From Atari to AI: Bridging Generations for the Operations of the Future

Boeing’s Mesa, Arizona facility has produced more than 2,800 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to date, with an enduring commitment to safety and quality. How are company leaders thinking about the latest technologies like artificial intelligence (AI)? What innovations have been adopted and what are the benefits and challenges?

Eric Rodriguez, Director of Mesa Site and Attack Operations for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, will explore the rapidly changing landscape of manufacturing, focusing on the evolution of today’s operations and bridging the generational divide between seasoned production line workers and the next generation.

Drawing on his nearly 20-year Boeing career and current role as operations leader on the Attack production line, Rodriguez will discuss the critical role of digital transformation in defense manufacturing, particularly from the perspective of training and inspiring a multi-generational workforce. When you have both digital adopters and digital natives working together on the same production line, how do you preserve institutional knowledge, ensure world-class production practices, and continuously improve for greater efficiency and innovation?

Join Rodriguez as he reflects on AI, what inspired him to pursue a career in aerospace manufacturing, and his thoughts on inspiring the next generation of manufacturing professionals.