Panels
Register: https://www.xcdsystem.com/IEOM/attendee/index.cfm?ID=g5Y5HAk
AI and Data Analytics Panel
2:00 – 3:30 pm, October 14, 2025
Panel Chair
Andrea Yzeiri, MMA
Chief Data & Analytics Officer and Lead AI Engineer
Picsume
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Andrea Yzeiri is the Chief Data & Analytics Officer and Lead AI Engineer at Picsume, a revolutionary hiring platform that transforms traditional resumes into dynamic work profiles, powered by AI-driven matching algorithms and committed to bias-free recruitment. She is recognized as a pioneering force in artificial intelligence, data analytics, and cybersecurity, actively leading in the design and deployment of scalable,
ethical AI systems with an emphasis on fairness, transparency, accountability, and security. She holds a BComm in Supply Chain & Analytics (with thesis) and a BA in Political Science (Law & Politics) from the University of Windsor, and a Master of Management in Analytics from McGill University. At Windsor, Andrea was the first woman to complete an undergraduate thesis at the Odette School of Business and the first University of Windsor student to receive the Mitacs Globalink Research Award, conducting research in São Paulo, Brazil. Her IEOM publication record includes “Composite Index Creation Using AHP and DEA: Efficiency Optimization for Industries” with Dr. Mohammed Baki at the North American IEOM Conference.
Over her ten-year career across technology, academia, healthcare, and defense, Andrea has delivered end-to-end AI solutions that balance predictive performance with ethical integrity. Notably, she led the engineering of a serological data scraper used in a clinically deployed kidney-matching algorithm at the McGill University Health Centre Research Institute, and developed a custom aerospace-specific search engine for AeroMontreal.
In 2025, Andrea was named one of the Top 25 Women Chief Data and Analytics Officers in North America by Women We Admire, in recognition of her leadership in responsible, inclusive data innovation. A sought-after speaker and advocate, she has presented at events including Google DevFest Windsor (2024), the Odette School of Business’ International Women’s Day Driving Business Success with Technology event (2025) and served as a judge for STEM Fellowship’s 2025 High School Big Data Challenge in AI, championing ethical AI adoption, ML security, and women’s representation in STEM.
Andrea is also a dedicated educator, currently a sessional lecturer at McGill University, delivering Python and analytics workshops to graduate students, and former teaching assistant at Odette, supporting business analytics education. Her commitment to community impact extends to her service on boards such as United Way/Centraide Windsor–Essex County. Andrea has received sixteen honours and awards for her research, academic achievements, leadership and community impact.
Panel Speaker I
Chandrika Abhang, MSc (Eng)
Director of Product Management and R&D – Americas
Webasto Group
Detroit, United States
Chandrika Abhang is a global leader in automotive innovation with over a decade of experience driving electrification, product strategy, and R&D across North America, Europe, and Asia. As Director of Product Management and R&D –Americas at Webasto Group, she leads cross-functional teams in developing intelligent thermal systems, high-voltage battery technologies, and mobility solutions for diverse sectors including automotive, military, and marine. Her strategic leadership has powered multimillion-dollar growth initiatives, market expansions, and digital product launches that have boosted revenue and improved operational efficiency. Chandrika is also a passionate advocate for AI and digital transformation in manufacturing, applying data-driven approaches to portfolio development and operational excellence. Beyond industry, she brings a strong commitment to community development, having served on nonprofit boards and as a UN volunteer. She holds a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering and completed executive education in product management at the Kellogg School of Management. At the IEOM Congress, she will speak on using AI and innovation to build resilient, intelligent supply chains in times of disruption.
Panel Speaker II
Gursimmer Banwait
R&D Engineer
Persico USA
Michigan, United States
Gursimmer Banwait is an R&D Engineer at Persico USA, where he focuses on bridging traditional manufacturing practices with modern AI driven innovations. His industry experience spans biotechnology, hardware technology startups, and SaaS, where he has applied mechatronics engineering to bring research based solutions into practical, scalable applications. At Persico, he is developing an internal tool that leverages company CAD and fiscal data to create retrieval augmented generation systems for automated quotation building, significantly reducing turnaround times. He is also exploring the development of an AI co pilot for jig and fixture design, with a focus on design for manufacturing and assembly checks, enabling junior engineers to better understand and apply traditional manufacturing techniques. Currently pursuing a Master of Computer Science at Georgia Tech with a specialization in computer vision, Gursimmer combines academic research with hands on industrial problem solving. At the IEOM North American Congress, he will share his work and encourage the manufacturing industry to adapt proven tools from programming and academia to enhance capabilities across the supply chain, including among third tier suppliers.
