Speakers

Kisoo Kim, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President,
Low-Carbon Process R&D Center, POSCO

POSCO’s Digital Transformation; Human-Machine Ensemble for Smart Factory

Abstract: POSCO has applied AI algorithms to more than 90 sites ever since its first application in the steelworks in 2016. AI enables autonomous operations in steel manufacturing processes by combining AI with existing physical models and also with operators, called ensemble operation, resulting in the enhancement of productivity, quality, and cost reduction.
Machine and human ensemble operations show better performances than the operation with existing physical models. This allows AI models to self-learn the know-how of experienced operators, and inexperienced operators can perform better with these Al models. POSCO continues its drive to establish an intelligent steel mill where humans and AI collaborate. Strong collaboration between academia, SMEs, start-ups, and experienced operators is the key to Smart Factory in steelworks.

Biography: Dr. Kisoo Kim is responsible for Low-Carbon Process R&D Center at POSCO. He is also working on the 4th industrial revolution technology such as Big Data, and AI, leading the innovative research on steel manufacturing facilities and processes. With his domain expertise, he has tried to shift its focus from traditionally hardware-driven improvements to AI-based adaptive and self-learning smart technology in the steel works. He graduated from the Department of Metallurgical Engineering at Seoul National University and obtained a master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from POSTECH. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sheffield, UK. He has served as a researcher at the POSCO Technical Research Labs for 31 years.

Dr. Stephan M. Wagner
Professor and Chair of Logistics Management,
Director HumOSCM Lab, Department of Management, Technology, and Economics
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich)

Collaboration between Corporates and Startups in the Supply Chain Ecosystem – Challenges and Best Practices

Abstract: Startups are associated with innovation, emerging technologies, digitalization, and disruptive business models. Therefore, more and more corporates are urged to access innovations that increase the competitiveness of products or productivity of processes by engaging with startups based upon supplier relationships, and hence, have to add startup suppliers to their supplier base. However, firms often struggle and do not yet have good answers to the question whether and how to effectively integrate startup suppliers into the firms’ supply base. Likewise, the scholarly supply chain, logistics, and operations management literature has up to now paid very little attention to startups’ role in the supply chain ecosystem. In this talk, I will discuss corporate–startup interaction and focus on the capabilities buying firms need to build up in order to identify, select and integrate startups suppliers. Successful corporates have adapted their sourcing approaches to meet the realities faced by innovative entrepreneurial firms.

Biography: Stephan M. Wagner is Full Professor of Supply Chain Management, holds the Chair of Logistics Management and is the Founder and Director of the HumOSCM Lab at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), Switzerland. Prior to joining ETH Zurich in 2008, he served on the faculty of WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management, Germany, and worked for 10 years as head of supply chain management for a Swiss-based technology group and as senior manager for an international top-management consulting firm. He is an active researcher and an advisor to several supply chain startups. He serves the academic community as a Department Editor for Decision Sciences, and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Operations Management, the Journal of Supply Chain Management, the Journal of Business Logistics and the Journal of Purchasing & Supply Management. He is author and editor of 13 books and 150 book chapters and articles. His award-winning research has been published in management journals, such as the Academy of Management Journal or Journal of Management, operations management journals, such as Journal of Operations Management or Production and Operations Management, methods journals, such as Organizational Research Methods or Sociological Methods and Research, as well as managerial journals such Interfaces or California Management Review.

Esma S. Gel
Cynthia Hardin Milligan Chair of Business & Professor
Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics
College of Business, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Simulation and Optimization Approaches for Pandemic Response: Descriptive, Predictive and Prescriptive Models

Abstract: Beginning in March 2020, the U.S. emerged as the global epicenter for COVID-19 cases with little to guide policy response in the absence of extensive data available for reliable epidemiological modeling in the early phases of the pandemic. While Arizona policymakers relied initially on state-by-state national modeling projections from different groups outside of the state, we sought to create a state specific model using a mathematical framework that ties disease surveillance with the future burden on Arizona’s healthcare system. Our framework uses a compartmental system dynamics model using a SEIRD framework that accounts for multiple types of disease manifestations for the COVID-19 infection, as well as the observed time delay in epidemiological findings following public policy enactments. The first portion of this talk will present our findings and experiences with using the model in different stages of the pandemic. In particular, it will focus on the use of different sources of data to fit the various model parameters to obtain reliable projections for Arizona between April 2020 and January 2021. Following that, we will cover our efforts on identifying effective vaccine allocation strategies using an agent-based simulation framework and will comment on our current work in this domain. Finally, we will report on some initial results on a recently funded, large scale NIH project to develop a decision support tool for local health officials faced with the questions of allocating resources and prioritizing vaccines among different population subgroups as well as geographical areas.

