Talk Title:

Automation & Computing Technologies

Abstract – Smart interconnected systems and environments are becoming crucial. Appropriate information is collected, processed, and used for operating and managing assets in an integrated intelligent way. This includes monitoring, diagnosing, predicting, and controlling technologies with confidence. For achieving and maintaining a high-performance system’s operation, appropriate methods and a combination of control and system intelligence are vital. Systems and applications of primary focus are those with high speed and real-time requirements. Such methods and tools make modeling, design, control, and management of complex, highly integrated systems more efficient and effective. The presentation first emphasizes the importance of computing and its impact on different sectors. Then, it covers methods for robotics and automation applications. Additional examples include digital technologies specific to policymakers and addressing socio-technical challenges.

Biography – Kamal Youcef-Toumi is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. He is Co-Director of the Center for Complex Engineering Systems at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Saudi Arabia and MIT, Director of the Ibn Khaldun Fellowship Program for Saudi Women, and Director of the MIT Mechatronics Research Laboratory. His M.S. and Sc.D. degrees are from MIT. Youcef-Toumi’s research has focused primarily on modeling, design, control theory, and their applications to dynamic systems. In particular, he explores the development of control techniques with fast adaptation. Applications have included robotics, automation, metrology, and nanoscale video imaging. He made significant contributions to MIT’s international research and education collaborations, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Singapore. Youcef-Toumi is the recipient of the National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator award from President Ronald Reagan. He served on many professional committees and as a consultant for several multinationals. He is an IEEE Senior member, an ASME Fellow, and a Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials. He served as Editor of several symposia/conference proceedings. He authored over 340 publications and holds about 50 registered/pending patents. Professor Youcef-Toumi has been an invited lecturer at over 260 seminars at companies, research centers and universities throughout the world.

Talk Title:

A management view on systems thinking and systems of systems

Abstract – Over the last 200 years, advances in performance measurement and management has enabled the development of new organizational forms. Mike will trace the early developments in this field through to the current day. As the world has become more VUCA, this has created serious complications for performance measurement and management. Interactions between different management systems and processes makes managing enterprises increasingly difficult and linear approaches have become inappropriate despite their continuing widespread use. Mike will discuss this current challenge in management along with some soft system and system of systems approaches that are emerging.

Biography – Mike is Professor of Business Performance, Director of the Centre of Business Performance and Director of the UK Government’s Project leadership Programme at Cranfield University in the School of Management. He is also Chair of The PMA (The Performance Measurement Association).Mike started his career in industry working in production, IT and general management roles and has held directorships in commercial and HR functions. His academic career has focused on the design, implementation and utilization of performance measurement systems in the management of enterprises. He works in both the public and private sector on the implementation of strategy and policy and currently runs the UK Government’s Project Leadership Programme which has engaged some 2,000 senior civil servants. His research work has focused on the application of soft systems approaches and systems thinking to the direction and management of corporate bodies. He holds a Ph.D. from the Department of Engineering at Cambridge University and is a Chartered Engineer and a Chartered Management Accountant.

Talk Title:

Agility and integration issues in system-of-systems

Abstract – One of the challenges of dealing with systems of systems in a VUCA world characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, is to include some agility in the project management process. We will discuss how agile engineering can be applied to SoS engineering and we will show how some frameworks like SAFE can be used. However, although agile methods can be applied in a relatively straightforward manner to some development activities, this raises major integration issues. We will present some directions in order to tackle these issues.

Biography – Dominique Luzeaux, Dr. Hab., is currently Director of the Defense Digital Agency within the French Ministry of Defense. He graduated from Ecole Polytechnique (1987), Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées (1989), defended his PhD thesis at the University of Paris XI (1991), was a visiting research scientist at the University of California at Berkeley (1991-1992), defended his Professor thesis (2001), received the Chanson Award (internal to Ministry of Defense) for his groundbreaking research in autonomous land robotics (2006). He coauthored ten technical books in French and English on nanotechnologies, systems-of-systems engineering and simulation, has directed a dozen of PhD students, and has published around hundred articles in conferences and international journals.

