March 18 - 20, 2025
| The Westin Galleria, Houston, TX
Main Conference Day Two | Thursday, March 20 2025
7:00 am - 8:00 am
MEET THE EXPERT BREAKFAST: Ron Norris, Casual AI
This is an exclusive opportunity to join AI Leader Ron Norris for breakfast and in a small group setting quiz him on all things AI and the innovative work he has been leading at Georgia Pacific. There are only 30 places available so to avoid disappointment, make sure you book early!
7:30 am - 8:00 am
Check in and Networking Breakfast
8:00 am - 8:10 am
Chair’s Opening Remarks
8:10 am - 8:50 am
LIGHTNING TALKS Data Analytics Technologies and AI in Action: Lessons Learned from Active Projects
Darwin Jebha -
Vice President & Chief Information Officer,
Thermon Inc
Brent Railey - Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Tony Huffman - Enterprise Architect Strategist, Industry 4.0, Koch Industries
This session will feature 4 lightning talks (7 minutes), each from an industry leader in the Connected Worker Space. Designed to share a project challenge, insights into the technology that helped solve it and the lessons learned along the way, you’ll leave with practical insights into how each company is driving ROI.
Talk 1: Using Data to Optimize Processes, Reduce Costs and Improve Decision Making at Thermon Inc. Darwin Jebha, VP & CIO, Thermon Inc
Talk 2: The Next Step in CNX’s Prescriptive Analytics Journey: How we are Linking Data to Actionable Recommendations Across the Maintenance Function, Shawn Quimby, Vice President, Operations Technology, CNX
Talk 3: Harnessing AI Agents for Efficiency: Automating Repetitive Tasks, Streamlining Complex Processes, and Boosting Productivity, Brent Railey, Chief Data & Analytics Officer, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
Talk 4: Utilizing Gen AI to Enable Personalized Learning Experiences that Drive Upskilling and User Experience, Tony Huffman, Enterprise Architect Strategist, Industry 4.0, Koch
8:50 am - 9:20 am
Integrating Data Analytics to Revolutionize all Areas of your Connected Operations
· Essential considerations for effectively implementing data analytics across your operations
· Creating a modern data management system that gives you a single source of truth and standardizes data availability
· Considering process and culture change when adopting a data-driven operational focus
9:20 am - 10:00 am
PANEL: Smart Operations Need Smarter Cybersecurity: Protecting your Operational Assets
George Crawford -
CISO, CIO & Partner,
Catapult Energy Services Group LLC
Dave Bang - Senior Trust Advisor, Global Security Awareness, LyondellBasell
Reynaldo Gonzalez - Principal Cybersecurity Architect, Cummins Inc
Preston Boley - Industrial Automation Security and Systems Manager, BASF
Durgesh Kalya - BTN PCT Automation – OT Security/Network Expert, Covestro
The alarming rise in OT cyber-attacks on America’s industrial sector has highlighted the urgent need to prioritize investment to effectively defend against OT specific cyber threats. Energy, utilities and industrial manufacturers need to reassess their approach to cybersecurity and mitigate against attacks across converged systems. This panel will explore:
· Reassessing your approach to cybersecurity and prioritizing investment in advanced threat detection, employee training and incident response capability
· Developing a zero-trust approach to data protection across diverse platforms and multiple OEM systems
· Designing a comprehensive strategy to safeguard your legacy assets and provide a clear picture of potential vulnerabilities
10:00 am - 10:30 am
Networking Break
CONNECTED SAFETY
10:30 am - 11:00 am CASE STUDY: Staying Safe, Staying Hydrated: Deploying Connected Hydration Solutions Kathryn Underhill - Digital Scout/Project Manager, Chevron Technology VenturesWendy Chopra - Digital Product Line Manager, Chevron
Louisa Reid - Digital Technology Scout, Chevron Technology Ventures
Mike Wasik - Occupational Health Programs Advisor, Chevron
Santiago Cepeda - HSE Manager, Chevron
· Deploying a sweat-sensing wearable biosensor and cloud analytics solutions that measure sweat loss, sodium loss and skin temperature
· Providing individualized rehydration strategies in real-time to protect our workforce across multiple sites
· Exploring behavioral changes of our workforce when utilizing connected hydration solutions
Wendy Chopra
Digital Product Line ManagerChevron
CONNECTED ASSET MAINTENANCE & OPERATIONS
10:30 am - 11:00 am CASE STUDY: Using Advanced Robotics and Drones at EDP to Streamline Operations and Improve Worker Efficiency Stephan Blasilli - Head of Business Process Excellence, EDP· Automating asset inspections through AI powered drones at EDP
· Leveraging a combination of cognitive robotics, advanced vision systems and AI
· Using advanced robotics to reduce repetitive labor-intensive processes and free up workers for higher value tasks
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Proactively Reducing Risks to Oil and Gas Workers with Connected Safety Platforms
· Converging personal and process safety to improve efficiency, safety and reliability
· Inspection and audits to preventatively reduce safety hazards and risk
· Enhancing asset management and ensuring efficient performance of inspection activities
11:00 am - 11:30 am
Implementing AI to Develop a Proactive and Cost-Effective Maintenance Program
AI presents some significant opportunities for reducing downtime and costs, but it is not without its challenges, this session will explore the opportunities and challenges of using AI for predicative maintenance including:
· Improving Predictive Maintenance Accuracy: Discuss how AI and machine learning can enhance the precision of predictive maintenance programs.
