Keynote Speakers
June 9, 2026 (Tuesday)
9:00 – 9:20, June 9 (Tuesday) – Host Welcome Address
Prof. Canan Bilen-Green
Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, Academic Affairs
Professor, Industrial Engineering
University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Dr. Bilen-Green serves as the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She has more than 15 years of experience in academic leadership. Before joining UWM, she held multiple vice provost roles at a public land-grant university, where she oversaw areas such as faculty advancement, Title IX and ADA compliance, disability accommodations, international programs, and faculty immigration.
Education
BS, Statistics, Middle East Technical University, 1991
MS, Industrial Engineering, Bilkent University, 1994
MS, Statistics, University of Wyoming, 1996
PhD, Statistics, University of Wyoming, 1998
Professional Memberships
American Statistical Association
American Society for Quality
American Society of Engineering Educators
American Society of Women Engineers
Institute of Industrial Engineers
Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences
Phi Kappa Phi
Women Engineers Proactive Network
9:20 – 10:00, June 9 (Tuesday) – Opening Keynote
Francisco Sayu
Vice President, Productivity and Sustainability
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
Vice President of Productivity and Sustainability Francisco J. Sayu leads WEDC’s efforts to support businesses, communities, and people in Wisconsin to take advantage of the economic opportunities the clean energy economy presents.
Francisco has worked in the clean energy sector for more than a decade and has experience in clean energy policy, advocacy, and small business development. Before joining WEDC, he served as emerging technology director at RENEW Wisconsin. Before that, he was program manager for the Focus on Energy® New Construction Solution, a statewide program that helps people and businesses in Wisconsin make informed energy decisions and save money.
Francisco holds a master’s degree in engineering and a bachelor’s degree in biological systems engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
10:00 – 10:20 AM Coffee Break
10:20 – 11:00, June 9 (Tuesday) – Keynote
TBA
11:00 – 11:40, June 9 (Tuesday) – Keynote
Paolo Butti
Regional President, Global Industry
Global Sales & Marketing
Rockwell Automation
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Paolo Butti is regional president, Global Industry in Global Sales & Marketing (GSM) at Rockwell Automation.
In this role, he leads the Global Industry sales organization, advancing Rockwell’s industry strategies and strengthening our ability to win across the broader ecosystem. He plays a critical role in driving the next phase of Rockwell’s strategic sales transformation, with a focus on shaping industry direction and expanding revenue with our most strategic customers.
Paolo joined Rockwell in 2012 and most recently served as global vice president of Machine Builder (OEM) Segments and Emerging Industries, where he led a high-performing team of industry and OEM segment directors, as well as large, strategic global account sales teams. With more than 25 years of experience in automotive, robotics, and industrial automation, Paolo brings extensive global expertise and a proven track record of driving growth. He is especially passionate about leading digital transformation in manufacturing.
He holds an M.Sc. in electronic engineering from Politecnicodi Milano, completed executive leadership training at University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and is certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, reflecting his passion for coaching, mentoring, and developing future generations of leaders.
11:40 – 12:20, June 9 (Tuesday) – Keynote
Jeffrey Wood
VP – Generac Advanced Manufacturing
Waukesha, Wisconsin
Passionate Manufacturing and Supply Chain Operations Professional with experience as a Vice President of Advanced Manufacturing, EHS, and Strategy, and Program Management with a demonstrated history of working in the automotive, electrical and electronics, HVAC, and Generator and Battery Storage industries. Skilled in Operations Management, Industrial Strategy, Supply Chain Sourcing and Development, Lean Manufacturing Implementation, Cost Efficiency, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and Team Building. Strong operations professional with a Bachelor’s Degree focused in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University.