Panel Speaker III
Joe Youssouf, BSE
Lead Customer Data Scientist
Oden Technologies
New York, United States
Joe Youssouf is the Lead Customer Data Scientist at Oden Technologies, where he develops AI-powered solutions that optimize manufacturing processes and improve efficiency on the factory floor. His work on ProcessAI delivers real-time control recommendations that reduce waste, increase throughput, and enhance safety across global operations. Joe has also contributed to Oden Forge, an internal LLM platform that enables domain-specific natural language insights from complex time-series data. Prior to Oden, he scaled predictive maintenance systems for over 15,000 heavy-duty vehicles at Preteckt, where his models saved thousands in annual maintenance costs per vehicle. With a background in electrical and computer engineering and a strong foundation in statistics, Joe combines deep technical expertise with practical, real-world impact. He has helped organizations avoid costly infrastructure mistakes, reduce energy waste, and build data systems that support critical business decisions. At the IEOM North American Congress, Joe will share insights on integrating AI into digital supply chains, drawing from his experience navigating the challenges and opportunities of Industry 4.0.
Panel Speaker IV
Dr. Ahmed Abou Gharam
Design for Reliability Director
Molex
Rochester, Michigan, USA
Dr. Ahmed Abou Gharam is an internationally recognized expert in Design for Reliability and AI powered analytics with over a decade of leadership experience in the automotive and microelectronics sectors. As the Director of Reliability Engineering at Molex, he leads global teams in embedding predictive analytics and machine learning into reliability testing workflows, particularly through advanced methods such as Accelerated Life Testing and test to failure protocols that mirror real world usage scenarios. He champions the integration of AI driven reliability prediction models that optimize component designs to withstand extreme conditions including heat, vibration, corrosion, and complex duty cycles found in modern vehicles. Dr. Abou Gharam is a thought leader in applying AI not simply as a technological upgrade but as a transformative tool that advances Design for Reliability from conventional design test fix cycles toward proactive, data guided reliability assurance. His published writings and leadership in industry surveys emphasize the importance of AI based tradeoff modeling and reinforce his role in shaping the future of reliability in digital manufacturing. Drawing on both deep technical insight and strategic vision, Dr. Abou Gharam bridges rigorous research with practical innovation to elevate how products are engineered for trust, endurance, and real world performance.
AI in Manufacturing Panel
4:00 – 6:00 pm, October 14, 2025
Panel Chair
Dr. Neil Murray
Engineering Manager
ZF
Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA
Dr. Neil Gordon Murray Jr. is an Engineering Manager with ZF Corporation in Passive Safety Electronics. He is also an Adjunct Professor in Industrial Engineering in the A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Lawrence Technological University, Michigan, USA. He earned B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Saginaw Valley State University, Saginaw, Michigan, Masters in Manufacturing Systems Engineering from University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota and Engineering Doctorate in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, (DEMS) from Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan. He is a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt with specialization in Design for Six Sigma. He has published journal papers and is also the author of Witness Horizon 25 Simulation Modeling, Rational Process Design. His research interests include theory of invention and creative problem solving, simulation modeling, digital twinning, Edge Computing and Lean Manufacturing. He is a member of IEOM, SPE and IEEE.
Panel Speaker I
Alex Baker
Sr. Applications Engineer
Moldex3D Northern America, Inc.
Novi, Michigan
Title: Transforming Plastics Simulation with Automation, Optimization, and AI
Bio
With over 9 years of experience in Plastics Molding Simulation at Moldex3D, Alex Baker is an expert in applying simulation for several different industries, including automotive, connectors, medical devices, and optics. Alex virtually trains users on the Moldex3D software, passing on knowledge of how to translate simulation results to solve real-world problems, and he also runs Benchmark Testing, provides Consultation, and Alpha Tests new features for public release. He received a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
Abstract:
The plastics simulation industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the integration of cutting-edge technologies. This presentation explores the impact of intelligent automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and real-time process optimization on the plastics manufacturing sector. By leveraging these innovations, manufacturers can achieve substantial improvements in operational efficiency, waste reduction, and overall product quality.
This presentation will detail the application of AI through Moldex3D to streamline the simulation process. It will introduce new tools within Moldex3D iSLM designed to manage and utilize large local data sets for future projects, enhancing the predictive capabilities of simulations. Furthermore, this presentation will review existing tools that have proven effective in increasing the efficiency of routine simulation tasks.
