Draft agenda - subject to change
DAY ONE - Thursday, 16th October 2025
08:00 - 08:50
REGISTRATION, REFRESHMENTS AND NETWORKING
09:00 - 09:10
Chair’s Welcome and Opening Remarks
THINK TANK CHALLENGES
We kick off the summit with our NEW ‘Think Tank Challanges,’ delivered over three separate 25-minute sessions. The sessions consist of 10 tables of 8-10 attendees, including sponsors and industry leaders.
The 10 tables will be labelled with a specific industry challenge. Pre-event, all guests will choose 3 out of the 10 challenges that are most interesting and relevant to them. During each session, the group of like-minded attendees will work together to find a solution and potential business impact.
09:15 - 09:40
Think Tank Challenge 1
Working Think Tank Challange topics:
- Skills and talent gap
- Change management and leadership
- Human-machine teaming
- Building trust in AI/autonomous systems
- Cybersecurity risk & threat detection
- Data management, quality & privacy
- Legacy infrastructure and integration
- Compliance & regulatory management
- 3D printing & additive manufacturing
- AI & advanced analytics
- Robotics & automation
- Digital twins & Internet of Things (IoT) implementation
- Resilient supply chains
- Green & energy-efficient technologies
- From pilot to plant
- Quantifying digital impact and justification
09:45 - 10:10
Think Tank Challenge 2
Think Tanks Challange topics repeated as above
10:15 - 10:40
Think Tank Challenge 3
Think Tanks Challange topics repeated as above
10:45 - 11:10
COFFEE AND NETWORKING
11:15 – 11:40
WORKSHOP
Digital leadership and workforce evolution
Key Takeaways:
How to bridge the skills gap for digital-ready workforce through practical training examples?
Real-world strategies for overcoming employee resistance and managing change during digital transformation initiatives.
How to use human-AI collaboration to enhance decision-making and empower human operators on the shop floor?
How can AI-powered platforms be leveraged to deliver measurable ROI for a future-ready workforce through continuous learning?
Johan Majlov, M-OpEx, Executive Director of Operations, NPS
Meeting session 1
11:45 – 12:10
WORKSHOP
Human-AI collaboration and trust in automation production
Key Takeaways:
How to optimize human-machine interface (HMI) design for seamless collaboration and efficient task allocation in automated production?
What AI explainability and transparency mechanisms are crucial for building trust in autonomous systems for effective human oversight?
How can AI support human workers so they can find smarter solutions in real-time?
What foundational requirements of a digital factory are crucial for scalable human-AI collaboration and trusted automation deployment?
Meeting session 2
12:15 – 12:45
WORKSHOP
Pilot-to-plant: Achieving operational excellence and green outcomes
Key takeaways:
- What proven strategies scale digital initiatives from pilot programs to full plant operation for sustainable impact?
- How to identify and quantify tangible ROI from enterprise-wide digital scaling efforts through real-world metrics and examples?
- How to ensure long-term value and adaptability in a dynamic global market using smart energy management systems for measurable environmental benefits?
- What green and energy-efficient technologies contribute to achieving operational excellence, backed by implementation success stories?
Meeting session 3
12:50 – 13:50
NETWORKING LUNCH
13:55 - 14:30
HEADLINE FIRESIDE CHAT
Breaking the silos: Aligning cloud, data, and IT/OT systems for scalable digital transformation
Key takeaways:
How can cloud-first architecture and unified data platforms bridge longstanding divides between IT and OT environments?
What enterprise-wide governance frameworks support seamless integration and secure data sharing across all systems?
How can federated data mesh and modern cloud infrastructure enable a more agile, insight-driven manufacturing ecosystem?
What leadership and change strategies help embed a data-first culture and accelerate cross-functional transformation across digital, operations, and engineering teams?
Shelly (Washington) Woodruff, Executive Director Data Engineering, General Motors
14:35 - 15:00
WORKSHOP
From factory floor to cloud: Enabling scalable interoperability through OPC UA
Key takeaways:
- Discover how OPC UA enables seamless IT/OT integration and supports scalable digital manufacturing architectures.
- Learn how the new OPC UA Cloud Initiative connects factory floor data with major cloud platforms and analytics tools.
- Explore real-world use cases showing OPC UA in action for digital twins, predictive maintenance, and edge-to-cloud deployments.
- Understand the role of open standards in modernizing legacy systems and unlocking long-term interoperability.
Michael Clark, Director, OPC Foundations North America
Meeting session 4
15:05 - 15:30
WORKSHOP
Upgrading process technology in legacy environments for scalable integration
Key takeaways:
- Best practices for modernizing legacy process control systems in brownfield operations.
- Strategies to ensure seamless integration and scalability amid complex, aging infrastructure.
- Leveraging advanced process control and smart instrumentation to optimize legacy system performance.
- Maintaining operational continuity and minimizing risk during brownfield technology upgrades.
