Unlocking Industrial AI: Seizing Opportunities and Simplifying Complexity
Industry conferences, AI conferences, chamber events, seminars, luncheons, keynotes... all very ubiquitous nowadays and frankly a little overwhelming. Business leaders are being solicited left, right and center as they try to go about their daily lives - managing crises, maintaining strategic focus, and keeping the vision alive!
The EACC strives to be different, not only keeping our promise of concrete value to our members, but ensuring that the value we promise comes in many forms: critical and timely information, practical ideas, high-quality conversations and connections, opportunities to come together, and genuine camaraderie. If a leader is going to step away from their business, it needs to be worth their while.
TRANSFORM 2023 set the bar high. TRANSFORM 2024 rose to the challenge.
Over 130 local and regional leaders registered for the 1/2 day event that took place at SAFRAN Landing Systems in Walton, KY. SAFRAN Landing Systems is a world leader in aircraft landing and braking systems that equips the commercial, regional, business and military fleets of more than 25 key airframers. Their expertise covers the entire lifecycle of their products, from design and manufacturing to maintenance and repair.
The topic of the event was AI. But not just "AI". It was specifically about the role AI plays and will play in the world of industry, particularly in terms of supply chain and business sustainability, and how to strategically go about implementing it into one's business operations.
So after enjoying some drinks and light snacks in the beautiful afternoon sunshine, sponsored by our very own Greater Cincinnati Foreign Trade Zones, EACC Executive Director Nicole Fenyo, and SAFRAN Landing Systems CEO, Philippe Garnier, welcomed the participants and, Alina Harastasanu, Director European Business Development at JobsOhio, kicked off the afternoon with the event's keynote session, which combined an overview of GE Aerospace's AI journey, superlatively delivered by David Burns, CIO GE Aerospace, followed by a concrete example, masterfully demonstrated by P&G's Heather Stemple, Vice President North American Planning Operations, and Brian Atkins, Group Director Global Supply Chain Planning Innovation.
3 breakout panels, led by EACC Bridge Builder members, shared and discussed their respective experiences with the implementation of various forms of AI in their businesses - from consumer goods to industrial and aerospace manufacturing to facilities maintenance and equipment optimization.
Industry conferences, AI conferences, chamber events, seminars, luncheons, keynotes... all very ubiquitous nowadays and frankly a little overwhelming. Business leaders are being solicited left, right and center as they try to go about their daily lives - managing crises, maintaining strategic focus, and keeping the vision alive!
The EACC strives to be different, not only keeping our promise of concrete value to our members, but ensuring that the value we promise comes in many forms: critical and timely information, practical ideas, high-quality conversations and connections, opportunities to come together, and genuine camaraderie. If a leader is going to step away from their business, it needs to be worth their while.
TRANSFORM 2023 set the bar high. TRANSFORM 2024 rose to the challenge.
Over 130 local and regional leaders registered for the 1/2 day event that took place at SAFRAN Landing Systems in Walton, KY. SAFRAN Landing Systems is a world leader in aircraft landing and braking systems that equips the commercial, regional, business and military fleets of more than 25 key airframers. Their expertise covers the entire lifecycle of their products, from design and manufacturing to maintenance and repair.
The topic of the event was AI. But not just "AI". It was specifically about the role AI plays and will play in the world of industry, particularly in terms of supply chain and business sustainability, and how to strategically go about implementing it into one's business operations.
So after enjoying some drinks and light snacks in the beautiful afternoon sunshine, sponsored by our very own Greater Cincinnati Foreign Trade Zones, EACC Executive Director Nicole Fenyo, and SAFRAN Landing Systems CEO, Philippe Garnier, welcomed the participants and, Alina Harastasanu, Director European Business Development at JobsOhio, kicked off the afternoon with the event's keynote session, which combined an overview of GE Aerospace's AI journey, superlatively delivered by David Burns, CIO GE Aerospace, followed by a concrete example, masterfully demonstrated by P&G's Heather Stemple, Vice President North American Planning Operations, and Brian Atkins, Group Director Global Supply Chain Planning Innovation.
3 breakout panels, led by EACC Bridge Builder members, shared and discussed their respective experiences with the implementation of various forms of AI in their businesses - from consumer goods to industrial and aerospace manufacturing to facilities maintenance and equipment optimization.
- PANEL 1, led by MELINK Solar and sponsored by Owen Electric, included Chris Brock, CISO of the Piqua Shawnee Tribe and the CEO and Founder/CEO Primary Hosting & Facebook’s 280K+ member “ChatGPT for Business and Life”, Kris Brannock, Executive Vice President at VSI’s Actionable IoT™, and Jerry Schmits, Area Account Manager - Comprehensive Solutions at Trane Technologies.
- PANEL 2, led by Altix Consulting and sponsored by REDI Cincinnati, included Stacy Moree, Head of Factory Digitization Americas, Innomotion (a SIEMENS Company), Beau Easton, COO, Meyer Tool, Andy Reeher, CEO, Brighton Science, Andrew Byer, ALTIX Consulting.
- PANEL 3, led by Modula Inc and sponsored by TechSolve, included Kerry Byrne, President, Total Quality Logistics (TQL), Suresh Iyer, CTO, Henny Penny Corporation, Dan Catalano, President & CEO, TechSolve.
A factory tour rounded out the afternoon sessions, and after a few closing comments (and insights about what constitutes heaven and hell in Europe), all guests enjoyed a beautiful - and delicious - cocktail hour courtesy of UC's Carl H. Lindner School of Business and Jeff Thomas Catering.
OUR TAKEAWAYS
- AI is not ChatGPT: Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Generative AI are ALL elements of Artificial Intelligence that have evolved over decades. ChatGPT is just one tool of Generative AI. There are many more.
- AI is only as reliable as the data sets the AI tools are applied to: collecting the data and/or choosing the data you apply the AI tools to is fundamental to the value of the outcomes. Open source, as we know is full of questionable "truths", however, your businesses internally-generated data is and should be a source of truth.
- AI will not replace jobs, people who master it will: learn to "converse" with Generative AI, because it is an iterative conversation. Ask for what you want, then refine it, edit it based on what you are given.
- Different AI tools will apply to different areas of your business: Generative AI, with its subjective results, is designed for communication (Marketing, HR, Sales, Accounting) whereas Machine Learning and Deep Learning will find their place in the production and operations area of the business where black & white results are the norm.
- Start small: play with ChatGPT, choose a small project for an early win, be curious, get familiar and grow from there
- Ask ChatGPT (or equivalent): ask where to start, ask what pitfalls to look out for when using the tool/s, use the tool to prepare yourself, prepare your employees and protect your business.
The discussions we had were truly just grazing the surface - there are many ideas and perspectives and experiences yet to be shared and lived through. It is just the beginning.
As business leaders, your time is valuable. OUR time is valuable. When we choose where to spend it - especially outside of our business - it is incredibly important to choose well. We believe 130+ leaders did on 10/3/2024.
And last, but certainly not least our thanks go to Duke Energy, registration sponsor, and Chad Shaffer, Board Member and long-time supporter of the EACC and our mission to connect Europeans and Americans to do Business.
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