• Your Profile

  • Agenda

  • We would like to get a brief summary of your thoughts specifically on the following discussion. What was most interesting to you and why?
  • Session 1
    How to merge engineering principles with the world of advanced analytics and AI?

    Artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and internet of things (IoT) can bring huge value to manufacturing production plants. But how can we turn the hype into a scalable model that transforms operations and improves our bottom line profit? A successful journey combines the best of both worlds. This means defining the right methodology, teaming up with data-savvy employees and implementing customizable technology.
    • What’s advanced analytics and how can we combine it with engineering principle?
    • What are the relevant technologies for your organization?
    • How to create a plan to start and scale analytics?
    • How to discover ways to set the stage for an analytics-driven culture?
    • How to apply the right methodology in your own organization?
  • Session 2
    Today’s world: Engineering. Tomorrow’s world: Engineering driven by analytics.

    Manufacturing production plants are run by engineers and operators, not by data scientists. The utmost importance is to democratize AI and analytics to engineers and operators to enable them to drive sustainable impact from these new technologies. However, there is still a gap in skills to be filled to make this possible. You need to improve your employees’ skills and understanding of advanced analytics, brainstorm about its potential in your organization and create a competitive edge. Practical insights through the ‘Smart Factory in a Box’ mini plant created to show how it is possible to transform your manufacturing plant into a 4.0 factory of the future. This will enable the workforce to be ready for what the digital future will bring. Learn which knowledge and skills are needed to begin your transformation to incorporate AI, IoT and data analytics in your daily operations and how to convert the hype into real bottom-line impact.
    • Which roles and skills are crucial to make digital transformation of manufacturing a success?
    • How to motivate people to develop their skills to a more strategic approach as execution becomes automated by algorithms?
    • How to assess the analytics potential of your organization with a clear focus on business value?
    • How to deploy the analytics models in the actual plants by making it part of daily operations?
    • How to scale the analytics models beyond a POC and replicate the solution to plants across the organization?
  • Customer Service

 

Doug Lawson is the founder and CEO of several successful software companies serving the Industrial sector. The software products created by these companies are broadly recognized within the Industrial community and used at more than a million customer facilities.

Between startup acquisitions he held senior leadership positions at Wonderware and Rockwell Automation (Chief Software Strategist). He holds a BSc. Electrical Engineering (Witwatersrand University, South Africa) with continued study in nuclear engineering, business administration and computer science. He holds several patents and industry awards and is a recognized thought leader and speaker.

He has held Board of Director positions at several private companies and Governance Board positions, including at CESMII.

He is passionate about Smart Manufacturing and created ThinkIQ with the goal to revolutionize industrial supply chains for greater resilience, efficiency, and sustainability. The ThinkIQ platform is a significant component of the CESMII Smart Manufacturing Innovation platform.

 

Alfredo Ramos is Investment Director at the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, where he leads the organization's investor engagement and investment strategy. Alfredo has forged his career in highly entrepreneurial settings, bringing deep tech investment expertise from both investor and entrepreneur perspectives. A multilingual senior executive with over 15 years of experience in business leadership, strategic planning, and consulting across diverse industries and geographies, he substantially contributed to the scale-up and exit of high-growth innovative technology companies as a key member of the executive leadership and established corporate venturing operations from the ground up.
In his most recent role, Alfredo served as President and CEO of Medallion Resources Ltd, a clean technology company focused on sourcing and refining high-value minerals and materials for the energy transition. Prior to that, he was part of CPI’s senior leadership with accountability for establishing the company’s corporate venturing and investor engagement arm and leading the company’s digital transformation. Earlier experience includes various leadership roles at Process Systems Enterprise, contributing to the company's expansion and acquisition by Siemens in 2019.
In addition to his professional roles, Alfredo is a member of the Board of Governors at Teesside University. He holds an MBA with Distinction from London Business School and an MSc in Mechanical Engineering from RWTH Aachen University.

 

Karen joined FDF in December 2021. Prior to this, she was the Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association for four years, representing the Scotch Whisky sector in the UK and export markets worldwide. Before joining the SWA, Karen was a diplomat in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for 16 years, where she held a variety of posts in London and overseas, including as British Ambassador to Morocco and non-resident Ambassador to Mauritania, and Counsellor to the British Embassy in Washington. She was also posted to the UK's Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels and the British Embassy in Baghdad. In London, she served in the Cabinet Office and on the staff of the Joint Intelligence Committee, as well as in several roles in the Foreign Office. Before joining government, Karen was a lawyer at Clifford Chance, working in London and Hong Kong. Karen was an Adviser to the UK Government’s Board of Trade from 2019 to 2024 and a Trustee of FareShare. She received an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022 for services to international trade.

 

Max is the Digital Transformation Lead at Sheffield Forgemasters, where he leads the company’s strategic drive to modernise manufacturing operations, embed digital innovation, and harness emerging technologies across one of the UK’s most critical defence manufacturing organisations.

With a background in digital strategy, industrial automation, system and technology-enabled change, Max is influential in shaping Sheffield Forgemasters’ digital roadmap—integrating smart manufacturing, data analytics, and Industry 4.0 principles to enhance performance, efficiency, and resilience.

At the heart of Max’s work is a focus on aligning digital transformation with the company’s long-term vision for sustainable growth and global competitiveness. His leadership is helping shape a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the business.

 

Bala is a digital transformation leader with 10+ yrs experience specialising in turning productivity into profitability through digitalisation.​

He is an industry 4.0 strategy and execution advisor and has a broad range of experience managing large scale transformation programmes advising clients across various industry sectors in operational technology, industrial automation, PLM, MES, IoT and industry cloud solutions

 

With over 15 years of experience in the talent and workforce solutions industry, Luke is the driving force behind Circle’s vision and growth. A recognised expert in talent strategy and project delivery, he launched Circle with a clear mission: to challenge outdated recruitment models and build a solution-led partner that delivers real, measurable outcomes.

Heading up our multinational talent solutions, Luke combines deep industry knowledge with a commercial edge. His understanding of sector demands — particularly across FMCG, Pharma, MedTech, and Supply Chain — enables Circle to stay ahead of market shifts and client needs.

Under his leadership, Circle has become a trusted partner for businesses delivering capital and digital transformation projects, known for its Projects, People, and Products model and its agile, insight-driven approach.

Luke continues to work closely with clients and the internal team, championing a partnership-first culture, and building a business that’s Powered by People. Built to Win.

 

Tahar Kerkeni is a thought leader in industrial and digital transformation, currently leading the Lighthouse Operating System initiative at the World Economic Forum. With over 13 years of international experience, he has a proven track record of advising national industrial transformation agendas and shaping strategies that drive sustainable manufacturing, innovation ecosystems, digital competitiveness, and empower SMEs.