12:20 – 1:00, June 9 (Tuesday) – Keynote
Dr. Jag Sarangapani
William A. Rutledge – Emerson Electric Company Distinguished Professor
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department
Missouri University of Science and Technology
Rolla, MO, USA
Dr. Sarangapani is a Curators’ Distinguished Professor and Rutledge-Emerson Chair at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO, USA. He was the Site Director for the graduated NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center on Intelligent Maintenance Systems for 13 years and an Interim Director for Intelligent Systems Center. He also has a courtesy appointment with the Department of Computer Science. He has co-authored 209 peer-reviewed journal articles as two-author papers, 308 refereed IEEE conference articles, several book chapters, and co-authored five books and two edited books. He holds 21 patents, one defense publication, with several pending. He has supervised the completion of over 36 doctoral students and 32 M.S. thesis students. His research funding is more than $47 million dollars (his shared credit over $13.8 million) from NSF, NASA, AFOSR, ARO, ONR, AFRL, Boeing, Honeywell, Sandia and from other companies. His current research interests include learning, adaptation, neural network decision making and control, networked control systems/cyber physical systems, prognostics/bigdata, and autonomous systems/robotics with healthcare applications. He served/serving on various editorial boards including as a Senior Editor, IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, organizing committees in various international conferences, and as a co-editor for the IET Book series on Control.
16:00 – 17:00, June 9 (Tuesday) – Keynote
Rear Admiral Dr. Khandakar Akhter Hossain, NUP, ndc, psc, PhD
Vice-Chancellor
Bangladesh Maritime University
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Rear Admiral Dr. Khandakar Akhter Hossain, NBP, NUP, ndc, psc, PhD, was commissioned into the Engineering Branch of Bangladesh Navy on 01 January 1991. He has completed his BSc. and MSc. Engineering in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering with a distinct result from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He also holds PhD from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). He has performed various instructional duties in Naval Academy, Marine Academy, NIT and Military Institution of Science and Technology (MIST). He was also the Dean/Head (On NAME department/ME Faculty) at Military Institution of Science and Technology (MIST). He has served as member Engineering in Chittagong Port Authority. He successfully performed the duties of Managing Director (MD) in all three shipbuilding heavy industries run by Bangladesh Navy, namely Chittagong Dry Dock Limited (CDDL), Dockyard & Engineering Works Ltd (DEW) and Khulna Shipyard Ltd (KSY). He also performed his duties as Area Superintendent Dockyard of Bangladesh Navy. He is a fellow of different prestigious institutes like IEB(BD), RINA(UK), and IAMSP(USA). Before joining here, he performed his duties in the prestigious post of Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Materiel). He has around 250 international publications/papers on AI, IoT, Robotics, Satellite Communication, ship recycling, shipbuilding, energy solutions, human resource diversification, port operations, and advanced technologies which all are available in “Google Scholar”. He is happily married with Dr. Sharmin Hasan and blessed with twin daughters and two sons.
June 10, 2026 (Wednesday)
9:00 – 9:20, June 10 (Wednesday) – Opening Remarks (2nd day)
Dr. Ethan Munson
Full Professorship
UWM Computer Science Department
Former Associate Dean of Academics
UWM College of Engineering and Applied Science
Dr. Ethan Munson held a full professorship at the UWM Computer Science Department beginning in 1994. He has also held various leadership positions at UWM, including Chair of the Computer Science Department, Director of the Center for Advanced Embedded Systems, and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs from 2015-2022. Dr. Munson received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley. His research interests include Software Engineering, Document Engineering, Human-Computer Interaction, and Software Systems.
9:20 – 10:00, June 10 (Wednesday) – Keynote
Paul Perkins
President
Amatrol, Inc.
Jeffersonville, Indiana
USA
Paul Perkins is president and co-founder of Amatrol, Inc., a Jeffersonville, Indiana based manufacturer of technical learning systems and online interactive multimedia software for colleges, industry and high schools. Perkins holds a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering Summa Cum Laude from Georgia Institute of Technology, is the author of over 20 books on industrial controls and automation, and has designed numerous training systems for teaching engineering and technical skills. His community service activities include serving as Chair of the Indiana State Workforce Innovation Council, past Chair of the National Governors Association State Workforce Board Chairs Association, and board member of many other national, state and local organization.
10:00 – 10:40, June 10 (Wednesday) – Keynote
Joe Hamman
Executive Director
UWM Connected Systems Institute
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Joe is a senior engineering and technology leader with diverse experience across the engineering value chain. Focused on applying LEAN principles to efficiently drive strategic business objectives in product innovation, product line simplification, value-add / value-engineering, and technical talent development. Expertise building University partnerships to create talent pipelines, catalyze collaborative research and product development, and launch Learning & Development initiatives aligned to broader STEM workforce needs. Technical foundation consisting of advanced competencies in materials science, tribology, statistical designed experimentation, and product / technology development.
