Keynote Speakers
Submission Site: https://www.xcdsystem.com/IEOM/abstract/index.cfm?ID=6HzYjlI
Registration Site: https://www.xcdsystem.com/IEOM/attendee/index.cfm?ID=PqTGe3D
Day 1 – Wednesday, October 9, 2024
10:00 – 10:20 am, Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – Conference Chair Remarks:
Nick Skope
Vice President –Vendor Relations and New Business Development
Electro-Matic, a SunSource Company
Farmington Hills
Michigan, USA
Nick Skope is a Vice President of Vendor Relations and New Business Development at Electro-Matic, a SunSource Company. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University and Professional Certificate in Management from University of Notre Dame – Mendoza College of Business. Over 24 years of experience in Industrial Manufacturing. Mr. Skope has a passion for helping machine builders and manufactures gain value by applying cutting edge automation technology in their processes.
2023 Recipient of the IEOM Outstanding Industry Solutions Award.
10:20 – 11:00 am, Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – Keynote I (Opening Keynote):
Dr. Donna Bell
Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Donna Bell Consulting
Past Executive Vice President, Engineering, Product Creation, & Procurement, Lordstown Motors Corporation
Past Vice President, Ford Credit
Past Director, AV & Mobility Strategy, Ford Motor Company
Michigan, United States
Dr. Donna Bell is Owner and Chief Business Consultant for Dr. Donna Bell Consulting where she is focused on transforming businesses, developing leaders, and delivering corporate growth in the clean energy and sustainability space.
Dr. Bell’s experience in organization excellence and team transformation was essential in her role as Executive Vice President of Product Creation, Engineering, and Supply Chain at Lordstown Motors. She was responsible for the development and execution of LMC vehicles, subsystems, hardware and software, and supply chain partnerships from concept to launch.
Prior to her role as LMC, Dr. Bell was vice president Brand Management and Marketing at Ford Credit where she handled all aspects of brand management and marketing for Ford Motor Credit Company. Previously, she was strategy director at Ford Motor Company, a $150B company. Collaborating with key stakeholders, Donna established and communicated customer driven strategies that increased corporate growth in areas such as autonomy, mobility, connectivity, artificial intelligence (AI), and robotics.
Dr. Bell’s transformational leadership was important in building Ford’s new Greenfield labs facility in Palo Alto, CA. She was responsible for acquiring the highest caliber talent, managing a multi-million dollar operating budget, creating a culture of innovation, and connecting new technologies and innovations that were created in Silicon Valley to Ford’s winning portfolio.
Dr. Bell served as the electrical Global Product Development (PD) Quality manager at Ford where she collaborated with product development to deliver revenue generating customer experience and improving electrical quality by more than 35%.
Dr. Bell’s leadership and involvement in the community is extensive and involves creating programs that educate and develop students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Dr. Bell holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University (Southfield, MI), Master of Science degrees in Electronics and Computer Control Systems and Engineering Management, and a PhD in Industrial and Systems Engineering all from Wayne State University (Detroit, MI).
11:00 – 11:20 am, Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – Keynote II:
Dr. George Pappas
Assistant Professor
Director, Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence program
Electrical + Computer Engineering
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, Michigan, USA
Over 10 years of teaching, research, and work experience in embedded systems and high-performance computing. I am currently the director of the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) program. Research projects included being a Principal investigator (PI) for a DENSO grant in machine vision safety systems in vehicles titled “Intelligent Smart Real-Time Vision (ISRTV) as an Embedded System for Advanced Applications”. Also currently being a co-PI working on a Minimal Viable Product (MVP) Contextualizer that incorporates AI and software integration for manufacturing integration for Stefanini. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Autonomous vehicles, employs machine-learning techniques to collect, analyze, and transfer data for a safer driving experience. Also, investigate encryption and optimization algorithms and security of the transfer of electronic medical data using wireless cellular communication systems for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients in remote locations. Some additional research interests are Artificial Intelligence (AI) within radiology, specifically computerized tomography (CT) image reconstruction. Precise data analytics for pathology images. Virtual Reality (VR) in medical applications, Artificial Intelligence (AI) to aid diagnostics, Telemedicine, Medical and Health Informatics, Wireless implantable sensors, and biomedical Transducers.
