MISSION DESIGN & AUTOMATION ADDS DEAN ELKINS AS SEGMENT LEADER FOR CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Industry Veteran with 40+ Years in Robotics and Automation Joins Mission to Lead Strategic Growth into Consumer Products.

Holland, Michigan, April 10, 2026: Mission Design & Automation (Mission), a leading custom manufacturing automation integrator, today announced the addition of Dean Elkins as Segment Leader for Consumer Products. Dean brings more than four decades of experience in robotics and automation to Mission and will play a key role in expanding Mission’s business in consumer products.

The move represents a strategic expansion for Mission, which has focused on building its leadership team and broadening capabilities across key markets over the last six years. With a proven foundation across multiple sectors, including aerospace, automotive, agriculture, defense, and medical, Mission is now positioning additional focus towards growth in the consumer products space.

Elkins is well-equipped to lead that charge. His career spans more than 40 years across the robotics industry, including over three decades at one of Mission’s key partners, Yaskawa America, where he held roles ranging from Regional Sales Manager, Vice President of US Sales, and Senior General Manager. Elkins’ successful background in deploying advanced automation systems, including robotics, AMRs, ASRS, and vision systems for customers in the warehouse distribution and consumer products markets will further support Mission’s solutions and growth in that space.

Beyond his operational and commercial accomplishments, Elkins is widely recognized for expanding manufacturing in the US. He has been an active member of the Association for the Advancement of Automation (A3) since 1998, serving as a Board Member and Chairperson. In that role he oversaw the transformation of the automation industry’s flagship event, now known as the Automate Show. He most recently served as Chairman of The Robotics Group of the Material Handling Industries Association (MHI) which hosts both the MODEX and ProMat trade shows. In addition, Dean is one of the few recipients of the Joseph F. Engelberger Award for Leadership, the highest honor in the robotics industry.

“I’ve spent my career helping manufacturers understand what is possible with the successful deployment of robotics and automation and the consumer products space is at an inflection point,” said Elkins. “What drew me to Mission is the strong team and the values of the organization that combine with a strong track record for delivering complex integration solutions at scale. I’m excited to bring that teamwork and capability to new customers who are ready to modernize how they manufacture and package products we all use every day.”

As Segment Leader, Dean will work closely with the Mission team to align the company’s current strengths with the specific needs of consumer products manufacturers. His focus will span market development, customer engagement, and the continued evolution of Mission’s consumer products offerings.

“Dean is the experienced automation leader we want driving this next step for our company,” said Ryan Lillibridge, Vice President at Mission Design & Automation. “Dean’s experience, relationships, and reputation in this industry are second to none. We are confident that he will lead our team’s continued growth in the consumer products space and help us on our mission to provide excellent automation solutions for more customers in expanding markets.”

This transition positions Mission Design & Automation for its next phase of growth, and we are excited to welcome Dean to the Mission team.

About Mission Design & Automation
Mission Design & Automation (Mission) is a leading provider of custom automation and robotics integration solutions. Founded in 2004, Mission specializes in designing, engineering, and building innovative systems that increase productivity and efficiency for a wide range of industries. We partner with customers in the aerospace, automotive, agriculture, construction, consumer products, data centers, defense, food and beverage, furniture, and medical device sectors and beyond. With a commitment to customer experience, employee success, and robust production equipment, Mission has earned a reputation as the expert partner for complex systems integration programs.