Arnold “Marty” Martin, P.E., CAP, Director, Process Control Technolog , Air Liquide America
Meeting session 5
15:35 - 16:00
COFFEE AND NETWORKING
16:05 - 16:30
WORKSHOP
Digital twin implementation and utilization
- What are the practical considerations for implementing scalable digital twins and ensuring their real-time data acquisition from IoT sources?
- What strategies effectively integrate digital twins with existing enterprise systems to extend their operational utility?
- What data strategies ensure real-time insights and predictive capabilities from digital twins for real-world problem-solving?
- What approaches translate complex data into actionable intelligence for optimization and ROI, with a focus on demonstrable business value?
Lauren Dunford, CEO & Co-Founder, Guidewheel
Meeting session 6
16:35 - 17:00
WORKSHOP
Data governance for accessible and quality data across supply chain
- How to establish effective data governance frameworks to ensure data accessibility and quality across complex supply chain networks?
- What strategies centralize and standardize data from disparate supply chain sources for unified visibility and decision-making?
- How can real-time data integration and validation protocols enhance trust and reliability of supply chain data?
- What approaches align data governance with compliance requirements and foster a data-driven culture throughout the supply chain?
Meeting session 7
17:00 - 17:10
Chair's closing remarks
17:10 - 18:10
DRINKS RECEPTION
DAY TWO – Friday, 17th October 2025
08:00 - 08:55
REFRESHMENTS AND NETWORKING
09:00 - 09:10
Chair's opening remarks
09:15 - 10:00
ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS
Small group discussions tackling your most critical challenges
Working Roundtable topics:
- Skills and talent gap
- Change management and leadership
- Human-machine teaming
- Building trust in AI/autonomous systems
- Cybersecurity risk & threat detection
- Data management, quality & privacy
- Legacy infrastructure and integration
- Compliance & regulatory management
- 3D printing & additive manufacturing
- AI & advanced analytics
- Robotics & automation
- Digital twins & Internet of Things (IoT) implementation
- Resilient supply chains
- Green & energy-efficient technologies
- From pilot to plant
- Quantifying digital impact and justification
10:10 - 10:35
WORKSHOP
AI paybook for supply chain resilience: Data implementation and integration
Key Takeaways:
- How to develop and execute an AI playbook that drives supply chain resilience and operational efficiency.
- Strategies for change management and embedding AI into daily workflows for lasting adoption.
- Case studies showcasing real-world AI implementation and integration across supply chains.
- Best practices for leveraging Industry 4.0 data and third-party solutions like digital twins and automation to unlock operational value.
Mohit Ahuja, Strategy and Transformation Leader, Caterpillar
Meeting session 8
10:40 - 11:05
COFFEE AND NETWORKING
11:10 - 11:35
WORKSHOP
Navigating the Challenges of AI Deployment at Scale
Key takeaways:
The widespread adoption of AI in manufacturing is currently facing significant implementation hurdles. Our analysis identifies three primary obstacles:
- Network Infrastructure: Manufacturers are concerned that the integration of AI-driven innovations will place an unsustainable burden on existing network infrastructure.
- Compute Optimization: A lack of clarity exists regarding how and where to effectively optimize compute resources to support increased AI utilization.
- Secure Access: The provision of secure remote access for third-party vendors and partners on the shop floor presents a growing security and logistical challenge.
- ROI Projections & Funding: Demonstrating clear return on investment (ROI) projections and securing adequate funding are critical challenges for manufacturers looking to invest in AI integration.
Mike Weller, Director of Global Solutions – Manufacturing, Verizon
Meeting session 9
11:40 - 12:05
WORKSHOP
Predictive maintenance: Using AI and real-time data to prevent equipment failures
Key Takeaways:
What Learn how AI models detect early warning signs of equipment failure using real-time machine data.
Discover how predictive maintenance reduces unplanned downtime and improves decision-making.
Understand what data (sensor readings, cycle counts, pressure/temp logs) helps predict faults.
See real-world examples of AI in action within GMP-regulated pharma manufacturing.
Sai Vijay Thattukolla, Production System Owner, CSL
Meeting session 10
12:10 - 12:50
FIRESIDE CHAT
Is the quest for fully autonomous operations creating more risk than reward for enterprises?
- Explore the real-world impact of autonomous operations on manufacturing system performance, reliability, and scalability
- Understand how data architecture and systems integration can enable or limit the path to autonomy
- Discuss strategies for balancing human oversight with automation in critical industrial processes
- Hear how digital leaders are aligning autonomous technologies with operational excellence and business strategy
Kurt Krieg, Director Digitalization, Data and Systems Expertise, BASF
12:50 - 13:05
Chair's Closing Remarks
13:05 - 14:05
FAREWELL LUNCH
Interested in Sponsoring? Call +44 (0) 20 3004 8930 or learn more here.