Agenda

The Intersection of Technology, Process, & People
No matter where you are on your digitalization journey, technology, process, and people must come together for project success. Each of these three facets depends on the others, and keeping them in context is pivotal to gauging where change is needed. As you navigate evolving company environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals and customer requirements, this event will help you understand stakeholder requirements relative to digital transformation and provide insight on the criteria required to measure value (by ensuring the quality of the data/processes). This program is designed to help your company prepare the people who will make the project a success.


Sunday | June 25

  1. 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

    The Journey to Digitalization Begins Here

    Digitalization of a complex plant can be overwhelming. If your organization is just getting started on digitalization, this session will provide the essentials, including basic terminology for digitalization, a commonly used roadmap, and best practices that could help you avoid pitfalls. The session will include presentations on case studies and an overview of technology approaches that could help you progress each step of the way.

    • Sarah Kline Hanara Software
    • Michael Reid PhD Duke Energy
  2. 2:45 PM – 3:15 PM

    New Orleans Power Break

    Join us in the Digital Arena for fresh smoothies & light bites as we welcome you to New Orleans. With the energy in the room at an all-time high, you’ll be charged up to connect with like-minded individuals in your industry!

  3. 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM

    What We Learned the Hard Way

    The old adage “hindsight is 20-20” is especially relevant to technology adoption. Don’t rush your digitalization transformation without considering lessons learned. Join us for an open discussion from industry leaders who started their journey years ago, and who will share what they wish they could have known before they started. This session will help you avoid common pitfalls in your journey of technology adoption.

    • Dr. Yves Gorat Stommel Evonik Digital
    • Steven Ford Southern Company
    • Jaclyn Arnold ReVisionz
  4. 4:15 PM – 5:30 PM

    Scaling Albemarle Intelligence – Invention vs. Innovation in AI & ML – The Intelligence may be Artificial, but the Success is Real

    Have you heard the saying “data is the new oil”, and previously “oil is the new gold”? At Albemarle, we have found that to be true. The 4th industrial revolution has already started and Albemarle plans on positioning itself as a leader in the industry when it comes to utilizing our chemical manufacturing data. To capture the value from our data, using economies of scale, we created a global digital transformation initiative called – Project AI, recently awarded the Manufacturing Leadership Award for AI and Machine Learning. This global transformation anchors its foundation on the AVEVA PI System as not only a data infrastructure, but also an analytics engine, alongside our existing partners, Northwest Analytics & Sartorius SIMCA, fueling massive growth and productivity in our manufacturing plants. As the “AI” suggests, plenty of artificial intelligence is involved. But to us, AI means Albemarle Intelligence. Though catchy, the moniker has a deeper purpose: reminding us that all of the ingredients for digital transformation already exist. By enabling and empowering our people with the right technology, we can truly unlock the value of information.

    • Jonathan Alexander ALBEMARLE
  5. 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM

    Bourbon & Blues Game Changer Awards Reception

    Get ready for an unforgettable night of celebration at the Bourbon & Blues Game Changer Awards. Enjoy specialty bourbon cocktails, a Cajun quesadilla station, grilled Italian marinated vegetables and a salad duo station. We welcome you to join us for an evening of celebration as we recognize the outstanding achievements of our fast risers in the field!

Monday | June 26

  1. 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

    Networking Breakfast

  2. 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

    Welcome and Opening

    • Scott Jenkins Chemical Engineering Magazine
    • Sonal Patel POWER magazine
  3. 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

    Quantum Computing: Going beyond the Buzzwords

    Digitalization, driven by big data, the industrial internet of things (IIOT), and even artificial intelligence (AI), has made its mark on the energy, chemical process, and other process-heavy industries. The transformation of analog or manual processes into digital ones has shown big gains in enabling greater transparency into process-intensive operations and helped to ramp up efficiency, reliability, and profitability.
    But as industry complexities evolve, so too must their ability to solve intricate problems. Quantum computing, a form of computing that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to perform certain types of calculations much faster than classical computers, may provide a solution. While commercial quantum computers are only just emerging, quantum computing is showing promise in several fields like materials science, finance, cryptography, logistics, and energy systems. In the IIOT landscape, quantum computing could play a potentially significant role in enabling faster and more efficient data processing, simulation, optimization, and machine learning.
    Join us for this series of keynote addresses, during which we will hear more about the future potential of fully quantum computers, as well as the current capabilities of quantum-inspired computing. Our group of experienced speakers will provide an understanding of what quantum computers are and how they might be used in the future, while also explaining how quantum-inspired computing could help solve difficult problems at CPI and power plants right now.