11:20 – 11:40 am, Wednesday, October 9, 2024
- LTU’s Self-Driving Electric Vehicles Presentation – Dr. CJ Chung, Professor of Computer Science, Founder of Robofest and Director of CS Robotics Lab, Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan, USA
11:40 am – 12:20 pm, Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – Keynote III:
Tony Tyll
President / COO
Belmont Equipment & Technologies
Madison Heights, Michigan, USA
Tony Tyll is the President/COO of Belmont Equipment and Technologies an Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) distributor. He is responsible for the health and growth of the company that has served the aerospace, automotive, medical, power generation, and defense industries since 1960. He works closely alongside our partners to develop and continually introduce the latest EDM advancements critical to our customer’s success.
Tony graduated from Lawrence Technological University (LTU) with his BSME, Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2002. He began his career with DaimlerChrysler and continued his education, graduating with his master’s degree in engineering from Oakland University in 2004, as well as his MBA from LTU in 2006. He joined Belmont in March 2010 and has held multiple positions throughout the last 14 years that have strengthened his knowledge of the intricacies of Belmont, as well as the EDM industry. His vast educational background, as well as an inherited passion for EDM, proves him to be an invaluable asset to Belmont’s future.
Tony resides in Macomb, MI with his wife Megan of 18 years, and their four children. He serves on the school board, and coaches football, soccer, basketball, and baseball. His hobbies include traveling, reading, boating, and summer weekends with the family at the lake.
12:20 – 1:00 pm, Wednesday, October 9, 2024 – Keynote IV:
Mr. Greg MacLean
Sr. Vice President
Huf North America
Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA
Presentation Title – Cross-Functional Leadership in the Automotive Industry: Challenges and Successes
Greg MacLean is a seasoned Tier I Automotive Executive with nearly 30 years of diverse experience in the automotive industry, spanning General Management, Commercial, Finance, Purchasing, and Operations. His career started in finance as a Financial Analyst at Ford, where he focused on Operations @ Ford’s Truck Engine plant in Windsor, Ontario and Product Analysis in Livonia, Michigan. At GKN Greg held several commercial roles (Sales and Purchasing) including VP of Sales for Ford, GM and Toyota setting global strategic directions. Beyond Sales he worked in Purchasing and Operations Management. This experience enabled Greg to serve as Deputy General Manager of SDS, leading the ePowertrain Division in China’s NEV market, achieving over $200 million in revenue and spearheading a new plant launch in Pinghu. Upon returning from China he took a leadership position at Marelli as Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Product Management for the EPT Division, where he played a crucial role in prioritizing the development of the wireless BMS technology and forming a joint venture for e-axles to support a win with a major French OEM. Most recently, as Senior Vice President of Americas at Huf, Greg is focused on business process stability and cost optimization amidst significant market challenges. He holds a Master’s in Manufacturing Systems from the University of Michigan, an MBA in Finance from the University of Windsor, and an Honors Bachelor of Science in Human Kinetics from the University of Guelph. A dual citizen of Canada and the USA, Greg resides in Michigan with his family and enjoys CrossFit and downhill skiing.
1:00 – 2:00 pm – Buffet Lunch
Day 2 – Thursday, October 10, 2024
10:00 – 10:40 am, Thursday, October 10, 2024 – Keynote V:
Sebastian Wicklein
Director, Business Development and R&D Coordination
Fraunhofer USA Inc.