· Protecting Data Quality with AI-Driven Anomaly Detection: Explore how AI can detect anomalies to safeguard the quality and integrity of your data sets.
· Optimizing Inventory Management with AI: Explain how AI systems assist maintenance teams in maintaining optimal inventory levels.
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
CASE STUDY: Eliminating Paper-Based Systems and Improving Safety Outcomes through Digitizing Permit to Work Processes
Mason Jones -
Manufacturing Digital Manager,
Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
· Digitizing your entire permit to work process to gain real-time visibility into your operations
· Configuring personalized notification flows for each step of the permit process
· Accessing via mobile apps for in-field use wherever you are
10:30 am - 11:00 am
CASE STUDY: Enhancing Asset Performance, Simplifying Operations, and Boosting Efficiency with Digital Twin Technology at Covestro
Bharat Marwaha -
Process Data Analytics & Condition Monitoring Lead,
Covestro
· Simulating the management of assets to forecast potential scenarios
· Integrating engineering and operations data to aggregate asset data and create digital twins
· Gaining complete asset visibility to drive enhanced decision-making and opex
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
CASE STUDY: Examining how AI can Transform Safety Processes across Energy Operations and Reduce Threat to Life
Mike McFarlane -
Member Board of Trustees,
AI Applied Consortium
Konrad Konarski - Member Board of Trustees, AI Applied Consortium
Konrad Konarski - Member Board of Trustees, AI Applied Consortium
· Revolutionizing safety protocols by proactively identifying and mitigating potential risks
· Providing early detection of abnormal conditions to ensure early intervention and prevent safety incidents
Enabling real time monitoring of sites to alert security personnel on unauthorized access attempts
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
CASE STUDY: Eliminate Unplanned Downtime and Maximize Asset Reliability with Predictive Maintenance Analytics
· Implementing a data-driven predictive maintenance strategy to extend the life of your assets and reduce costs
· Monitoring equipment performance and preventing power outages
· Incorporating machine learning and statistical algorithms to evaluate machine health
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch and Networking Break
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Campfire Session: Creating a Culture that Embraces Innovation and Drives Successful User Adoption
Jan Shumate -
Engineering & Construction Solutions/Corp Manufacturing Automation Transformation,
Eastman
Darin Powell - Global IT Digital Leader, Bayer Crop Science
Mark A. Prosser - Digital Manufacturing Mobility Advisor, ExxonMobil Joliet Refinery
Michael Muilenburg - Senior Manufacturing Peer Group Leader and Instructor, Manufacturers Alliance
Join our campfire session to hear from our industry experts as they share insights on various aspects of their connected worker user adoption journey. Following their presentations, the spotlight turns to you, the audience, where you can offer comments, share insights, and discuss the challenges you face in this area. With ample time dedicated to audience participation, you’ll have the chance to shape your own learning experience and connect with fellow attendees who share similar challenges.
(1) Communicating a vision for change, how to clearly articulate the benefits to both your business and workforce, Jan Shumate, Director, Worldwide Engineering & Construction Solutions and Corporate Manufacturing Automation Center of Excellence, Eastman Chemical Company
(2) Learning through Failure, how to foster a culture of innovation and experimentation, even when things go wrong! Darin Powell, Global IT Digital Leader, Transformation Strategy and Experimentation, Bayer Crop Science
(3) Listen, Learn, Change: The role of open communication in reducing conflict and resistance to change, Mark Prosser, Industrial Mobility Advisor & Digital Manufacturing Lead, ExxonMobil
(4) Building change management capability and clearly communicating your vision for ‘why’ and ‘how’ the new digital tools will enhance user experience, Michael Muillenburg. Senior Manufacturing Peer Group Leader and Instructor, Manufacturers Alliance
Jan Shumate
Engineering & Construction Solutions/Corp Manufacturing Automation TransformationEastman
Michael Muilenburg
Senior Manufacturing Peer Group Leader and InstructorManufacturers Alliance
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
CASE STUDY: Making the Most of the People Behind the Process at Total Energies
Tammy A. Bilbo-Palms -
Superintendent – Operations Excellence,
TotalEnergies Petrochemicals & Refining USA, INC
In this case study TotalEnergies will share how they transformed their frontline operations from legacy to digital, through a core focus on change management and driving user adoption. Key learnings include:
· The importance of bottom-up change and rethinking how change is implemented to align human and machine
· Involving your frontline workers in your transformation from start to finish, to increase trust and user adoption
· Getting the right information to the right people and why communication is a critical skill in operations
Tammy A. Bilbo-Palms
Superintendent – Operations ExcellenceTotalEnergies Petrochemicals & Refining USA, INC
3:00 pm - 3:40 pm
CLOSING KEYNOTE: Exploring Celanese’s Approach to Digital Transformation - Transforming People and Systems at Scale and Speed
Piya Dey -
Director Digital Manufacturing,
Celanese
“It’s important to create a culture of change, innovation, and “fail fast,” where the company recognizes failure as progress. If people are afraid to fail, you as a leader have killed innovation and creativity” Sameer Purao, Global CIO, Celanese
In 2021, Celanese began a digital transformation to optimize their manufacturing plants and connect workers with real-time information. In this presentation, Piya Dey will discuss the challenges they encountered, and the strategies used to foster culture and engagement throughout their digital transformation.
· Examining the drivers behind Celanese’s transformation initiatives – the digital customer journey, digital manufacturing and digital back office
· Understanding how to gain consensus from your stakeholders and teams on a strategy for carrying out transformation work
· Creating a legacy to keep on driving future innovations and transformation initiatives