    • Alan Ho Engineer and Entrepreneur
    • Christian Gogolin Covestro
    • Masoud Mosheni Google
  4. 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

    Dunker and Donuts Social

    Take a morning break at our Dunker and Donuts Social that is sure to give you the boost you need to tackle the day. Indulge in an array of mouthwatering donuts and buttermilk corn dogs paired with your favorite assorted iced tea or Starbucks Frappuccino!

  5. 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

    Solving the 5 W's of Digital Twins and How to Take it to the Next Level

    Digital twins vary in functionality and understanding their different approaches, applicability, and challenges may help you hone in on a solution or process that best fits your organization. Experts at this session will discuss the different types of digital twins and their many different applications across many industries to solve maintenance operations and field work initiatives. This includes utilizing digital twins to create advisories and workflow opportunities.

    • Piya Dey Celanese Corporation
    • Brenda Stout Celanese Corporation
    • Samir Khanna BP Oil Co
  6. 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

    Networking and Roundtable Luncheon

  7. 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

    Process Automation - Using AI in Real World projects

    This session will include several case studies showing how artificial intelligence (AI) is already being used at operational power and chemical plants. Studies will explore how data may be analyzed and categorized from the data historian, and how AI is being used for remote monitoring and automation to reduce the burden on control-room managers.

    • Dr. Yves Gorat Stommel Evonik Digital
    • Javier Garcia Sedano OPTIMITIVE Group
    • Berk Birand, Ph.D. Fero Labs
  8. 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM

    The Canal Street Tasting

    Please join us in the Digital Arena for a unique tasting of local bites. From savory snacks to sweet treats, there’s something to satisfy every craving. The Canal Street Tasting includes a mix of king cake popcorn, caramel peanut brittle, jerky brown bagged fruit and a ton of mason jar snacks!

  9. 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

    Preparing for the Future: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Opportunities in Technology Solutions

    The rapid advancements in technology bring many opportunities and benefits to individuals and organizations, but they also come with challenges. This session will present three separate topics that address technology challenges that affect us all and may need to be aware of for the future. Staying informed and understanding how these challenges are affecting us today and tomorrow is the key to better practices and security for the future.

  10. 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

    Mardi Gras Masquerade Party

    Get ready to let loose and celebrate in style with our Mardi Gras Masquerade Party. Enjoy our live DJ and a variety of delicious foods and beverages. Mardi Gras attire is all about vibrant colors, bold patterns and extravagant accessories. We look forward to seeing you in the Digital Arena for a festive evening!

Tuesday | June 27

  1. 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM

    Networking Breakfast

  2. 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

    Open Architecture: Progress and Benefits

    Open architecture refers to technology infrastructure with non-proprietary specifications that enables interoperability. This session will cover developments in industrywide efforts to realize lifecycle benefits through the development of open, standards-based, interoperable process automation architecture and related business processes.

    • David DeBari ExxonMobil Corporation
    • Michael Clark OPC Foundation
  3. 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM

    The Digital Worker—Solutions from the Control Room to the Field

    Today’s digitalization tools can empower your staff to consistently make the best possible decisions in their day-to-day roles. This session will cover worker-focused solutions, with applications spanning operator rounds, lockout-tagout, and asset/event/work management. Solutions for digitizing forms and making data entry more efficient will be discussed.

    • Bob Hooper Hexagon ALI
    • Kimberly Green Duke Energy
    • Michael Sowell Evonik Corporation
    • Preston Johnson CB Technologies, Inc.
    • Andreas Eschbach Eschbach North America Inc.
  4. 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM

    Iconic Beignets & Coffee Break

    Experience the taste of New Orleans with the Iconic Beignets & Coffee Break located in the Digital Arena. Savor the flavor of freshly made beignets, king cake bites, creole pralines and much more.

  5. 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

    Beneficial Uses of Remote Monitoring

    • Jane Arnold Independent Consultant
  6. 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM

    Networking and Roundtable Luncheon

  7. 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM

    Navigating Away from Data Anarchy

    The large volume of data available from modern monitoring instruments is only useful if the information collected is of high quality. This session will include case studies about data quality principles. It will also cover lessons learned from a recent uptick in the adoption of cloud computing, the importance of data integrity and governance, and the shift toward a plant-based data perspective.

    • Tim Michaelson International Paper
    • Jonas Hellgren APERIO Systems
    • Thierry Cartage SOLVAY
    • Bert Baeck Timeseer.ai
    • Rooha Khan BASF Corporation
  8. 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM

    NOLA Poolside Happy Hour

    Looking for a refreshing and relaxed way to unwind after a long day? Join us at the NOLA Poolside Happy Hour to connect with others one last time and enjoy the beautiful scenery of New Orleans. We will offer a BLT salad bar with a chef crafted pasta station that you don’t want to miss!