10:40 – 11:00 AM – Coffee Break
11:00 – 11:40, June 10 (Wednesday) – Keynote
Michael Cook
Director of Industry-Academia Engagement
Rockwell Automation
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Michael Cook is focused on building the digital workforce for advanced automation. As Director of Global Industry-Academia Engagement, he drives strategic partnerships to bridge the gap between education and industry to accelerate digital transformation. With deep expertise in project and risk management, innovation partnering, and team development, Michael helps organizations future-proof their talent pipelines. His work empowers institutions and companies alike to embrace Industry 4.0 through collaborative, scalable workforce strategies. Michael is also advancing the adoption of cutting-edge technologies like OTTO Autonomous Mobile Robotics, helping industry partners modernize industrial operations and inspire the next generation of talent. Passionate about shaping future manufacturing leaders, he remains at the forefront of aligning global talent development with the demands of modern industry.
11:40 – 12:20, June 10 (Wednesday) – Keynote
Jason House
Business Unit Manager – Mission Readiness & Protective Systems Unit
Northrop Grumman
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Jason House is a seasoned supply chain and operations leader with extensive experience in the aerospace and defense industry. Currently serving as Manager of Supply Chain Programs for Northrop Grumman’s Mission Readiness and Protective Systems Business Unit, Jason directs $170 million in annual material and subcontract spend, leading a high-performing team across multiple operating units. His expertise includes strategic supplier management, risk mitigation, and driving alignment of supply chain operations with overall business objectives.
Jason’s previous roles at Northrop Grumman include leading complex procurement and supply chain initiatives, managing diverse teams of procurement contracting officers, and spearheading cost-reduction efforts in support of major defense contracts. His career highlights include serving as an integrated program team lead at Air Warfare Systems, managing supplier risk assessments, and collaborating with cross-functional leadership to enhance supply chain integration and performance.
With a strong technical skill set encompassing ERP as well as deep knowledge of regulatory compliance within FAR and DFARS frameworks, Jason brings a comprehensive approach to supply chain program planning and execution. Jason holds a Master of Science in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Supply Chain Management and a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership and Supervision, both from Purdue University.
As a key figure in advancing supplier strategy and operational excellence, Jason House is recognized for his ability to drive innovation and deliver results in complex defense supply chains. He will be sharing his insights on supply chain optimization and leadership at the 11th North American Conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management.
12:20 – 13:00, June 10 (Wednesday) – Keynote
Dr. Anthony Rollett
U.S. Steel Professor of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science and University Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Co-Director of the NASA STRI IMQCAM and the NextManufacturing Center
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Anthony Rollett has been a member of the faculty at Carnegie Mellon University since 1995, including five years as materials science and engineering department head. He became the US Steel Professor of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science in 2017 and a University Professor in 2024. He is the PI and co-director of the Institute for Model-Based Qualification & Certification of Additive Manufacturing (IMQCAM), which is a NASA-supported Science Technology & Research Institute. He is also the co-director of the Next Manufacturing Center on additive manufacturing.
Previously, he worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. There, he was group leader of metallurgy from 1991-1994 and deputy division director of materials science and technology for a year after that.
His research group is supported by industry, several federal research agencies, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Basic Energy Science Advisory Committee and the Defense Programs Advisory Committee under the Department of Energy. His lecture notes on texture and anisotropy are widely known and used, and he started a new course on additive manufacturing and materials in 2016. He started a new master’s program in additive manufacturing in the fall of 2018.
Rollett’s research focuses on microstructural evolution and microstructure-property relationships in 3D, using both experiments and simulations. Interests include 3D printing of metals, materials for energy conversion systems, strength of materials, constitutive relations, microstructure, texture, anisotropy, grain growth, recrystallization, formability, and stereology. Relevant techniques include high-performance spectral methods in micro-mechanics, dynamic x-ray radiography (DXR) and high-energy diffraction microscopy (HEDM). Important recent results include definition of process windows in 3D printing through characterization of porosity, 3D comparisons of experiment and simulation for plastic deformation in metals, the appearance of new grains during grain growth, and grain size stabilization. He has 320 peer-reviewed journal publications with an h-index of more than 80.
