout Motors is building its manufacturing facility in Blythewood, S.C., one of the most closely watched automotive projects in the Southeast, and Petri leads the company’s plant launch.

The next generation of automotive manufacturing will be defined by intelligent, data-driven operations powered by artificial intelligence. As manufacturers seek to improve quality, increase productivity, and accelerate plant launches, AI is emerging as a critical enabler of competitive advantage.

Through real-world examples and a live demonstration, Petri, Hayes, and Guliano will illustrate how AI can help transform production processes, empower frontline workers, and drive smarter operational decisions across the factory floor. The session will be introduced by Ross Norton, Managing Editor at SCBIZ.
Few people in the country can speak to standing up a new automotive plant right now the way Joern can,” said Ben Jacobs, content lead of SC Manufacturing Conference & Expo. “Pairing his plant launch experience with SCRA’s industry work and a live AI demo gives attendees something they can actually take back to their own operations.”

A Full Pre-Conference Day
Petri’s session is one of several on a full Nov. 3 program that gives attendees a head start on the main conference:

• The Manufacturing Organization of the Future, with Alex Bolan, CEO, DigitalThinker (1:10 p.m.)
• What the Data Center Boom Means for SC Manufacturers, with Paul Quigley, Chief Strategic Relations Officer, Airsys (1:50 p.m.)
• Building Through Disruption: Strengthening Supply Chains, with Amy Sartain, SC Council on Competitiveness; Andrew Lestor, Fortus One; Joshua Buchanan, Spartanburg Steel Products; and Mike Sanders, Industrial Engineer.ai (2:30 p.m.)
• AI Vision for the Future of Automotive Manufacturing, with Joern Petri, Catherine Hayes, and Braden Guliano (3:10 p.m.)
• Real Manufacturing Success Stories, with Kelly Baird and Marcel Schafer of Fraunhofer USA (3:50 p.m.)
• Exhibitor, Sponsor Networking and VIP Welcome Reception (4:30 p.m.)

The conference continues Wednesday, Nov. 4, with keynote speaker Jake Hall, “The Manufacturing Millennial,” and programming built around this year’s theme, Breaking Barriers. Building What’s Next., and three pillars shaping manufacturing today: the workforce skills gap, supply chain resilience, and operational excellence.

As the only large-scale manufacturing expo in the Greenville area through 2026, SCMCE is a must-attend event for manufacturers across South Carolina and the broader Southeast, including North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida.

Event Details
SC Manufacturing Conference & Expo
Conference & Expo: November 3-5, 2026
Greenville Convention Center, Greenville, SC

Full agenda
Registration