Schedule of Events
8:00 AM ET: Next Gen MES strategy, deployment & value tracking at SLB Manufacturing
Ankur Gupta, Manufacturing Technology & Automation Program Manager, SLB
At SLB we have over 70+ manufacturing plants located globally with multiple manufacturing models such as Assembly & Test, Machining, Process. In this session I will introduce SLB’s MES strategy which covers the business goals as well as the use cases from a truly global mfg. footprint. I will also share what goes into developing a MES, how do we drive adoption and our vision for the next generation MES in the age of AI/ML. One of the challenges in a MES project (and most digital projects) is the value tracking or to measure the return on investment. I will give a high-level overview of how we at SLB are using a multi-prong model to track the savings/returns from our MES.
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9:00 AM ET: From Idea to Implementation: How Vibe Coding Empowers Manufacturers with AI
Nikhil Makhija, Sr. Manufacturing Systems Analyst, FUJIFILM Dimatix, Inc.
Manufacturers in Industry 4.0 must adopt AI-driven solutions because the rapidly changing landscape demands increased efficiency, flexibility and innovation. The presentation introduces vibe coding as a software development method which uses artificial intelligence. Vibe coding is a method which enables users to transform natural language instructions into functional code through AI assistants including ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, Replit and Cursor. The presentation demonstrates how vibe coding transforms manufacturing operations by making AI adoption more accessible. The implementation of AI applications for predictive maintenance, quality control and visual inspection traditionally needed programming expertise from specialists. Through vibe coding users can describe their goals in simple language so AI systems can quickly produce and improve and deploy required software components. Real-world examples will showcase how manufacturers can speed up their development processes and decrease expenses and achieve better agility through vibe coding implementation. The presentation highlights real-world use cases that demonstrate how manufacturers can leverage vibe coding to implement AI-driven solutions across various operational areas. The presentation will discuss the implementation challenges of maintaining code quality and managing complexity while ensuring human oversight in essential processes. The session will demonstrate how vibe coding enables manufacturers to achieve digital transformation through smarter, faster and more inclusive innovation on a scale.
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10:00 AM ET: Automotive Industry - Ecosystem Play in Sustainability transformation
Jennifer Heckmann, Sr. Manager, North America Sustainability Promotion, DENSO International America, Inc.
Doris Hill, Engineering Group Manager, Vehicle Chemical Regulatory Compliance and Certification (VCRC), General Motors
Naveen Mehata Kondamudi, Consulting Partner - Carbon & Energy - Sustainability Services Unit, TCS
Swati Murthy, PhD, Director - Global Sustainability Solutions Practice, TCS
Decarbonization across the manufacturing value chain is essential not only for regulatory compliance but can become a competitive advantage as well. Additionally, consumer behavior has driven companies to look at the embodied carbon of the product to help conscious and loyal users choose more sustainable products. This will involve careful consideration of the materials as well as enabling responsible design decisions for the end-products.
The panel discussion with leaders from the Automotive Industry and Sustainable Manufacturing ecosystem will explore how the different actors across the automotive value chain contribute towards sustainability transformation. We will discuss on how tech-enabled digital transformation can advance sustainability ambitions from materials to end-products making “sustainability by design” a reality.
We will understand the successful sustainability journeys taken up by 2 automotive companies and the challenges they had to overcome in this process and the best practices they would like to share. While the approach taken by these companies might be different, they share the common vision on sustainability.
In all these initiatives, we will understand the need for a strong digital thread which will manage the data, processes and the rules. Be it enabling existing PLM systems to track recyclability or using BIG data to measure carbon Scope 1,2 3 emissions. This will also emphasize the need for good data for AI/ML models for prediction of sustainability impact of new materials and composite designs.
The key challenges manufacturing customers face in selling the idea of decarbonization across the manufacturing value chain is cost. While compliance drives the need for its cost is the primary for delay in adoption. This discussion would focus on areas which would make decarbonization profitable.
The discussion will try to bring out the strategic initiatives the organizations have taken up to ensure the initiatives are profitable in the long term. The key takeaways to the audience would be on how to position and sell the sustainability initiatives for both the internal and external stakeholders so that the adoption and acceptance of these initiatives are high enabling the sustainability targets to be met.