The content is aligned with the IEOM Society’s focus on “AI & Digital Supply Chains in Global Uncertainty” by providing insights into the application of AI and automation for a more resilient and efficient manufacturing process.With over 9 years of experience in Plastics Molding Simulation at Moldex3D, Alex Baker is an expert in applying simulation for several different industries, including automotive, connectors, medical devices, and optics. Alex virtually trains users on the Moldex3D software, passing on knowledge of how to translate simulation results to solve real-world problems, and he also runs Benchmark Testing, provides Consultation, and Alpha Tests new features for public release. He received a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
Panel Speaker II
Jd Marhevko
ASQ Fellow, Shainin Medalist, CSSBB, CMQOE, CQE, WiM HoF
Vice President Quality
Division U, Electronics & ADAS
ZF North America Inc.
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Title: Using AI & Digitization to Bust Silos in Problem Solving
Abstract: How do you connect teams with over a dozen unique quality problem solving processes across the full process of product design, development, launch and returns? This case study will show how AI & digitization were used to align the systems and enable a double digit reduction in problem solving time while simultaneously reducing repeated issues. See how you might help to make a difference.
Bio
Jd is VP of Quality for ZF’s Electronics & ADAS Division. She has held multiple and progressive senior leadership roles in Operations, Quality, Lean and EHS. She has helped to turn around sites from bankruptcy to best in class. She’s had four sites won the AME Excellence Award and one site win the Industry Week Best Manufacturing Plant of the Year. She is an adjunct professor for the University of Michigan in Operations and Lean. In 2020, Jd was inducted into the inaugural USA’s Women In Manufacturing (WiM) Hall of Fame. Jd is an ASQ Fellow, Shainin Medalist, CMQ/OE, CQE, CSSBB and MBB. She holds a BSE and MSA. Jd is a Past-Chair of the ASQ QMD. Jd has co-authored several books and articles on Lean and Quality Systems.
Panel Speaker III
Chirs Barnes
VP Operations
Autoliv
Panel Speaker IV
Srinivas Kuppa
Chief Product Officer
Esko
Panel Speaker V
Behrang Bootaki, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Algoma University
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Title: AI applications in manufacturing
Dr. Behrang Bootaki is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Faculty of Business and Economics at Algoma University, Ontario, Canada. His current work focuses on last-mile delivery optimization, heuristic algorithms, and large-scale supply chain modeling. He leverages large-scale datasets, including the Amazon Last Mile Routing Research Challenge, to design data-driven solutions for real-world logistics and delivery systems. He is an active member of the Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS), where he regularly presents his research. Dr. Bootaki earned his Ph.D. in Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering from the University of Windsor. His dissertation, Machine Learning-Assisted Algorithm Design for Integrated Supply Chain Optimization, addressed the integration of facility location, inventory, production scheduling, and routing decisions using machine learning to enhance modern supply chain performance. His studies have been published in leading peer-reviewed journals such as the International Journal of Production Economics (IJPE) and Computers & Industrial Engineering (CAIE). His research interests include data analytics for service operations, optimization in supply chain and logistics, machine learning for optimization, and last-mile delivery innovations such as vehicle routing and truck-drone coordination. He has also taught Supply Chain Management as a Sessional Instructor at Cape Breton University, Canada.
Panel Speaker VI
Steven Rice
AI Researcher and SWE
Founder, Kaiju Solutions
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Steven Rice is an artificial intelligence researcher currently pursuing a PhD in Computer Science at the University of Windsor. His work focuses on using game development technologies, like real-time simulation and artificial intelligence, to solve complex industrial challenges. As the lead developer for a Unity robotics and vision simulation platform, Steven created digital twins for internal work cell concept validation, which greatly reduced research and design costs. He also produced client simulations that improved development cycle times. His current research explores the application of agentic AI for digital twins and novel deep learning methodologies for robot manipulation. He has published work in Manufacturing Letters presenting the first deep learning method for solving inverse kinematics that does not require a pre-existing dataset. He is a recipient of the Vector Institute Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence and a two-time Ontario Graduate Scholar.
Advances in Vehicle Electrification and EV Technologies Panel
2:00 – 3:30 pm, October 14, 2025
Panel Chair
Saif Siddique
Engineering Manager
Power Electronics/ Power Converter
Stellantis
Auburn Hills, Michigan
As a technology leader, executing STELLANTIS electrification strategy to deliver exciting, class leading ZERO EMISSION vehicles for the iconic brands that offer advanced technology at affordable prices for global customers. Leading robust design for high voltage charging system, power converters with a high-level flexibility, in addition to component sharing across platforms, reduce complexity and deliver economies of scale, with each platform capable of supporting production to offer the most efficient solution for each vehicle category, from city-cars to pickup trucks, commercial vehicles and SUVs.
