Futures Council

Overview

The Futures Council is AEM’s leading source of information on disruption. Using the expertise of members, futurists and professionals in applied technology, it seeks to develop the most pertinent and engaging information to inform members about changes that could impact what they manufacture and how AEM could adapt to thrive in that change.

The goals of the Futures Council are to:

• Serve as an early alert system to AEM and its members through reviewing and discussing disruptions on the horizon (out seven to ten years or presently experiencing exponential growth) that have potential to impact off-highway equipment manufacturers and/or AEM from the Association’s perspective.
• Consider if the disruptions will impact AEM’s service offerings and/or if AEM should begin discussing with its members on the topics through its Boards, committees and content.

Objectives

• Identify a prioritized list of disruption topics that AEM should bring to its membership through content, committees or Sector Boards: disruptions within its trades of construction, agriculture, utility, forestry or mining, or disruptions in its operations of channel to market, manufacturing or supply channel. ​
• Deliver to the AEM education and content team, membership or boards, ideas or changes in suggested approach to support membership. In addition, add to a “watch list” of items likely to disrupt the association’s service and financial model.
• Establish a regular cadence of disruption outlook content delivered to members.
• Oversee Future Vision Teams - think tanks that include members, non-members and/or subject matter experts, as needed.

2025 Priorities

• Develop a list of up to five disruptors that have the potential to create the biggest challenges for AEM members and the industries they serve. 
• Curate and oversee Vision Teams assisgned to study each of the five main disruptors, 

Deliverables

• The council will gather in person a minimum of one time per year and up to three more by phone to discuss such topics in order to provide an early alert system to AEM and members.  
• Via the Future Vision Teams deliverables with actionable recommendations for each of the top 5 disruption focus areas. 
• It will also serve as a content contributor to AEM Communications on the topics deemed of value to the membership by the council.  

Meetings

• The council will gather in person a minimum of one time per year and up to three more by phone to discuss such topics in order to provide an early alert system to AEM and members.  
• Via the Future Vision Teams deliverables with actionable recommendations for each of the top 5 disruption focus areas. 
• It will also serve as a content contributor to AEM Communications on the topics deemed of value to the membership by the council.