Plymouth, Michigan, USA
Presentation Title: Bridging Innovation Gaps: How Technology Transfer is Crucial for the Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory Revolution
Bio
- 18 years(2024) experience in corporate R&D, academic research and national labs
- Background in Materials Science with experience in advanced semiconductor materials and computational materials science
- Comprehensive knowledge of technology transfer (lab-to-fab), corporate R&D management and strategic innovation planning,
- Worked at SanDisk, Western Digital, and Intel developing memory technology
- Joined Fraunhofer USA in September 2020
- PhD from the Christian-Albrechts University of Kiel, Germany (2013).
- -Ing. (Fh) degree from the University of Applied Sciences Aalen (2006) in materials science and surface engineering;
I facilitate meaningful Technology Transfer and R&D projects and lead the strategic management of technological innovation and public private partnerships (PPP) to focus our efforts on important topics essential to advance technological supremacy with socioeconomic impact.
Especially when tackling imperatives (e.g. national security, climate change, finite resources, etc.) we have to strive for a holistic concept (systems thinking) and build solutions from a first principles approach to transfer and franchise meaningful technological innovations and solutions.
I firmly believe that, to be truly innovative, the process of research and technology development requires not only operational excellence and creativity but uniting talent, ideas, and resources within our human network.
Therefore, to build successful (R&D) teams and an effective innovation-ecosystem, it is imperative to nurse a diverse talent portfolio, build trust across social barriers, create long-term motivation, and promote collaboration among individuals and institutions beyond our conventional jurisdictions.
10:40 – 11:20 am, Thursday, October 10, 2024 – Keynote VI
Vijaya Neela
Founder, President and CEO
aThingz
Southfield, Michigan
Vijaya Neela is a women business owner, an award-winning, passionate business executive with a vision and proven credentials in addressing business challenges with digital technologies. She has over 25 years of industry experience and is a trusted partner and has held several leadership roles throughout her career.
As a founder, president and CEO of aThingz (WBENC), Vijaya applied her entrepreneurial skills to establish a business outcome focused supply chain solutions organization that is focused on supply chain and logistics transformation. With aThingz solutions, customers can innovate, optimize, transform their supply chains and save cost in a sustainable manner. aThingz is women owned certified organization since 2017.
Vijaya is a strong supporter of Women in Technology and has been associated with MCWT since 2012, has led the Internship Program under University Program for couple years. She has led many “giveback & enhance the quality-of-life community” programs like Guiding Harbor – helping in enhancing quality of life of children & foster care, programs through police department in helping the community in which we live, led food drives, recognizing the police department for their services and coordinating the oxygen concentrators & Ventilators distribution to India during COVID times by conducting fund raisers, supporting in acquisition & distribution of the same.
In 2021, Vijaya held the role of Michigan Chapter President of ITServe, a Non-Profit national organization comprising of over 1200 technology business owners. She was the First Woman Chapter President for this organization. The alliance is the voice of all prestigious IT companies functioning with similar interests across United States.
Vijaya is known for her ability to recognize talent to build high performing teams and a digital organization that collaborates effectively to deliver business value in a rapid manner in a great company culture.
Vijaya played a key role in aThingz receiving several accolades both from customers and industry research organizations. aThingz is a recipient of Two times Supplier of the year awards from General Motors and over 5 Gartner recognitions in categories of end-to-end supply chain intelligence, logistics cost to serve and advanced analytics. She also received a personalized letter of recognition from Mary Barra – GM CEO, for the aThingz contribution to GM Supply Chain Crisis Management during COVID.
Prior to aThingz, Vijaya was in the role of a delivery and innovation leader at Hewlett Packard Enterprise – Automotive Sector and is bestowed with several awards, namely, GM CIO Excellence award, Customer Service Excellence award and Innovation award.
She has completed Master’s program in Computers & Business in Osmania University, India and has completed several advance programs from Stanford University. She has graduated from We Build Character- a leadership program, been a moderator for a Lean-in program.