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11:00 AM ET: Industrial DataOps today: Multi-Vendor Ecosystems and Unified Data Strategies
David Ariens, Author, The IT/OT Insider
2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for Industrial DataOps, with significant advancements on the horizon. However, more challenges remain than clear solutions. This presentation explores the current state of Industrial DataOps, focusing on its evolving role in multi-vendor ecosystems and unified data strategies. Key topics include: Capability Map Analysis: An in-depth look at the industrial data landscape, highlighting key capabilities and areas requiring further development. Unified Namespace (UNS) Demystified: Clarifying the role of UNS in bridging SCADA systems and data platforms, and its role in a multi-vendor environment. IT-OT Integration in Practice: Strategies for achieving seamless convergence between Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) within a multi-vendor environment. Future Directions and Challenges: An honest assessment of the hurdles facing Industrial DataOps, from standardization to vendor collaboration, and how these can shape its trajectory beyond 2025.
8:00 AM ET: Digital Manufacturing Transformation
Brendan Walsh, IT Business Relationship Manager for Engineering, Supply Chain, Hypertherm Associates
Hypertherm Associates, an employee-owned company, is dedicated to achieving positive outcomes across its triple bottom line: People, Planet, and Profit. With a strong history of empowered continuous improvement, we have innovatively addressed individual challenges across our seven manufacturing facilities. While this ungoverned approach led to rapid profitability and revenue growth in the 2000s, it also resulted in significant technical debt. Currently, we manage over 200 customized shop floor software solutions, reporting to more than 50 disparate databases across our machining, assembly, and automation manufacturing cells. To mitigate this technology risk, we developed the Enterprise Hypertherm Digital Manufacturing Roadmap. This abstract reviews our strategy and progress in deploying an integrated ERP-MES-IoT solution.
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9:00AM ET: Weaving Intelligence into Performance
Victor Venancio, Director of Digital Solutions LatAm, SAMSON GROUP
Everyone talks about digital transformation. But what does it actually take to move from theory to real, with daily impact on the plant floor?
In this session, we will show the impact of AI applied on industrial organizations, being focused on failure predictions of equipment, sensors, valves and systems, and its consequences on process performance degradation. The presentation brings relevant aspects of AI implementation, some barriers to adoption, benefits and outcomes, inviting the audience to a reflection about AI strategic approach to improve operational availability and increase profitability.
The HCAI ( Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence ) approach presented, demonstrate how AI is being used for organizations with high digital maturity level, to potentialize human wisdom and create shared value with all society.
In this session, attendees will gain:
A strategic view about AI implementation
How AI create value for industrial organizations through comprehensive failure and performance predictions.
Take advantage of AI digital platforms enhancing human decision-making
A clear path to align reliability, sustainability, and business outcomes, with AI revealing what others miss, creating competitive advantage.
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10:00 AM ET: Streamline, Conserve and Reuse: The New Rules of Manufacturing
Joanne Friedman, CEO, Connektedminds Inc.
Scott King, Director of Manufacturing IT, Ford Motor Company
Jeremy Meegan, Channel Sales Manager, SmartSights
Dave Noller, Retired, IBM
This session is focused on Sustainability in Smart Manufacturing. During this session, the panel will discuss actions companies are taking in this area such as:
- Innovation in deployment of highly efficient manufacturing technologies and processes
- Reducing operational costs by improving energy consumption, downtime and resource efficiency.
- Deploying energy-efficient machinery and advanced technologies like IIoT to optimize, build quality, processes and maintenance.
- Technologies and processes to support environmental protection goals.
We will also discuss long term vision and expectations in this area given regulatory expectations and the shift to renewable energy sources.
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11:00 AM ET: Smart Manufacturing Intelligence: Transforming Data into Value with AI
Ryan McMartin, Director of Product Marketing, Parsec Automation LLC
In today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment, data is everywhere, but actionable insights often remain out of reach. Artificial Intelligence holds great promise for turning this data into value—but without a solid data foundation, AI efforts can easily fall short. Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) play a critical role in building that foundation by collecting, contextualizing, and organizing data across the shop floor.
This session will explore the importance of establishing trusted, structured data before applying AI. We’ll begin by discussing the challenge of data overload and the risks of disconnected, siloed systems. Next, we’ll show how MES serves as the bridge between raw data and AI-driven insights, providing the context needed for smarter, faster decision-making. Real-world examples will illustrate how manufacturers are using this approach to improve efficiency, reduce downtime, and minimize waste.
Finally, we’ll connect the discussion to MESA’s theme of People, Planet, and Profit—demonstrating how a strong data foundation empowers workers with accessible insights (People), supports sustainability by optimizing resource use (Planet), and drives measurable business outcomes (Profit). Attendees will leave with a practical understanding of how to prepare their operations for successful, scalable AI adoption through solid data practices.