Talk Title:

Skills and Competencies for Smart Manufacturing in the Post 4th Industrial Revolution

Abstract – The factory of the future is networked and extremely agile using mass customization to individualize each product to customers individual needs. The “Industry 4.0” is yet used to describe trends of developments in the world of advanced production, using internet of things, processing data and creating intelligence from components to production facilities. Such technological developments will bring flexibility of production, while achieving cost effectiveness of products’ customization. But for the manufacturing industry this is about much more than just technological developments. People, their qualifications and their continuing education are also critical success factors in the factory of the future. Across all its activities surrounding Industry 4.0, Festo focuses on the benefits of the users of automation technology to range higher productivity, developing digital skills and competencies in the forthcoming of manufacturing.

Biography – After 3 years of academic research and teaching, Dr. Nader Imani joined Festo, a global leader in automation and technical education in 1992. Since then he has been assuming different roles and management responsibilities with Festo Didactic in Germany, as well as acting as CEO of Festo Didactic in the United States and Canada, since 2017 appointed as Executive Vice President Global Education, he has been responsible for larger educational projects with impact on socio-economic progress around the globe. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering of Ecole Centrale de Nantes in France as well as qualification degrees from Harvard Business School in United Sates and Saint Gallen School of Management in Switzerland. In 2014 he has been elected as a member of the council and since 2020 as the President of Worlddidac Association for promotion of Education Industry. Within the frame of his professional activities, Dr. Imani serves WorldSkills International since 2017 as a member of its Advisory Board on Skills Development in Africa. Dr. Imani has been acting as an active partner of the United Nations as well as bi- and multi-lateral development agencies to drive innovation in the field of technical vocational education and training and industrial workforce development.

Talk Title:

Systems of the Container Terminal Automation

Abstract – The world first automated container terminal (CT) has established in port of Rotterdam in 1993, and today, around 70 terminals are in operation worldwide. Mitsui E&S (former Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding) has begun to develop the automation technologies since 1970s, and has been delivered automated cranes as well as Terminal Operation System (TOS). These contains Automated Overhead Bridge Cranes and Automated Guided Vehicles for Singapore and Automated Rail Mounted Cranes for on-dock rail terminal in port Los Angeles, USA. Also, recently Automated Rubber Tired Gantry Cranes and equipment control system that collaborate with TOS have been delivered for Japanese CT. The integration between automated container handling equipment (cranes, AGVs and the other machines) and equipment control software so called the middleware is one of the key technologies for automated CT development. Because of providing both hardware and software, Mitsui E&S is able to design the whole systems of automated CT. Although the industry have been focused on the automation for the newly construction terminal so called Green-field, in recent years a conversion from the existing manual operated terminal to automated terminal become more important. This conversion so called Brown-field, has a lot of limitation.  To solve the subjects for Brown-field automation, we need solutions not only technologies but also operational rules. Of cause, the safety is always top priority, and safety related technologies is also very important in automated CT. The present keynote addresses about the history and current situation, layouts, key technologies, subjects in regard to the automated CTs.

Biography – Kinya Ichimura is the Head of Strategic Planning Group, Cranes & Systems division, Mitsui E&S Machinery Co., Ltd. He has 30 years of experience at crane and heavy material handling equipment including several projects of automated CT. A committee member of Japanese delegation for ISO/TC96 (Crane). He is involved in new product development projects as an R&D manager of PACECO CORP. in U.S. in 2000s. He and his team are focusing on the business development of the heavy material handling systems, which contain crane hardware and logistics management software in related to automation and IoT. Recently, he is in charge of development projects for container terminal automation, carbon neutral port, digital twin terminal etc.

Talk Title:

BAE Systems Global Engineering Fellow

Abstract – Alan will discuss the insights into systems of systems that he has gained both through his joint leadership of the INCOSE SoSWG since its inception in 2012, and in a career at BAE Systems stretching back to the mid-1980’s where he has been involved across multiple domains including air, land, sea and cyber. He will use the INCOSE SoS Pain Points and the ISO/IEC/IEE 20141 SoS Taxonomy to signpost his practical learning over this period.

Biography – Alan Harding is an experienced systems engineering leader, with 37 years of experience in defence and security domains. His specialist interest areas include systems-of-systems, architecture, sustainability, and competency development. Alan was the President of the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) in 2016 and 2017, and previously he led INCOSE UK in 2013 & 2014. Alan was appointed a BAE Systems Global Engineering Fellow in November 2010, recognizing his professional expertise and activities promoting systems within the company and in the wider UK and international community. Alan has a BSc (Hons) in Physics from Hatfield College, Durham University, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET). Alan is also a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Engineers Alan has been co-chair of the INCOSE Systems of Systems Engineering Working Group since its first meeting in January 2012