11:20 – 11:40 am, Thursday, October 10, 2024 – Keynote VII
Sander van Lokven, MSc
General Manager – Districon Solutions North America LLC
North America Lead – Royal HaskoningDHV
Chicago, Illinois
Topics: Trends and work in progress about Dutch’s smart mobility about how Amsterdam wants to become fully electric and the impact for shippers on their transportation network. This covers digitization and smart mobility
Sander van Lokven is leading the US offices of Royal HaskoningDHV, an independent consultancy which integrates 140 years of engineering expertise with digital technologies and software solutions. He has a MSc in Management, Marketing and Economics with a specialization in Operations research. Applying mathematical optimization and simulation since 2010, building Districon Solutions from startup until being acquired by Royal HaskoningDHV in 2022. He is part this week of the Dutch trade mission to Detroit to the Battery show to build business and share expertise of his and his companies work in the field of battery production and optimization. In this field we do feasibility studies, site selections, logistic studies, factory designs in all disciplines (architectural, civil, mechanical, electrical, controls, 3D BIM), digital twin models, mass and energy balance studies, permit studies and applications, safety studies, etc.
11:40 am – 12:20 pm, Thursday, October 10, 2024 – Keynote VIII
Lisa Sheth and Shannon Dare
Operations Managers for Electric Vehicle, Digital, & Design
Ford Motor Company
Dearborn, Michigan, USA
Lisa Sheth
Operations Manager for Electric Vehicle, Digital, & Design (Job Share w/ Shannon Dare)
Ford Motor Company
Dearborn, Michigan, USA
Lisa Sheth is a seasoned automotive professional with over 25 years of experience at Ford Motor Company. Her career has spanned the entire automotive development lifecycle, from early strategy and engineering to manufacturing, encompassing roles in Tech Strategy/Planning, Product Development, Business Operations, and Launch Execution. This diverse experience, coupled with her Mechanical Engineering and Engineering Management degrees from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, has allowed Lisa to gain a deep understanding of the industry’s challenges and opportunities.
Currently, she serves as Business Operations Manager, sharing the role with her job share partner, Dr. Shannon Dare, in Ford Motor Company’s Electric Vehicles, Digital & Design Division. In this role, she leverages her expertise to drive innovation and efficiency within the rapidly evolving automotive landscape. Fueled by a lifelong fascination with the automotive industry, Lisa is a passionate advocate for youth in the technology industry, encouraging the next generation of leaders. Lisa actively engages with the community, volunteering for programs like DECA, Destination Imagination, and Robotics, and serves as an adjunct professor at Lawrence Technical University. Beyond her technical expertise, Lisa is a professionally trained classical Indian dancer who volunteers her time teaching artistic styles and choreography. Lisa is married with two children and brings her passion for technical innovation and community engagement to all aspects of her life.
Shannon Dare, Ph.D.
Operations Manager for Electric Vehicle, Digital, & Design (Job Share w/ Lisa Sheth)
Ford Motor Company
Dearborn, Michigan
Shannon Dare has worked for Ford Motor Company for over 20 years. She is currently Operations Manager for Electric Vehicle, Digital, & Design at Ford Motor Company. Prior, she worked in Budget Operations Manager of Vehicle Embedded Software & Connectivity and Planning & Strategy for the Middle East & Africa region. Dr. Dare completed Ford’s Manufacturing Leadership Program with rotations including: Production Line Supervisor, Process Engineer, Industrial Engineer, Product Development Plant Resident Engineer, and 2007 National UAW – Ford Negotiations team. Dr. Dare also makes time for her community of Milan, Michigan. She is Chairperson of the Milan Beautification Commission and Secretary of Milan’s Downtown Development Authority/Milan Main Street aiding in her city’s revitalization. Additionally, she is on the Parish Council of her local Catholic Church and is a current candidate for Milan City Council. Dr. Dare holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering and MS in Manufacturing Engineering from Wayne State University in Detroit. She also holds a BS in Industrial Management & MS Industrial Operations, both from Lawrence Technological University in Southfield, Michigan. Through the American Society for Quality, she is a Certified Manager of Quality and Certified Quality Auditor. Dr. Dare serves on the Mechanical Engineering Industry Advisory Board at Lawrence Technological University and is a Global Industry Advisory Board Member of the Industrial Engineering Operations Management Society International. Dr. Dare is married to Kevin Wayne and they have three active children ages 16, 13, & 8. On most evenings and weekends, you can find her cheering for her kids at either the pool, football & baseball fields, volleyball & tennis courts, or track.
