Virtual Events
Future of Automation 2021
September 29, 2021 at 1:00pm ET

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Automation is no longer simply a “nice to have.” The pandemic has made it clear that manufacturers must implement technology to build resilience and ensure global competitiveness.

Throughout COVID-19, manufacturers have faced an immediate need: to augment their workforce with technology to get the job done. Now, with economic rebound on the horizon, decision-makers are turning their attention to digital transformation plans that employ tools such as modelling, predictive analytics and end-to-end visibility.

Future of Automation is an education forum focusing on applications and trends that increase production efficiency, optimize throughput and maximize workforce potential. In a series of presentations, industry-leading technology manufacturers will share information and solutions to help reduce costs, boost profits and secure market position.

Note: The editor of Manufacturing AUTOMATION is currently finalizing the speakers for the virtual summit. If you have questions about the agenda, email srayghosh@annexbusinessmedia.com.

Schedule

1:00 p.m. – 1:05 p.m.
Welcoming Remarks

Speaker:

Sukanya Ray Ghosh, Editor, Manufacturing AUTOMATION

1:05 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Keynote: The future of automation is now

Speaker: Jonathan Wright, Global Managing Partner, Finance & Supply Chain Transformation, IBM

The adoption of automation is accelerating as COVID-19 challenges squeezed supply chains and forced manufacturers to reassess risk.

Whether it's ensuring a reliable workforce through human-machine collaboration or driving efficiency across an unpredictable supply chain through digital modelling, the pandemic has hastened the decision whether or not to automate into one that must be made today, not tomorrow.

1:30p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Tomorrow’s connected factory – Building partnerships to prove and scale new technologies

Speakers:

Christy Michalak, Director, Advanced Manufacturing Development Programs, NGen Canada
Mihaela Vlasea, Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, University of Waterloo & Research Co-Director, Multi-Scale Additive Manufacturing Laboratory
Jonathan Gross, LLB, MBA, Managing Director, Pemeco Consulting
Atefeh Zarabadi, CEO and co-founder, Artificial Intelligence Imaging Sensors

Moderator:

Jeanine Lassaline-Berglund, President, Automate Canada & Canadian Association of Mold Makers (CAMM)

Networks are crucial to getting connected with Industry 4.0 solutions— and we don't just mean wire and cable. Developing partnerships with industry, academia and consortia can help to iterate and test next-generation technologies and enable more access to resources. Our panel discusses how building relationships is a means to innovation.

2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Break

2:30 p.m. – 2:50 p.m.
The Digital Factory

Speaker:

Patrick Rowland, Senior Product Manager, Industry Management & Automation, Phoenix Contact

Companies and manufacturers are working together to create the world of digital factories. This allows an open architecture and free flow of information. In this session, Phoenix Contact will address problems like security, legacy components and skill shortages.

2:50 p.m. – 3:10 p.m.
Reducing Inspection Errors, Costs and Risk with Hybrid AI

Speaker:

Jonathan Hou, President, Pleora Technologies

Manufacturers navigating through the complexities of AI are left with a few key questions. How can AI reduce errors and automate manual tasks? Is algorithm training expensive or complicated? Can I augment existing infrastructure and processes?

This session will discuss hybrid AI – an evolutionary approach that merges the best of computer vision and machine learning to address these concerns and allows manufacturers to deploy advanced end-to-end quality inspection. We will outline hybrid AI deployment strategies for established automated inspection systems, and opportunities to add decision-support to manual tasks. We’ll close the session with an overview on how a parts manufacturer is deploying hybrid AI today while also preparing for more advanced Industry 4.0 and IIoT automation.

3:10 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Fireside Chat: Digital Revolution in Pandemic Times

Speaker:

Asghar Rizvi, Vice-President, Factory Automation and Motion Control, Siemens Digital Industries, Canada

For the first time in modern manufacturing history, demand, supply and workforce availability have been affected globally at the exact same time.

During this session, Asghar Rizvi, Vice President, Factory Automation and Motion Control at Siemens Canada, will provide insight on the COVID pandemic’s impact on the digital transformation, identify the current and future trends and provide guidance on how organizations can start their digitalization journey.

3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: Seeing the future – how vision and artificial intelligence are advancing automated applications

Speakers:

Ina Foalea, Director of Investments, SCALE AI
Ilija Jovanovic, Co-founder, Taiga Robotics
Steve Wardell, Director of Imaging at ATS Automation

Moderator:

Jim Beretta, President, Customer Attraction

The flexibility required of high-mix, low-volume manufacturing has led to an increase in the number of product shapes and sizes that prove challenging for traditional automation methods.

The need for visibility is paramount. From robots that "see" with vision systems to machine learning that drives decision-making, our panel discusses how advanced tools are helping to increase throughput and maximize production efficiency.