8:00 AM ET: Fostering IT/OT Convergence and Promoting Sustainable Industry Digital Transformation through Modular MES and Digital Product Passports
Thibaut Jouanin, Executive Director of Industry, L-Acoustics
Ayoub Mounaddam, Executive Director of IT & Digital, L-Acoustics
In the rapidly evolving landscape of industrial operations, the convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) is pivotal for achieving seamless integration and enhanced efficiency. This presentation explores the transformative potential of modular Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) and Digital Product Passports (DPP) in driving IT/OT convergence and promoting sustainable industry digital transformation.
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9:00 AM ET: Digital Threads Across the Supply Chain for People, Planet, and Profit
Julie Fraser, VP Research for Operations and
Manufacturing and facilitator of the MESA Smart Manufacturing Community Smart Connected Supply Chain Group, Tech-Clarity
Dave Hinkler, Executive Director, Global Professional Services, On Time Edge
Philip Maud, Senior Operations Manager, McElroy
Giorgos Petropoulos, IT Manager, Coffee Island
How can manufacturers help ensure their data flows in ways that enable them to navigate uncertainty in their supply chain ecosystem? What might a digital thread look like to span production and materials procurement as well as through to end buyers?
This panel session will address those questions and more around cross disciplinary information flows, measurable business benefits, and what changes for people and processes as successful technology implementations roll across the company. Panelists are from very different industries and backgrounds, but have achieved significant business benefits from their digital transformation efforts.
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10:00 AM ET: Measuring Financial Benefits of Equipment Performance Improvements
Luis Golcher, Senior MES Consultant, IPG
This presentation explores various methods for measuring the financial impact of performance improvements in manufacturing equipment. While multiple approaches exist, the focus will be on evaluating which methods are most practical and effective for assessing the economic benefits of enhancing equipment performance.
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11:00 AM ET: Data is Not a Four-Letter Word
Jeremy Gibbs, Senior Manager, Digital Solutions and Data Centers, ATS Global
In the world of MES (Manufacturing Execution System) implementations, one truth stands firm: data is not a four-letter word—even if it sometimes feels like one. Too often, data gets a bad rap as the tedious, messy, or overwhelming part of the project, but it’s not the villain. In fact, it's the blueprint, the foundation, and the fuel for everything your MES is supposed to deliver. This presentation makes the case that data must be the solid foundation of any MES initiative—because you can’t manage what you haven’t defined. We’ll explore the critical (and often underestimated) importance of identifying what data is needed—and why—early in the project, not halfway through implementation. From the pitfalls of vague data requirements and last-minute clean-up efforts, to the risks of assuming “we’ll figure it out later,” we’ll share real-world lessons on how early data scoping de-risks projects, accelerates integration, and enables long-term scalability. Whether you're a data champion or someone who’s been dodging the data discussion, you’ll leave with practical strategies to tame the data beast and build MES solutions that are accurate, resilient, and surprisingly likable. Because let’s face it—data may be four letters, but it’s not a dirty word.
8:00 AM ET: Building AI on Strong Data Foundations for Competitive Advantage
Nasser Ahmad, Director, Digitalization, Höganäs AB
Jason Bassett, IT Manager, Madsen's Custom Cabinets
David Batet, CTO, DigiProces
Julie Fraser, VP Research for Operations and Manufacturing and facilitator of the MESA Smart Manufacturing Community Smart Connected Supply Chain Group, Tech-Clarity
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9:00 AM ET: Smart Manufacturing for a Smarter Planet: Balancing Profit and Purpose
Kiran Kumar Reddy Velagala, Solutions Architect, HCLTech
Discover how smart manufacturing is reshaping industrial operations by aligning profitability with sustainability. This session explores the role of AI, digital twins, and cloud-native platforms in enabling predictive maintenance, agile production planning, and ESG compliance. Learn how manufacturers can build intelligent, future-ready ecosystems that drive both business value and environmental impact.
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10:00 AM ET: Agentic Digital Twins - The Next Evolution in Autonomous Manufacturing
Joanne Friedman, CEO, Connektedminds Inc.
Dave Hinkler, Executive Director, Global Professional Services, On Time Edge
As manufacturing enters the age of autonomous operations, traditional digital twins are evolving beyond passive monitoring and simulation tools into intelligent, decision-making entities. This session explores Agentic Digital Twins - AI-powered virtual representations that can autonomously analyze, predict, optimize, and even execute decisions across manufacturing operations in real-time.
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