Global experience in engineering, manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and strategy development. Successfully launched numerous global programs with “Detroit Big Three” automakers. Managing high-volume manufacturing products including Power electronics, Electric drive system, HV battery system components, and vehicle integration.
Saif has a very diverse academic background. He has received a Bachelor in Agricultural Engineering, Masters of Science major in Rural Electrification, he also completed bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from University of Michigan-Flint. Saif is currently serving as a member of the UM-Flint Engineering Industrial Advisory Board (EIAB).
Panel Speaker I
Dr. Sikder Kamruzzaman, PhD, SMIEEE
Professor of Networking and Cybersecurity
St. Clair College
Windsor, ON, Canada
Title: Towards Safe and Connected Mobility: Securing EV Ecosystems in the Era of 5G and IoT
Bio:
Dr. Sikder Kamruzzaman is a seasoned academic and researcher with over 25 years of experience in wireless communications, networking, and cybersecurity. He is currently a Professor of Networking and Cybersecurity at St. Clair College, Windsor, where he teaches and leads initiatives in automotive cybersecurity, cyber-physical vehicle systems, and wireless network security.
He completed his postdoctoral research in Indoor Localization and Industrial IoT at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he co-led multi-million-dollar NSERC- and OCE-funded projects on intelligent wireless positioning and scalable sensor networks for industrial automation. His expertise spans IoT, AI/ML, 5G networks, and secure distributed systems, with a strong focus on applications in connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) and electric mobility ecosystems.
Dr. Kamruzzaman has published extensively in journals, conferences, and book chapters, and has secured several Canadian research grants in smart transportation, industrial IoT, and cybersecurity. He has also held academic and research positions across Canada, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Bangladesh, alongside over five years of Canadian industry experience developing IoT-driven solutions for automotive and healthcare.
A Senior Member of IEEE, he has served as Vice Chair of the IEEE Toronto Section, Engineering & Human Environment Chapter (2019–2022), and actively contributes to the IEEE Vehicular Technology Society. He has also held leadership roles in program accreditation, curriculum design, and research supervision.
At the 2nd IEOM World Congress, he will speak on “Towards Safe and Connected Mobility: Securing EV Ecosystems in the Era of 5G and IoT”, sharing insights on how cybersecurity, IoT, and AI-driven intelligence can ensure the safety, resilience, and sustainability of next-generation electric vehicles.
Panel Speaker II
Dr. Kazi Atiqur Rahman
Senior Software Architect – V2X Technologies, , GNSS, Time Arch, PLC
General Motors
Michigan, USA
Dr. Kazi Atiqur Rahman is a Senior Software Architect and researcher specializing in automotive communication systems, PLC, V2X technologies, and real-time systems. He currently works at General Motors, where he designs PLC (EV), C-V2X, GNSS, Time and NFC architectures for Connectivity Hub Module in software-defined vehicles. With over 10 years of industrial experience and more than 8 years of academic and research involvement in Canada, Germany, and Bangladesh, Dr. Rahman has contributed to projects in vehicular networks, wearable computing, wireless communication security, and smart mobility applications.
He earned his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Windsor, Canada, an M.Sc. in Communication Engineering and Media Technology from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, and a B.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from BUET, Bangladesh. A published researcher with journals and conference papers, and technical reports, Dr. Rahman has also taught at both undergraduate and graduate levels in different universities. His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, Siemens Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarship and competition prizes in robotics and smart grid innovation.