12:20 – 1:00 pm, Thursday, October 10, 2024 – Keynote – IX
“The presentation and remarks are his own and do not represent UHG Optum’s position.”
Presentation Title: Harnessing AI for Holistic Healthcare
Chenyuan Dumnmuh
Technology Director
Optum – United Healthcare Inc.
California
United States of America
Chenyuan Dumnmuh is a Computer Science and Engineer who graduated from the University of California Los Angeles. He currently serves as a technology director with over 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry. With a deep understanding of the intersection between technology and healthcare, Chenyuan consistently drives innovative solutions to enhance patient care and improve operational efficiency.
Throughout his career, Chenyuan has successfully navigated the evolving landscape of healthcare technology, staying ahead of industry trends and leveraging emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Automation.
His expertise spans a wide range of areas, including fraud, waste, and abuse, telehealth, data analytics, and interoperability.
Mohammad Islam
Associate Director
Optum – United Healthcare Inc.
New Jersey, United States of America
Mohammad Islam serves as an Associate Director at the UnitedHealth Group USA. He specializes in application and web-based software development, machine learning, deep learning models, prompt engineering and their practical applications. Mohammad holds a U.S. patent for a wireless GPS mapping device and has contributed articles to esteemed publications such as ASCE and CSCE.
With a keen strategic mindset and a robust IT and Engineering background, Mohammad brings extensive experience in team management, technical leadership, and coaching. He excels in connecting individuals and teams with the right tools and products to optimize effectiveness and efficiency for their mission. With nearly 20 years of experience in IT Program and Portfolio management, spanning agile, SDLC, Kanban, and Scrumban methodologies, Mohammad believes that leveraging AI wisely can lead humanity to unprecedented heights.
Before joining UnitedHealth in 2018, Mohammad held positions at Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, Walmart, and the United Nations.
1:00 – 2:00 pm – Buffet Lunch
Day 3 – Friday, October 11, 2024
10:00 – 10:40 am, Thursday, October 10, 2024 – Keynote X:
Jeffrey A. Abell, Ph.D., FSME, PE
Chief Scientist for Global Manufacturing and Director of Manufacturing Systems Research
General Motors
Sterling Heights, Michigan, United States
Presentation Title: AI/ML in Manufacturing
Dr. Jeffrey Abell is Chief Scientist for Global Manufacturing and Director of Manufacturing Systems Research at General Motors. He is responsible for global manufacturing research focused on vehicle electrification, lightweight systems manufacturing, automation, and smart manufacturing. He led a research team that played a key role in bringing the Chevy Volt advanced battery to production and has held other leadership positions in product development and manufacturing at GM, Delphi, and DaimlerChrysler, including two international assignments. He has written numerous technical publications, been granted several patents, and has a strong track record of successful manufacturing technology implementation. He was twice presented with the Boss Kettering award, GM’s highest recognition for technical innovation.
Since 1998, Dr. Abell has served in various capacities with SME such as member of International Awards committee and Chair of Education and Accreditation Committee. He currently serves on the NAMRI board and is an SME Fellow. He is on the Corporate Member Council of ASEE and the Industry Advisory Board for ASME. He is Past-Chair of the Industrial Advisory Council and former member of the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University), and graduate degrees in Systems Engineering from Oakland University, and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
10:40 – 11:20 am, Thursday, October 10, 2024 – Keynote XI:
John Allen
TNSFT Partner
Crossover Solutions
Livonia, Michigan
John is a globally renowned expert problem solver with a reputation for quickly fixing problems around complex manufacturing processes and product performance. Before its acquisition by Crossover Solutions, he and David Hartshorne were co-founders of The New Science of Fixing Things, a manufacturing consultancy well known for diagnosing and remedying performance, durability, and reliability issues that others had struggled – and failed – to resolve. In his globe-spanning career solving problems in “planes, trains, and automobiles,”
John has worked with many Fortune 500 clients, including General Motors, Pratt & Whitney, US Steel, and General Electric.
