Main Conference Day One | Wednesday, March 19 2025

For many energy and utility operators, day-to-day workflows for managing critical activities are largely manual and handled using spreadsheets and face-to-face communication, slowing down efficiency, control, response times and impacting safety, quality control and compliance. This panel will deep dive into their own journeys of unifying core operations into a single digital workflow and will discuss:

·       Creating a scalable, centralized cloud environment to gain real-time visibility and improve how field personnel track, monitor and collaborate on operational processes

·       Reviewing use cases including:

o  Work permit and document management

o  Field inspections and quality control

o  Inventory tracking

o  Project tracking

o  Maintenace planning, scheduling, execution

Field safety and risk reporting

Bry-Ann Salahi

Technology Architect, Low Carbon Solutions IT
ExxonMobil

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Lance Medlin

EVP Engineering, Operations and Project Management
Element Fuels

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Anne Emberson

Area Vice President – Digital
Nalco Water

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Energy and industrial organisations are generating more data than ever before. However, this data is often siloed which can hinder collaboration and business benefits. This panel will discuss how to break down data siloes to achieve better collaboration and data driven decision making

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·       Overcoming siloed data and a lack of interoperability across multiple enterprise systems

·       Understanding the power of data lakes and their potential to reduce downtime and ensure high quality production

·       Enhancing collaboration and driving productivity by tearing down data siloes

Samuel Parra

NA Manufacturing Integration Lead (GEC/DI)
BASF

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Chiru Botre

Engineering Researcher II, Digital Transformation and Innovation
Kaneka North America LLC

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Garith Duncan

Digital Transformation Manager
SNF

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Don Williamson

Director Digital Operations
Westlake Corporation

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·       Improving workflow management between the field and head office to see where workers are, the activities they are working on, and communicate with them at anytime, anywhere

·       Maintaining technician access in all conditions to ensure operational continuity, even in offline environments

·       Levering workflow management to boost productivity and reduce downtime including tracking technician availability, skills, and workloads and inventory

·       Measuring field worker productivity, response times and resource allocation to identify trends in field data and drive continuous improvement

·       Transforming field critical workflows by creating a live database of asset history including JSAs, inspection records, in real-time.

·       Improving skills and learning through on-the-job experiential training

·       Enhancing performance through edge-to-enterprise visualization and intelligent data management

·       Making informed decisions to continuously improve process and asset performance

Chevron are looking to deploy Real Time Location Services across their assets by 2025. Emergency mustering situations at oil and gas assets can be a lengthy process that can impact worker safety. In this presentation, Ted will discuss Chevron’s plans to deploy a digital solution that can track workers whereabouts, speed up the emergency management process and ultimately ensure safety during hazardous incidents.

·       Delivering productivity, security and safety

·       Utilizing a solution that enables enhanced intelligence about your site, assets, visitors, contractors and employees

·       Intelligent asset management and digital maintenance instructions

Ted Stoves

Product Owner – Connected Worker Group
Chevron

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In the past, edge computing was the gold standard for computer vision models, as it enabled real-time image processing, crucial in industrial settings where latency can have significant consequences. But with the rise of AI, there has been a significant shift in computing needs. Leveraging on Dow’s experience this case study will explore:

·       Understanding the challenges with Edge Compute for Gen AI

·       Addressing specific Edge Compute challenges in hazardous environments, from durability to connectivity to security

·       Strategies to reduce cloud compute costs when implementing Gen AI into your operations

Josh Holtz

Data Science Manager
Dow

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·       Automating existing manual processes across your operations

·       Running tickets and creating work requests across back-office systems

·       Optimize fleet management with scheduling and route optimization

·       Shortening project cycle times and reducing capital investments

·       Attaching digital to work orders created in the field

Automating compliance testing, inspections, permitting and more

·       Enabling a dynamic work environment with real-time communication and data

·       Overcoming knowledge gaps with intrinsically safe smart glasses that give instant access to remote assistance

Enhancing safety with thermal scanning capability to identify potential gas leaks, and temperature anomalies

A recent study by Forrester found that manufacturers with mixed reality training were able to reduce training time by 75% at an average saving of $30 per labor hour. Join this session to explore how our panelists have leveraged immersive training to successfully reduce onboarding time and costs.

·       Creating engaging, immersive learning environments to improve learning confidence and knowledge retention

·       Immersive learning and gamification for learner engagement

·       Creating tailor-made scenarios to meet individual learning needs

Adam Berg

Manager of Learning Technologies
TechnipFMC

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Kevin Havard

Product Owner
Chevron

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Dave McCLure

Director, Manufacturing Innovation
StarPlus Energy

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John Whited

Plant Automation Engineer
Colgate Palmolive

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Manufacturing environments are increasingly complex, with rising demands for efficiency, precision and scalability, but Gen AI offers a powerful toolset that can help unlock new levels of operational performance. This panel will explore some of the key use cases where Gen AI can make a substantial impact including:

·       Using AI to boost plant performance by optimizing processes, improving worker productivity, and reducing downtime

·       Leveraging Gen AI functionality to enhance predictive maintenance capability, from early fault detection to dynamic maintenance schedules

·       Capturing and codifying knowledge from your ageing workforce; creating AI powered knowledge repositories, and adaptive, personalized learning approaches

Jonathan Alexander

Manufacturing AI & Advanced Analytics Manager
Albemarle

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Gary Dunbar

Director of Digital Engineering and IT, Customer Care – North America
ENGIE North America Inc

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Ali Shakouri

Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, College of Engineering
Purdue University

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Tony Papke

Director of Business Development
MxD

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·       Translating procedures into a more human-centered way of working

·       Capturing and sharing tribal knowledge to enhance training procedures

·       Combining visual information with text to guide your workforce through every step of the manufacturing process

·       Unleashing efficiency and innovation with innovative AI copilots

·       Offering personalized assistance to operators and engineers on the plant floor

·       Driving quicker onboarding and reducing training time with digital agents

Chevron has embarked on a mission to assure their well execution in real time. In this presentation, Ben will share progress to date on this ongoing project, including:

·       Chevron’s vision to assure in real time, leveraging algorithms and intelligent logic to compare real time data

·       Connecting Chevron employees to real time data during well test operations

·       Ensuring reduced risks and workforce safety at the wellsite

Ben Randell

Product Line Manager - Assurance
Chevron

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With proper planning zones and conduits (Z&C) security can work with cloud integration. This presentation will explore how Chevron are evaluating where it is appropriate to make the transition from on premises operational technologies (OT) or Industrial Control Systems (ICS), to the Cloud.

·       Evaluating the transition from on premises OT or ICS to the cloud

·       Expected benefits of IIoT, edge computing and the cloud

·       Considerations that change between the traditional environment and software-based infrastructure in the cloud

Dennis Hackney

OT Cyber Engineering Team Lead- Infrastructure
Chevron

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5G is poised to revolutionize the energy sector, making it more efficient, reliable, and sustainable by leveraging advanced connectivity and automation technologies. This session will explore some of the key factors involved including:

·       Cellular technology designed with dedicated radio and localized equipment to support IoT and AI in the field

·       Incorporating multi-access edge computing to support low-latency applications

·       Supporting multiple connected worker applications with guaranteed coverage

Rapid Low-Code, No-Code Application Deployment enhances connected energy workers by enabling quick and easy creation of custom applications that streamline workflows, improve real-time data access, and boost overall productivity. This session will explore some of the key factors involved including:

·       Developing customized experiences and interfaces for your connected workers

·       Creating personalized learning and development programs for rapid onboarding and on the job training

·       Setting up a governance model to manage multiple apps across your manufacturing environment