Assembly Conference 2026

Future information support in industry – what could it look like in practice?

AI tools and agent-based solutions open up new opportunities to streamline the work of engineers and production staff. This presentation shows concrete examples of how modern AI can support production, process planning and information retrieval from complex engineering documentation, with a focus on practical value and integration into existing workflows.

Marie Jonsson has extensive experience in production-oriented research and development in both industry and academia. She currently works as a lecturer and researcher at Linköping University and is involved in projects focusing on automation, digital support and intelligent production systems.

From change projects to a culture of change at Abetong

Since 2018, Abetong has undergone a Lean transformation. Plant Manager Paul Karlsson highlights the importance of knowledge, leadership ideals, principles, psychological safety and digitalisation in building a strong foundation. Abetong has a workforce with 80% foreign-born employees representing 15 different cultures:

“The only thing that’s embedded in the walls are our principles – they are literally wallpapered on the walls,” says Paul.

Paul Karlsson is Plant Manager at Abetong’s H-plant in Vislanda. He has many years of experience working with change management in the assembly industry.

Leadership for learning and development – creating workplaces where people and results thrive

Industry is facing major transformations – new technologies, increasing sustainability requirements and global competition. But the key success factor is not only technology, but above all people. How do we build organisations that learn, develop and perform over time? Drawing on experience from the Production Leap programme and research at Chalmers University of Technology, Malin Hallin shows how leadership in daily operations can strengthen both people and performance.

Malin Hallin is an industrial researcher at RISE and has worked since 2007 with methodology development and coaching within the Production Leap programme, strengthening the competitiveness and sustainability of Swedish industry. She is passionate about developing organisations characterised by continuous improvement, renewal capability, good working conditions and strong performance. Her research focuses on leadership and learning in lean transformations. In her licentiate thesis at Chalmers, “Front-line managers as learning facilitators – From lean leadership ideals to everyday practice”, she examines how first-line managers can promote learning in practice.

From observation to action – active leadership at ELME

The family-owned company ELME has undergone a development journey and shares its experiences. By questioning passive observations, organisations can become more proactive and invite dialogue that adds value to production.

“The pulse structure is the lifeline of the day,” says Alexander, who will discuss the importance of actively engaging with the day ahead rather than merely reviewing yesterday’s results.

Alexander Bengtsson has a background in production engineering and over ten years of leadership experience. He has worked as Production Manager at ELME since September 2024. Prior to that, he was Plant Manager at Heidelberg Materials for around five years, where they implemented the Production Leap programme.