11:20 am – 12:00 m, Thursday, October 10, 2024 – Keynote XII:
Sylvester Hester
President and CEO
LM Manufacturing
Detroit, Michigan
Sylvester L. Hester is the President and CEO of LM Manufacturing, LLC and also currently serves as the Chairman of GAA Manufacturing. At LM-Manufacturing, Hester is responsible for leveraging his significant expertise and experience in logistics, supply chain management, operations and business development. He has a proven track record of successfully forming, leading and growing businesses in the demanding, exacting and most times punitive auto industry. He also currently serves as the Chairman of GAA Manufacturing. At GAA, he presides over the Board of Managers meetings, ensuring fluidity and the achievement of a consensus in board decisions.
Prior to his appointment as Chairman of GAA, Hester served as President and CEO of the company responsible for providing strategic leadership for the company while satisfying Board of Directors directives by working with other management to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies. He was also responsible for the organization’s fiscal function and performance. He grew the company from 16 people (1 location) in the auto industry to 2,300 people (18 locations) while driving a diversification strategy into the aerospace, pharmaceutical, food and beverage and the government business sectors.
Hester also currently serves as the manager of Detroit Connected Autonomous Technologies (D-CAT) where he is responsible for day-to-day activities and promoting the organization’s growth. He previously headed many other successful enterprises, including STM-LM, Global SQ, LLC, Key Logistics Solutions and ARD Logistics, LLC, to name a few.
A graduate of Ferris State University, Hester earned a Bachelor of Science in Plastics Engineering, Associated Applied Science – Plastics Technology and an Associate degree in Education. He also holds a Master of Science in Administration with a concentration in Leadership from Central Michigan University.
12:00 – 12:40 pm – Keynote XIII:
Dr. Daw Alwerfalli
Professor and Director of Master of Engineering Management Program
A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics and Industrial Engineering
College of Engineering
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, Michigan, USA
Prominent professor, senior technical industry consultant and manufacturing engineering educator with a tremendous expertise in program and curriculum development in higher technical education. Highly experienced and dedicated community leader with great ability to work with an array of constituencies and coalitions in developing shared organizational vision to create and implement strategies aimed at advancing common causes to accomplish goals in fulfilment of the organization’s mission. Highly perceived expert and industrial advisor. He is the founder of Manufacturing Engineering Solutions (MES) a consulting firm founded in 2000. He is senior technical consultant and strategist to the US manufacturing industry. MES developed executive training programs to numerous organizations such as Chrysler, Ford, GM, Exxon Mobil, Conco Philips, Marathon and Tier I and II suppliers to the US auto industry and other international companies. Published numerous research papers in many national and international conferences. Dr. Alwerfalli is a recipient of many prestigious awards including, the 2009 Arab American of the year in education, 1997 Lawrence Tech. Excellence in Teaching Award, 2004 Outstanding Engineering Faculty. He serves on many boards of directors, he also served on the Advisor Council of the Governor of Michigan for the Arab American and Chaldean Affairs Committee. He is currently serving on the steering committee of MAT 2 for dual education where he is a lead assessor to evaluate colleges for readiness in joining MAT 2 coalition of several German US based companies. Dr. Alwerfalli is also serving on the steering committee of “LIFT” Lightweight Innovation for Tomorrow, The committee is to develop innovative educational curriculum and skills for the next generation workforce for the Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Tennessee under $148 Million, a federal grant for the year 2015-2016. For several years, Dr. Alwerfalli served as the academic advisor of many doctoral students who obtained their doctorate degrees and are currently leaders in the US auto industry.
1:00 – 2:00 pm – Buffet Lunch