Panel Speaker III
Christopher (Chris) Morgan
Staff Solutions Architect – EV Integrations
Director, EV Integrations
WeaveGrid
Lake Orion, Michigan
Panel Speaker IV
Panel Speaker V
Md Samsul Alam Sarker, P. Eng., LSSBB
Area Continuous Improvement Manager
Autokiniton Global Group
New Boston, Michigan, USA
Samsul Alam Sarker is a seasoned manufacturing, process engineering, and continuous improvement leader with over two decades of experience driving innovation and operational excellence across the global automotive industry. Currently serving as Area Continuous Improvement Manager at Autokiniton Global Group, he oversees 22 plants in the U.S. and Mexico, delivering efficiency, throughput, and cost reduction initiatives. Previously, Samsul contributed to the launch and scale-up of Tesla’s Model Y at the Giga Factory in Austin, TX, as a Senior Process Engineer in Vehicle Assembly, where he developed and optimized EV processes spanning from body-in-white to trims, chassis, and high-voltage battery integration. He supported the production ramp-up by introducing advanced process innovations and achieving major improvements in cycle time and throughput. His career also includes leadership roles at Yanfeng Automotive, Tower International, US Manufacturing Corporation, Continental Automotive, and other major manufacturers, specializing in lean implementation, continuous improvement, product launches, manufacturing simulation, automotive components stamping, BIW manufacturing and joining, EV assembly, labor and cycle time optimization, and industrial engineering to maximize efficiency, reduce waste, and optimize large-scale production systems. Samsul holds a Master of Applied Science in Automotive Sheet Metal Forming and a Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Windsor. Certified in Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, MOST, and MODAPTS, he brings a unique blend of hands-on process knowledge, strategic insight, and a proven record of advancing EV manufacturing technologies through lean and continuous improvement practices.
Panel Speaker VI
Future of Manufacturing – Innovation in Manufacturing Panel
4:00 – 6:00 pm, October 15, 2025
Panel Chair
Dr. Steven Marshall
CFD Senior Expert
Valeo Thermal Systems
Auburn Hills, Michigan
Dr. Steve Marshall is the Senior CFD Expert at Valeo Thermal Systems in Auburn Hills, Michigan USA. He began his career with Valeo in 1994 at their HVAC production facility in Gorseinon, Wales, UK, immediately after completing his BEng and PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Swansea, Wales. He emigrated to Michigan with his family in 1999. Dr. Marshall has always strived to remain current with technological developments in simulation. Transportation Mobility and Electrification are no exception. He recently developed simulation techniques for modeling virus dispersion in city buses along with a simulation of a bus UVPurifier using Germicidal Irradiation as part of Valeo’s mobility initiative during the Covid pandemic. This directly helped Valeo’s production employees commute to their manufacturing plants more safely and also enabled civic transportation providers to keep the public safe on city buses. More recently as part of the electrification of automotive vehicles, Dr Marshall has been working on the simulation of dual layer and ram air control HVAC systems, both used to increase the vehicle’s mi/kWh for vehicles in the US and worldwide. Dr. Marshall plays as hard as he works, and enjoys renovating his family’s cottage in the upper peninsula of Michigan, running, skiing, and snorkeling, depending on the season.
Panel Speaker I
Markus Lewandrowski
Research and Development Manager
ZOLLER Inc.
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Panel Speaker II
Roman Honore
AI-Driven Quality & Manufacturing Expert
Principal @ Chemical Mechanix LLC
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Panel Speaker III
Dr. M. Joseph Ogundu, Ph.D., MBA
Chairman/CEO
Emerald Global Consulting Inc.
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Dr. Joseph Ogundu is the Chairman/CEO of Emerald Global Consulting Inc., and he brings a wealth of experience in the areas of leadership, strategy development and deployment, risk management, project management, business process excellence, lean transformation, six-sigma, supply chain management, change management, industrial engineering, manufacturing/process engineering, quality assurance and business restructuring/turnaround. Dr. Ogundu is a quality and operations excellence practitioner with expertise in solving complex operations problems and delivering results. He provides operations excellence leadership, training and coaching in the following industries; automotive, oil and gas, manufacturing, consulting, energy and healthcare. Dr. Ogundu spent the early years of his career in leadership, engineering, and senior management positions as director and executive director at Country Coach Inc, process engineering manager at DaimlerChrysler AG, senior operations leader at Chrysler Corporation, facilities engineer and project manager at Ford Motor Company as well as senior product engineer at General Motors Corporation.
Dr. Ogundu was adjunct professor, Industrial and Systems Engineering at both Lawrence Technological University, Southfield Michigan and Oakland University, Rochester Michigan, and adjunct professor of Business Administration at Kettering University, Flint Michigan. He thought courses in both undergraduate and graduate levels including courses in Lean Systems Application, Quality Assurance and Control, Total Quality Management, Operations Research and Stochastic Processes, Manufacturing Processes, Supply Chain Management, Supplier Quality, Business Statistics, Lean Six-Sigma, Production Planning and Control, Materials/Inventory Management and Operations Management
Dr. Ogundu graduated with a Doctorate Degree in engineering and manufacturing systems and Masters in business administration from Lawrence Technological University, Master’s Degree in Manufacturing Engineering from Wayne State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from University of Tennessee. Knoxville. He served as board member of Lawrence Tech University College of Management Alumni Association, Finer Cabinetry & Woodwork Inc., Citation Plastics, LLC., River State Foundation Inc., as well as Board member of Healthcare Management department at South University Novi, Michigan Campus, Vice President of Chapter Development Institute of Industrial Engineers SE Michigan/Toledo Chapter. Dr. Ogundu is the author of the book “The Relationship between Types of Waste and Operating Performance Measures, published by Lambert Publishing company.
