Innovation is Here at the CEA Annual Conference
Data is knowledge, knowledge is power, but how do you harness it? Artificial intelligence (AI), Big Data, the Industrial Internet of Things, collectively known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0, are changing the way the construction industry does business. Digitisation is boosting productivity, increasing machine operating performance, improving safety and changing the way we do business. The CEA’s annual conference (22nd March 2018, One Great George Street London UK), Innovation is Here, will explain how companies can embrace the digital opportunities.
OEMs through the construction equipment supply chain, from contractors, distributors, rental companies and end users are invited to attend. Industry 4.0 is the new normal that can improve a company’s business model and profitability. The conference is free of charge to CEA members, Plantworx exhibitors and invited guests.
The conference will provide a platform for leading international speakers to discuss the data driven manufacturing and operating revolution. Speakers from within the construction equipment industry and experts from other sectors will look at opportunities and potential barriers to the implementation of Industry 4.0.
The conference keynote speaker, sponsored by Perkins, is Inma Martinez – a pioneer in the mobile industry since the 2000s, Inma is a Product Maverick – a creator of Vision, Core Features and Go-To- Market strategy for a range of digital products.
With first hand on site experience of financing and insuring mega construction projects from motorways in Brazil to the Oresund Bridge linking Denmark to Sweden, Inma demystifies and examines how AI and Big Data will affect our sector. From robotics and deep learning through datamining, Inma explains how your company can make digitalisation work. Fortune and TIME have described Inma as one of Europe’s top talents in social engagement through technology, Red Herring ranked her among the top 40 women in technology. Inma is an advisor to both the UK government and the European Union. She has been the keynote speakers at blue chip conferences around the globe.
Professor Rab Scott, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing, the Factory of the Future will address delegates on boosting productivity.
The University of Sheffield’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) with Boeing helps manufacturers of any size to become more competitive by introducing advanced techniques, technologies and processes. It’s Integrated Manufacturing Group (IMG) has extensive capability covering both hardware and software, from projection and wearable technology through to augmented reality development platforms.
Digital manufacturing, is providing greater availability of, and access to digital assets; there is an opportunity to better utilise this technology to ensure maximum value is created. AMRC are developing a number of digital, semi-automated assembly capabilities, incorporating augmented reality, ‘Just in Time’ information and intelligent/smart workbenches through fixed, mobile and wearable platforms. AI will alter logistics, customer-relationship management, support, workflow automation and finance, as personal assistants begin to help in many aspects of the business.
Jenny Elfsberg, Director of Emerging Technologies, Volvo Construction Equipment – ask the question – does the construction industry need innovation? The journey from manual to autonomous equipment.
Jenny is an inspirational leader with strategic mind-set and business perspective. She has a broad range of technology understanding and 19+ years of experience in product development and technology research. Driving change is one of her proven main talents. Jenny will look at design thinking, technology exploration, innovation engineering, innovation, foresighting and creativity tools, measuring innovative capability, product development and much more.
Jenny’s job is to identify and evaluate technologies for future Volvo CE products, long-term technology road mapping and to secure innovative capability for Volvo CE. She will look at why the construction sector needs innovation – and where it will lead.
Duncan Riding, Business Development Engineer, Perkins. Will discuss future fuels – Diesel, Hybrid, Electric and protecting the environment.
As diesel is demonised and fossil fuels decline, what will be the fuel of the future driving construction equipment? Our sector is already established in hybrid vehicles and electric power is progressing, but how is that electricity generated? So what next, hydrogen fuel cells, next generation diesel? Will traditional hydraulics be replaced by electronic actuators?
With 23 years of experience at Perkins, Duncan is ideally placed to look at how construction equipment will be powered in the future, and what the implications will be right down the supply chain.
Dale Hawkins and Mark Kennedy from UK Plant Operators will look at Augmented Reality Training on the job site – Training and Barriers to Digital Adoption
All change is not progress. There is a natural fear amongst factory workers and operators who may believe that robots will take their jobs, or that AI requires a different skill set than they currently have. UK Plant Operators look at Industry 4.0 from a different perspective than the other speakers, seeing it from the operator’s point of view. It is vital that operators realise the applicable possibilities of AI in both work and work life and learn to view it as a tool to make their job easier and more rewarding.
UK Plant Operators provide augmented reality training to operators in major infrastructure projects, using new technology to take the fear out of AI and show how to harness the power to make safer more efficient job sites. Smart technology uses connectivity, sensors, cameras, analytics and other technologies to help workers in dangerous conditions, avoid collisions with moving equipment and stay out of hazardous areas. Remote monitoring, analytics and predictive maintenance services reduce customer costs and improve production up time. Construction in particular can reap many benefits.
Artificial intelligence can help in recreating realistic situations for training, reducing injuries and costly mistakes and making operations more efficient. This can enable operators to better use existing labour resources, helping with the skilled labour shortage in construction.
To reserve your place at the only digitisation event for the construction equipment sector visit www.thecea.org.uk/conference/. To join the CEA for the post conference dinner visit www.thecea.org.uk/celebration-dinner