Biography: Esma Gel is Cynthia Hardin Milligan Chair of Business and Professor at the Department of Supply Chain Management and Analytics of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Gel was a faculty member of Industrial Engineering at Arizona State University between 2000-2022. Gel’s research focuses on the use of stochastic modeling and control techniques for the design, control and management of operations in various settings, with emphasis on manufacturing and service systems, business and logistics processes, and health care systems. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, she has been working as the lead modeler for the Modeling Emerging Threats for Arizona (METAz) workgroup of ASU with a group of epidemiology and public health experts. The projections produced by the group were able to predict trends in hospitalization and deaths from May 2020 to present and informed projection updates provided to the Arizona Department of Health Services by ASU. Gel’s work has been published in leading journals of her field as well as medical journals such as the British Medical Journal. She received funding from the National Science Foundation as well as her industrial partners (e.g., Intel, Mayo Clinic). Gel holds a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering from Middle East Technical University, Turkey, and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial Engineering from Northwestern University, obtained in 1995 and 1999, respectively.

Hong Bum Jung
Chief Executive Officer,
Head of Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS)

Manufacturing Innovation via Metaverse-based Digital-Twin Factory

Abstract: The automotive industry has continued to innovate since the invention of gasoline cars in 1885, and now structural changes in the industry are in progression, with the transition of power source and development of software, communication, computing, and AI technology. As one of the strategies of Hyundai Motor Group to lead the new paradigm of the automotive industry, we are developing a Meta-Factory-based manufacturing platform to flexibly respond to the needs of the market. Meta-Factory is a smart factory in the digital world of Metaverse. We are planning to establish the world’s greatest Meta-Factory in line with the grand opening of the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS). The Meta-Factory in HMGICS will show you our new definition of the manufacturing paradigm. No more repetitive and passive roles. From now on, the workers will be key players in the manufacturing process with collaborative robots. Our employees will be respected, our clients will be fully satisfied, and our philosophy will always pursue the happiness of all mankind. We will invite you on our journey to complete Meta-Factory, we will show you how robotics will be evolved in Metaverse, and we will share our strategies to pioneer the new era of manufacturing. Two main topics would be addressed in our keynote. The first one is about the strategies of Hyundai Motor Group to exploit opportunities in the transformation of the automotive industry. Let us introduce MECA, our new trend in the automotive industry (*MECA: Mobility, Electrification, Connectivity, Autonomous). Also, the transition of automotive OEM to the service provider will be covered. The second part will provide you with an overview of the HMGICS and our strategies to implement a Meta-Factory. We will talk about changes in the ecosystem of the manufacturing industry and the purpose of establishing HMGICS. Also, our philosophy of smart factories and our strategies to develop intelligent manufacturing platforms will be covered. Our talks will let you spot methods to build up Meta-Factory and utilize robotic technologies.

Biography: Hong-bum Jung has been the head of Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center in Singapore (HMGICS) since April 2020 and PMO of this project since Dec 2018. As the CEO of HMGICS, Hong-bum Jung is leading an innovation center for Hyundai Motor Group’s future mobility research and development, with the aim of ‘Human-Centered Value Chain Innovation for Mobility Paradigm Shift’. With his deep expertise in Motor Industry, He strengthens the business strategies of all teams in HMGICS such as Technology, Manufacturing, Sales, SBFI, and Corporate functional teams, and operates effectively, achieving success in steps to HMGICS’s goal. He has been with the company for over 35 years, starting his career as a Research Engineer and gradually taking on more responsibility, from Director of the Pilot/Prototype Division to Head of the Pilot Center Division. He has deep expertise as an authority in the industry, having passionately focused on vehicle development and production technology research over the years.

Dr.-Ing. Dominic Gorecky
Head of Swiss Smart Factory
Partner, Executive Board Member of Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne AG (SIPBB)

10 Years Industry 4.0: State of Play and the Role of Digital Innovations Hubs

Abstract: For more than 10 years, industry and research have been working on the concept of Industry 4.0. A lot has happened since then: COVID, the supplier crisis, global upheaval caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict. It has long been time to carry out a status check and see what Industry 4.0 actually means today, which goals have been achieved and which remaining and upcoming challenges still lie ahead. An analysis of new, external influences on the underlying technological and socio-economic paradigms of Industry 4.0 is intended to discuss the relevance of the concept in the current, global economic context. In addition, a closer look should be taken at the role of the newly created Digital Innovation Hubs (DIH) in promoting the Smart Factory as the vision of Industry 4.0 in the national and regional economies through expert networks and test and demonstration infrastructure. The influence of DIHs on the implementation of Industry 4.0 in the national and regional innovation policy is to be examined using the example of the establishment of the Swiss Smart Factory in Biel, Switzerland.

Biography: Dominic Gorecky is leading the research group for Industry 4.0 at Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne and is co-founder and head of the Swiss Smart Factory and executive board member and partner at Switzerland Innovation Park Biel/Bienne. The Swiss Smart Factory is the first test and demonstration platform for Industry 4.0 topics in Switzerland. Before, he was head of research of the Innovative Factory Systems department at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence DFKI in Kaiserslautern, Germany. In this role, he was also the responsible R&D coordinator for the SmartFactoryKL living lab. He is agenda contributor at the World Economic Forum and is co-founder and advisor for several start-ups in the area of Industry 4.0. His PhD addressed the usage of semantic technologies in the context of the digital factory.