Panel Speaker IV
Dr. Ahad Ali
Associate Professor
Director of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
Director, Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
Director of Smart Manufacturing and Lean Systems Research Group
A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics and Industrial Engineering
Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan, USA
Executive Director, IEOM Society International
Dr. Ahad Ali is an Associate Professor and Director of Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Master of Science in Industrial Engineering in the A. Leon Linton Department of Mechanical, Robotics and Industrial Engineering at the Lawrence Technological University, Michigan. Dr. Ali is the Director of Smart Manufacturing and Lean Systems Research Group. He earned B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh, Masters in Systems and Engineering Management from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Dr. Ali is the Executive Director of IEOM Society and Conference Chair of the Sixth International Conference on Industrial Engineering and operations Management, Kuala Lumpur 2016. He advised six doctorate students in Doctor of Engineering in Manufacturing Systems. Dr. Ali has published journal and conference papers. He was past President of IIE Lean Division. Dr Ali has done research projects with Chrysler, Ford, DTE Energy, Delphi Automotive System, GE Medical Systems, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, International Truck and Engine Corporation (ITEC), National/Panasonic Electronics, and Rockwell Automation. His research interests include quality, reliability, six sigma, manufacturing, simulation, optimization, scheduling, maintenance, e-manufacturing, lean, CAE and GD&T and. He is a member of ASEE, IEEE, IEOM, INFORMS, and SME.
Panel Speaker V
Panel Speaker VI
Women in Industry and Academia (WIIA) Panel sponsored by Ford Motor Company
2:00 – 3:30 pm, October 16, 2025
Panel Chair
Dr. Samira Keivanpour
Associate Professor
Department of Mathematics and Industrial Engineering
Polytechnique Montréal
Montréal, Canada
Samira Keivanpour is an associate professor in the Department of Mathematical and Industrial Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, holding a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA in Operations Management from the University of Tehran, as well as a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Université Laval, Canada. She also worked as a postdoctoral researcher and professional researcher in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Université Laval. She has previously been a sessional faculty member at Thompson Rivers University. As a member of CIRODD and CIRRELT, she actively contributes to several research projects. Her expertise includes operations management, logistics, Industry 4.0, expert systems, and artificial intelligence, with a primary focus on the “Industry of the Future and Digital Society,” and complementary interests in “Environment, Economy, and Society,” as well as “Modeling and Artificial Intelligence.” In this sense, she created and leads the Poly Circle X.0 Laboratory at Polytechnique Montreal. Her research focuses on digital innovation and sustainable operations, with key interests in circular economy and end-of-life product management, sustainable and circular supply chains, human-robot collaboration and smart automation in logistics, and the use of AI to drive sustainability in operations.
Panel Speaker I
Angie Lafferty, P. Eng.
General Manager, Engineering & Skilled Trades
TRQSS, Inc.
Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada
Angie Lafferty, based in Tecumseh, ON, CA, is currently a General Manager, Engineering and Skilled Trades at TRQSS, Inc. Angie Lafferty brings experience from previous roles at TRQSS, Inc. Angie Lafferty holds a 1993 – 1997 Bachelor of Applied Science – BASc in Environmental Engineering @ University of Windsor.