His awards and honors include:
- ASM Fellow
- Fellow of the Institute of Physics (UK)
- TMS Fellow
- Cyril Stanley Smith Award (TMS)
- Member of Honor from the French Metallurgical Society
- Cyril Stanley Smith Award from the International Conference on Recrystallization and Grain Growth
- International Francqui Professor (2020-2021) from the Francqui Foundation
- International Freeform and Additive Manufacturing Excellence (FAME) Award
June 11, 2026 (Thursday)
9:00 – 9:40, June 11 (Thursday) – Keynote
Dr. Chia Youyee Vang
UWM Vice Chancellor, Community Empowerment & Institutional Inclusivity
Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee
Dr. Chia Youyee Vang is a Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Her teaching and research focus on twentieth-century U.S. international history, the Cold War in Asia, Asian American history, Hmong history, refugee migration, and transnational and diasporic communities. She examines not only major political and military transformations but also the lived realities of those who endure wars not of their own making but fought in their homelands. Her documentation of Southeast Asian refugee lives—and those of their descendants across four continents—offers critical insights into the enduring impact of one of the most controversial wars of the twentieth century. In addition to many articles and reports, she is the author of four books and an edited volume: Prisoner of Wars: A Hmong Fighter Pilot’s Story of Escaping Death and Confronting Life (2020), Fly Until You Die: An Oral History of Hmong Pilots in the Vietnam War (2019), Hmong America: Reconstructing Community in Diaspora (2010), Hmong in Minnesota (2008), and Claiming Place: On the Agency of Hmong Women (2016). Her scholarship has earned numerous accolades, including appointment to the Organization of American Historians’ Distinguished Lecture Program. Dr. Vang earned a B.A. in Political Science and French from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1994. She completed an M.A. in Public Affairs in 1996 and a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Minnesota in 2006.
9:40 – 10:20 AM – Keynote:
Dr. Alejandro Hernández González
Professor of Electrochemistry, Manufacturing Processes, and Dynamics
Faculty of Chemical Sciences
Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED)
Durango, Mexico
Dr. Alejandro Hernández González is a Research Professor at the Universidad Juárez del Estado de Durango (UJED) and serves as the President of the IEOM Durango Chapter. His expertise is built on a global academic foundation, having conducted research and specialized studies at institutions in Germany, Singapore, and the USA, including the Technical University of Munich, the German Institute of Science and Technology (Asia), MIT, and the University of Colorado Boulder.
As the Innovation and Project Leader at Star Hunters Rocketry, Dr. Hernández specializes in experimental rocketry and liquid propulsion systems. He is deeply committed to democratizing space knowledge, actively mentoring students through the NASA International Space Apps Challenge and fostering local aerospace development.
10:20 – 10:40, June 11 (Thursday) – Break
10:40 AM – 11:20, June 11 (Thursday) – Keynote
Monica L. Davis
Sr. HR Leader and Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR)
Delek US Holdings, Inc.
Texas, USA
Monica L. Davis is a seasoned operations and human resources leader with extensive experience in production, distribution, logistics, and organizational leadership within the oil and gas industry. Over the past decade, she has successfully led operations across multiple sites, developing a strong technical and managerial foundation that enabled critical logistics and operational functions to continue seamlessly during highly challenging and disruptive periods.
Currently serving as a Senior HR Leader and Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) at Delek US Holdings, Inc., Monica brings a unique combination of operational excellence, workforce leadership, and strategic problem-solving. Her expertise spans operational efficiency, process improvement, compliance management, risk mitigation, safety leadership, and organizational development. Monica is widely recognized for her ability to implement innovative and cost-effective operational strategies while maintaining high standards of safety, environmental compliance, and service reliability. She has consistently demonstrated success in optimizing scheduling systems, improving process efficiencies, strengthening risk management frameworks, and delivering operational excellence across complex environments.
