The event is targeted at small- and medium-sized manufacturers and technology professionals.
Participants will discover how artificial intelligence is transforming manufacturing, exchange ideas with peers and experts, and build connections that can help drive their organization forward, Penn State Berks said in a press release.
The Friday, Feb. 6 summit aims to offer a big-picture view of where AI is heading in manufacturing and why it matters for competitiveness, said Dr. Sadan Kulturel-Konak, professor of management information systems and director of the Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development Center at Penn State Berks.
Kulturel-Konak said the summit is tied to a Penn State-funded research project that involves working alongside manufacturers and community stakeholders to better understand AI readiness and how it aligns with workforce needs and more.
“The summit was created to engage directly with manufacturers and foster dialogue among industry, researchers, and policymakers,” Kulturel-Konak said. “It reflects Penn State’s land-grant mission to translate research into practical, regionally relevant solutions that strengthen manufacturing competitiveness and workforce development."
Kulturel-Konak noted that AI adoption can pose a challenge to small- and medium-sized manufacturers due to limited financial resources, shortages of AI-ready talent, uncertainties about returns on investment, and lack of guidance.
“Our research highlights that leadership capacity and organizational readiness are frequently overlooked barriers, even when the technology itself is available,” Kulturel-Konak said.
At the same time, the opportunities are significant, she said.
“AI is becoming more accessible through modular tools, cloud platforms, and partnerships with universities and technical assistance organizations,” Kulturel-Konak said. “For manufacturers willing to take a staged approach — starting with pilots rather than large-scale deployments — AI can help address labor shortages, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen competitiveness.”
The summit will include two keynote presentations:
- Ronn Cort, president and chief executive officer of Dunmore, a Steel Partners Company, will present “Practical. Protected. Possible. The Next Chapter: Turning Generative AI into Manufacturing Reality.”
- Dr. Soundar Kumara, Allen E. Pearce and Allen M. Pearce professor of industrial engineering, and director for the Center for the Applications of AI & ML to Industry (AIMI), Penn State, will present “Small and Medium Manufacturers in the AI Embedded Future.”
The summit will also include a panel discussion titled “Navigate AI Adoption: Your Roadmap to Resources.”
The panelists are Marisa Bishop, regional manager for Greater Berks County and Reading, Ben Franklin Technology Partners in Northeastern PA; Jen Gilburg, deputy secretary of technology and entrepreneurship, PA Department of Community and Economic Development; and Keith Stamm, director of workforce development, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance.
In addition, there will be two hands-on workshops:
- Abdullah Konak, Distinguished Professor of Information Sciences and Technology, Penn State Berks, will lead “Prompt Engineering: From Theory to Practice.”
- Andreas Welsch, founder and Chief Human Agentic AI Officer at Intelligence Briefing, will lead “Building Your First AI Agent.”
The summit will conclude with a tour of the college’s new Manufacturing and Innovation Learning Lab, a state-of-the-art facility where industry partners, community members, students and faculty can work together to innovate and solve manufacturing challenges, Penn State Berks said.
“The industry panel will share available resources for AI adoption,” Kulturel-Konak noted. “The roundtable discussions and hands-on workshops are designed to help manufacturers assess their own readiness — covering leadership, workforce skills, data, and infrastructure — and identify concrete next steps rather than one-size-fits-all solutions."
Attendees will also gain a clearer understanding of the resources available at Penn State Berks and beyond, including faculty research, the Artificial Intelligence, Modeling, and Simulation Laboratory, the Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development Center, and the Manufacturing Innovation & Learning Lab at Penn State Berks.
The summit is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6 in the Perkins Student Center multipurpose room, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The cost is $30 and includes lunch and a networking reception. Space is limited and advanced registration is required.
For questions about registration, contact Erica Kunkel, director of continuing education, at ELS5014@psu.edu or 610-396-6221. For questions about the program, contact Sadan Kulturel-Konak, professor of management information systems, at SXK70@psu.edu or 610-396-6137.
© 2026 the Reading Eagle (Reading, Pa.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