Panel Speaker II
Ghita El Anbri
Doctoral Candidate in Industrial Engineering
Polycircle X.0 and Laboratory of multiscale mechanics (LM2)
École Polytechnique de Montréal
Montréal, Canada
Ghita El Anbri is a doctoral candidate in Industrial Engineering at École Polytechnique de Montréal, specializing in additive manufacturing, logistics, and circularity in the aerospace industry. She was fast-tracked into the PhD program in recognition of her academic performance, having previously completed a Bachelor of Business Administration with Honors in Operations Management and Logistics at HEC Montreal. Her research spans product life cycle management, circular economy, and multi-criteria decision-making, with applications in aerospace and sustainable manufacturing. She has lectured at Polytechnique and HEC Montréal, earning the award for Best Laboratory Lecturer from the Industrial Engineering Department (AÉCSP) in 2024, and is a member of the graduate study council of Polytechnique. Ghita has been widely recognized for her academic and research contributions. In 2025, she was part of the winning team in the international Young Engineers Challenge, organized by SAMPE Europe and presented at JEC World 25 in Paris. She won the Woman Leadership Scholarship by Axium Infrastructure in 2024 and was named one of the 100 student leaders from 50 countries by AUF in 2023, won 2nd place in the EV Competition at the IEOM 2023 Conference, and received the Emerging Women in Aerospace Scholarship from CRIAQ and the Howmet Aerospace Foundation Women’s Excellence Scholarship. In 2022, she led a Polytechnique–HEC team to win 1st prize for poster presentation at the Space Resources Week in Luxembourg and was awarded the HEC Montréal Sustainable Development Research Fund. Her expertise bridges industrial engineering, sustainability, and the integration of advanced manufacturing.
Panel Speaker III
Negar Aghigh i
PhD Candidate
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Polytechnique Montréal
Montréal, Canada
Negar Aghigh is a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal, under the supervision of Prof. Daniel Therriault. With a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tehran, her direct doctoral studies specialize in multimaterial additive manufacturing of self-healing thermoplastic composites. Her project is in collaboration with the Multifunctional Composites Group of North Carolina State University, USA, led by Prof. Jason F. Patrick. With a background in manufacturing and automation, her research focuses on fused filament fabrication of smart materials, particularly sensors and heaters, with the goal of developing sustainable materials that offer improved durability and multifunctional performance. She serves as a teaching and laboratory assistant at Polytechnique Montreal and facilitates 3D printing workshops in schools and libraries across Quebec for the Centre de Recherche sur les Systèmes Polymères et Composites à Haute Performance (CREPEC). Negar has received multiple academic and professional recognitions. In 2025, her team from Canada won the SAMPE Europe Young Engineers Challenge, presenting at JEC World 25 in Paris for innovation in sustainable composite engineering. She was awarded the PBEEE Scholarship (2024–2025) by the Fonds de recherche du Québec for her doctoral research. At the University of Tehran, she ranked fourth among 125 students in the Mechanical Engineering program in 2023. In 2022, she earned fourth rank in the 27th National Student Scientific Olympiad in Mechanical Engineering. Earlier, she ranked in the top 0.2% nationwide in Iran’s 2019 nationwide entrance exam for undergraduate studies.
Panel Speaker IV
Dr. Rupa Vasudevan
Chancellor
Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University (BEST IU)
Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh
Dr. Rupa Vasudevan is an Educationist, Sociopreneur, Founder and Co-Chairperson of BEST Group (Gatti Valley Educational Institutions). She is the Chancellor of Bharatiya Engineering Science and Technology Innovation University (BEST IU), a State Private University established in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh.
Co-Founder and Director of Evergreen Naturals – EN, a company that focuses on cheaper availability of high-quality agricultural inputs to small and marginal farmers, monitoring growth and farming practices and helping in establishing forward and backward linkages in supply chain management. She is Appointed as one of the ten academicians in the General and Executive Council of Karnataka State Higher Education Council- KSHEC, apex body on education in the State. Regional Co-Chair for ASSOCHAM – Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka State. Founder and Global President of World Forum for Education, an independent non-profit organization working globally to advance sustainable development, humanitarian response and facilitating public good through Knowledge sharing and Education. Trustee of Apna Desh Foundation, a Foundation that spearheads initiatives, finding meaningful ways to make a difference to our farmers while documenting best traditional practices from rural areas of the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Honorary Trustee of Disha Bharat, a non-profit social organisation that works in the field of value education. Member, Governing Council of Indic Academy (INDICA) – a non-traditional University for traditional knowledge systems. And Member, Governing Council of India Foundation, New Delhi.
Global Supply Chain and Digital Transformation Panel
4:00 – 6:00 pm, October 16, 2025
Panel Chair
Dr. Guoqing Zhang
Professor
Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering
Faculty of Engineering
University of Windsor
Windsor, Canada
Guoqing Zhang, is a Professor in the Faculty of Engineering, University of Windsor, and also the director of Supply Chain and Logistics Optimization Research Centre. He received his Ph.D. degree in Management Sciences from City University of Hong Kong in 2000. His recent research interests include optimization in supply chain management, logistics, algorithms design and development, RFID, and facility/warehouse layout. He has published articles on those areas in journals such as Computational Optimization and Applications, IIE Transactions, European Journal of Operational Research, Computers and Operations Research, and Operations Research. He has served as a consultant to Auto, Energy, and Foods industries.