In addition to her technical and operational accomplishments, Monica is known as a collaborative and inspiring leader who excels at building strong relationships across diverse teams and fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement.
As a keynote speaker, Monica Davis shares valuable insights on operational leadership, workforce development, resilience in complex industries, process optimization, and the evolving role of human resources in driving organizational success.
11:20 – 12:00, June 11 (Thursday) – Keynote
Girish Kumar Gopalakrishnan, MS, CMBB, CSSBB, CMQ-OE
Senior Manager – Continuous Improvement – CNH
Senior Member – IEOM Society International
Girish Kumar Gopalakrishnan is a North America Continuous Improvement Senior Manager at Case New Holland (CNH), Girish has led cross-plant transformation initiatives that have significantly advanced manufacturing performance, digital innovation, and cultural engagement across CNH’s operations. He is a distinguished continuous improvement leader whose 15-year career reflects deep technical expertise, transformative leadership, and a sustained impact on operational excellence. He holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from North Carolina State University. He was named one among top 50 business transformation leaders to follow in 2025 by Process Excellence Network. He received the 2025 Marlyn Hyde Commitment to Excellence Award from the American Society of Quality (ASQ) NE Illinois Chapter. He serves as an Industry Advisory Board Member for the Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering department at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is an ASQ certified Master Black Belt, Black Belt and Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence. He is also a Senior member with Industrial Engineering & Operations Management Society (IEOM), ASQ and Institute of Industrial Engineers (IISE). Girish is serving as the Secretary of ASQ NE Illinois Chapter, and as an Editor-in-Chief of the ASQ Lean Enterprise Division eZine Quarterly Magazine.
12:00 – 12:20, June 11 (Thursday) – Break
12:20 – 13:00, June 11 (Thursday) – Keynote
Keynote Speakers (Online)
IEOM ICSCML 2026
8:30-10:30 am, June 11, 2026 (UK Time)
Moderator:
Prof. Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes
Professor of Operations Management
Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Improvement
Derby International Business School
University of Derby
Derby, DE1 1DZ, UK
Jose Arturo Garza-Reyes is a professor of Operations Management and Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Improvement at the University of Derby, UK. He is actively involved in industrial projects where he combines his knowledge, expertise and industrial experience in operations management to help organisations achieve excellence in their internal functions and supply chains. He has also led and managed international research projects funded by the European Commission, British Academy, British Council, Innovate UK and Mexico’s National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT). As a leading academic, he has published over 400 articles in leading scientific journals, international conferences and eleven books. For 6 years in a row (from 2020 to 2025) he has been ranked amongst the most highly-cited scientists in the world, according to research by Elsevier and Stanford University. Beyond academic circles, his work has been used to shape policy documents produced by the European Commission, World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, The British Academy as well as policy documents issued by various governments, e.g. UK, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Spain and Iraq, contributing in this way to policy formulation and real-world decision-making. Prof. Garza-Reyes is Associate Editor of the Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, Editor of the Int. J. of Supply Chain and Operations Resilience and Editor-in-Chief of the Int. J. of Industrial Engineering and Operations Management. Areas of expertise and interest for Professor Garza-Reyes include Operations and Production Management, Supply Chain and Logistics Management, Sustainability within the context of Operations and Supply Chains, Industry 4.0 technologies application in operations and supply chains, among others.
Keynote I (8:30 – 9:00 am, June 11, Thursday – UK Time)
Dr. Robert de Souza
The Executive Director
The Logistics Institute – Asia Pacific (TLI – Asia Pacific)
Senior Fellow, National University of Singapore
Dr. Robert de Souza is the Executive Director of the The Logistics Institute – Asia Pacific (TLI – Asia Pacific). Robert is a Chartered Engineer and a distinguished writer, speaker, consultant and advisor in the area of supply chain management. Prior to this appointment, effective May 1st 2004, Dr Robert de Souza served as Deputy Executive Director (Industry) and IT Director at TLI – Asia Pacific. Previously, Dr de Souza was Executive Vice President (Asia Pacific) for V3 Systems. His extensive tenure in the industry also includes serving as the Corporate Senior Vice President and Global Chief Knowledge Officer at Viewlocity Inc. and co-founder, Vice Chairman and CEO of SC21 Pte, Ltd., a Singapore-based supply chain software firm. As an educator, Dr de Souza is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and also a Senior Fellow in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the National University of Singapore and has previously served as a professor and in several senior positions in the School of Mechanical and Production Engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Dr. de Souza is a member of the Editorial Boards of the International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing and the International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications. Dr de Souza also serves on the Advisory Panel of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Singapore (CILTS), as a Council Member of the Singapore eSupply Chain Management (eSCM) Council and on the Boards of Directors/Advisors of several IT- based corporations.
