Pulse of Quality 2026
Presented in Partnership with Octave
AI in quality operations has hit the mainstream – nearly half of manufacturers are using it. In a survey of quality professionals across the US, Germany and the UK, manufacturers revealed challenges, opportunities and the focus on quality. For the third year in a row, organizations are elevating quality from a functional discipline to a strategic priority – 71% are planning to increase quality spending in 2026. And manufacturers are also navigating rising compliance demands, unpredictable tariffs, and workforce challenges that continue to impact quality outcomes.
Join us for one or both sessions as we explore the results and dive into what leading manufacturers are doing with quality operations to achieve competitive results.
Session 1 June 25, 2pm ET
Unpack the results of this year’s survey data, and drill down to uncover the key issues and challenges facing manufacturing and quality professionals today. We’ll dig into some of the numbers and find out how quality pros are deploying AI to automate workflows, spot quality problems before they reach the assembly line and bridge the skills and experience gap plaguing manufacturers today.
We’ll cover some key themes manufacturers identified:
- The shift of quality as one department’s responsibility to a more strategic organization-wide initiative.
- Organizational changes as a result of the ascension of quality as a strategic initiative.
- AI in quality and manufacturing is here, and the pace of innovation is accelerating.
Speakers:
Vick Vaishnavi, Head, Octave Reliance
Vick Vaishnavi leads Octave Reliance’s business strategy and operations with extensive experience in technology and software leadership. Previously, he was SVP and GM at Everbridge, CEO of Yottaa, and CEO of Aveksa. Vick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from IIT Roorkee, a Master’s in Computer Engineering from UMass, and an MBA from Boston University Questrom School of Business.
Chris Nahil, Director of Public Relations, Octave
Chris Nahil, director of public relations at Octave, is responsible for delivering Octave Reliance’s story to key audiences and markets around the world. For more than 30 years, he’s helped organizations from startups to global leaders deliver their message to influencers, prospects, customers and partners via the most effective channels.