Panel Speaker I
Dr. Bobin Wang
Assistant Professor
Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
Faculty of Science and Engineering
Université Laval
Quebec, Canada
Bobin Wang is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at Université Laval. She holds her Ph.D. in Traffic and Transportation Planning and Management from Beijing Jiaotong University. Her research interests include travel mobility analysis, transportation and climate change, transportation network analysis, the integration of AI with decision-making theories, and econometric and statistical modeling. Dr. Wang has extensive research and professional experience across Asia, Europe, and North America. She has held two postdoctoral positions: one at the Department of Transport & Planning at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and another at the Department of Civil, Geological, and Mining Engineering at Polytechnique Montréal. She has published in leading transportation journals, including Transportation Research Part A, Part D, Part F, and Transport Policy. As Principal Investigator (PI) of several national and provincial research projects in Canada, supported by NSERC and FRQNT, Dr. Wang is recognized as an emerging researcher in STEM
Panel Speaker II
Dr. Saravanan Venkatachalam
Associate Professor
Industrial and Systems Engineering Department
Wayne State University
Detroit, Michigan
Dr. Saravanan Venkatachalam is an Associate Professor, Industrial & Systems Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA. His research and teaching focus on stochastic programming, large-scale optimization, and deep learning for optimization, with applications in supply chain planning, healthcare systems, pricing and revenue management, energy systems, and mobility. Before academia, he spent nine years in industry with JDA Software and Hewlett-Packard, where he developed and implemented decision-support systems across consumer support, supply chain management, transportation, and pricing/revenue management domains. He holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Industrial & Systems Engineering from Texas A&M University. His publications include work on decision-making under uncertainty, such as operations planning in supply chains, UAV routing, electric-vehicle charging-network planning, and air-traffic-flow management. His supply-chain scholarship advances risk-aware planning and replenishment through stochastic programming and large-scale optimization. His work develops two-stage formulations that capture demand and lead-time uncertainty, quantify downside risk (e.g., mean absolute semi-deviation), and propose scalable solution methods for coordinated replenishment and inventory balancing across multi-echelon networks. Recent projects extend these models with interactive decision support—including explainable analytics and natural-language interfaces—to help planners diagnose drivers of stockouts, evaluate mitigation strategies, and translate model insights into actionable plans.
Panel Speaker III
Sharfuddin Ahmed Khan, PhD, E.I.T, SMIISE
Associate Professor
Associate Program Chair, Industrial Systems Engineering
Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Sharfuddin Ahmed Khan is currently an Associate Professor and Associate Program Chair of Industrial Systems Engineering at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Prior to this role, he served as a Lecturer (September 2009 – August 2019) and later as an Assistant Professor (September 2019 – December 2021) at the University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. He then joined the University of Regina as an Assistant Professor (January 2022 – June 2025) before being promoted to his current position. Dr. Khan has contributed extensively to top-tier academic journals and Scopus-indexed conferences in areas such as supply chain management, sustainability, and engineering management. His research has been published in renowned journals, including Business Strategy and the Environment, Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Production Planning and Control, International Journal of Production Research, and Operations Management Research, among others. He has also authored book chapters and published books with leading academic publishers such as Taylor & Francis and Emerald Publishing. Dr. Khan has successfully secured significant research funding and has supervised and co-supervised numerous graduate students at the master’s and doctoral levels. His research continues to make a strong academic impact.
Panel Speaker IV
Dr. Leandro C. Coelho
Full Professor
Chairholder, Canada Research Chair in Integrated Logistics
Department of Operations and Decision Systems
Faculty of Business
Université Laval
Quebec, Canada
Leandro C. Coelho is the Canada Research Chair in Integrated Logistics and a full professor at Université Laval. He specializes in industrial emissions reduction projects, particularly in the field of urban mobility, and his projects have saved several thousand tons of greenhouse gas emissions. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed scientific articles. He is a member of the College of New Scholars of the Royal Society of Canada and co-founder of the MobilOpt group on Mobility Optimization, which specializes in optimizing sustainable mobility and works closely with several cities, ministries and public transport providers. He has several years of experience in industrial projects in Canada and abroad related to logistics challenges, particularly in mobility and greenhouse gas emissions. He holds the Canada research chair in integrated logistics and is interested in applying logistics and optimization techniques for the benefit of business and society.