COE Summit 2027
April 6-8, 2027 | Fawcett Center, Columbus, OH
The Ohio State University Center for Operational Excellence Summit is a 3-day event dedicated to connecting diverse industries and organizations to the latest best practices in leadership and problem-solving.
Thank you for your interest in the COE Summit 2027! The planning process is currently underway. Check back in the fall for exciting announcements on the conference theme, speaker lineup, and more!
Interested in speaking at the COE Summit 2027?
Have a story of transformational change or continuous improvement at your organization? Have research-based insights that can help business professionals develop their leadership or problem-solving skills? COE is currently accepting proposals for our 2027 calendar of events, including Summit workshops on April 6 and breakout sessions on April 7-8.
While we welcome a variety of proposals, we are particularly seeking sessions related to the following topics:
- Next-Generation Problem Solving (Examples: root cause analysis, systems thinking, design thinking, cross-functional problem solving, and methods that extend beyond traditional lean toolkits)
- Intersection of OpEx and AI (Examples: automation and AI deployment, data-driven decision making, and strategies for connecting new technologies with established OpEx practices)
- Continuous Improvement Cultures (Examples: creating operational discipline, embedding OpEx into everyday work, developing problem-solving capability at all levels, and gaining executive support)
- Leadership, Change, and Organizational Resilience (Examples: managing competing priorities, executing strategy under uncertain conditions, and helping organizations adapt without losing focus on OpEx fundamentals)
- Balancing People, Process, and Performance (Examples: maximizing human potential, improving workflow productivity, designing effective ways of working, fostering accountability, and creating competitive advantage with OpEx)
Proposals will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis. The deadline for priority consideration for the upcoming Summit is September 1, 2026. Proposals submitted after this date may be considered for the Summit or other 2027 events.