Keynote II (9:00 – 9:30 am, June 11, Thursday – UK Time)
Prof. Nyoman Pujawan
Rektor ULBI
Professor Supply Chain Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
Nyoman Pujawan is the Rector of ULBI and is a Professor of Supply Chain Engineering at the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Surabaya, Indonesia. Before taking over the Rector position at ULBI, he was the Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Management and Technology (SIMT) in ITS. He was the President of the Indonesian Supply Chain and Logistics Institute (ISLI). He received a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering from ITS, Indonesia, Master of Engineering in Industrial Engineering from Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) Bangkok, Thailand, and PhD in Management Science from Lancaster University, UK. He also holds Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) from APICS (USA) and CPLM and CSCM (ISCEA, USA).
Keynote III (9:30 – 10:00 am, June 11, Thursday – UK Time)
Dr. Shraddha Gawankar
Assistant Professor for Practice at Economics and Decision Sciences
Beacom School of Business
University of South Dakota
Vermillion, South Dakota
Dr. Shraddha Gawankar is an Assistant Professor for Practice at Economics and Decision Sciences at the Beacom School of Business, University of South Dakota. She received her doctorate from Indian Institute of Management–Mumbai, Mumbai India in (2015) specializing in ‘supply chain performance measurement’.
Her teaching and research interests include Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Data and Programming for Analytics. Much of her research use large-scale field data to identify causal relationships that generate new scholarly insights regarding the connections between operational factors, decision-making, and performance.
She is author of book titled “Supply chain performance measurement – towards business excellence” and her research has been published in top multi-disciplinary management journals, including International Journal of Production Research, International Journal of Production Economics, Process Safety and Environmental Protection.
Shraddha considers herself a teacher and researcher and sees an interesting duality in the two roles. “In the classroom, my research background helps me to create unique content that is particularly tailored to students’ interests while being academically rigorous.
Keynote IV (10:00 – 10:30 am, June 11, Thursday – UK Time)
Senthilkumar Thiyagarajan, Ph.D.
Senior Supply Chain Analyst
Medline Industries, LP
Northfield, Illinois, USA
Board of Director, Logistics and Supply Chain Division – IISE
Content Management Committee Leader, Supply Chain Management, Quality Management Division, American Society for Quality
Board Member, ISCEA-IMPA
Dr. Senthilkumar Thiyagarajan is a Senior Supply Chain Analyst in the Center of Excellence for Inventory Management at Medline Industries, LP. He earned his Ph.D. in Supply Chain Management from Purdue University and MS in Industrial Engineering from Arizona State University. His expertise spans supply chain resilience, digital twin technology, Industry 4.0, Lean Six Sigma, and product lifecycle management, with a proven track record of applying advanced research to real-world industry challenges. Dr. Thiyagarajan’s research work has been published in leading journals, including the International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, and the International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management. He has also presented his research at major international conferences. A certified Six Sigma Black Belt, he has held impactful roles in supply chain, quality engineering, and process improvement at Tesla, Schott, Cook Medical, and Zimmer Biomet before joining Medline. Beyond his corporate contributions, Dr. Thiyagarajan actively advances the profession through editorial, advisory, and leadership service. He currently serves on the Editorial Advisory Boards of the International Journal of Lean Six Sigma and the International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management. He is a Board Member of the Logistics & Supply Chain Division of IISE and an Industrial Advisory Board Member for IISE. Within the American Society for Quality (ASQ), he leads the Content Management Committee for Supply Chain Management and contributes as a committee member for Quality 4.0 in the Quality Management Division.