Registration now open for WHMA’s premier event focused on workforce, automation, AI and the economic forces shaping the wire harness industry
The Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA), a council of Global Electronics Association, will host its 2027 Annual Global Leadership Summit, bringing together executives from wire harness manufacturers, OEMs and suppliers serving the wire harness and cable assembly industry.
The Annual Global Leadership Summit is designed to help business leaders navigate a wire harness industry that continues to evolve with new technologies, workforce pressures and changing market conditions. The event will offer peer-to-peer networking, best-practice roundtables, technical education workshops, keynote presentations and access to leading suppliers in the exhibit hall.
The 2027 program will focus on the forces shaping the future of the wire harness industry, including customer experience, artificial intelligence, global economics and manufacturing, reshoring, workforce development, automation and business strategy.
“WHMA’s Annual Global Leadership Summit gives industry executives a forum to step back from daily operations and focus on the trends, technologies and strategies that will shape their businesses in the year ahead,” said David Bergman, WHMA executive director. “From workforce development and AI to automation, pricing strategy and economic outlook, the 2027 Summit is built around practical insights leaders can take back to their organizations.”
The Summit agenda includes a workshop, “Build Your Workforce from Within: Apprenticeship Strategies for Wire Harness Employers,” led by Global Electronics Association workforce leaders Victoria Hawkins and Cami Marcom. The session will introduce the Association’s newly launched Wire Harness Assembly Registered Apprenticeship occupation and explain how employers can use apprenticeship to train new hires, upskill employees, strengthen retention and build a reliable talent pipeline.
Featured keynote sessions include “Fearless Pricing: How to Command the Prices You Deserve,” presented by pricing expert Casey Brown; “Closing the Automation Gap in Harness Manufacturing: A Practical Look at Tactile Robotics,” presented by Kavan McEachern, CEO and cofounder of Ontologen; “AI Demystified: A Practical Playbook for Building Competitive Organizations,” presented by AI strategist Austin Ambrozi; and “The Economic Forces Defining 2027,” presented by Global Electronics Association Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac.
The event will also include a peer-to-peer session designed to spark authentic conversation, idea sharing and problem-solving across the wire harness industry, along with best-practice roundtables, networking receptions, an exhibit hall and other opportunities for industry leaders to connect and collaborate.
The 2027 WHMA Annual Global Leadership Summit schedule begins Wednesday, February 3, with a golf outing, peer-to-peer session, workforce workshop, first-timers session and welcome reception with exhibitors. Thursday’s program includes keynote sessions on pricing, tactile robotics and AI, as well as best-practice roundtables and an evening networking event. Friday’s agenda includes the WHMA Annual Meeting, an Innovation Advisory Committee update, the economic outlook keynote from DuBravac, additional roundtables, tours and a closing wine and cheese reception.
For more information, visit annualconference.whma.org.
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