Overview

This webinar will provide a technical overview of the use of Industrial AI, along with real‑world deployment examples from the food & beverage industry, including dairy, distillation, and related processes.

Complex industrial processes make it challenging for manufacturers to remain market‑driven while sustaining profitable operations. To compete effectively, manufacturers must adjust their production methodologies to support a greater variety of higher‑value products; shorter production runs, increased throughput and improved product quality.

All of this must be achieved while operating at or near the limits of existing equipment. At the same time, manufacturers are facing increasing public and regulatory pressure to reduce environmental impact and operate within regulated emissions limits.

Industrial AI by Rockwell Automation
Rockwell's Industrial AI platform FactoryTalk® (FT) Analytics™ PavilionX™ provides an intelligence layer on top of automation systems that continuously drives plant operations toward multiple business objectives in real time, including:

• Cost reduction
• Decreased emissions
• Improved and consistent product quality
• Increased production and throughput

FT Analytics PavilionX uses flexible hybrid modelling capabilities, like Model Predictive Control (MPC), AI and ML, to incorporate all available process knowledge, delivering high‑fidelity models that accurately represent real‑world behaviour. The solution uniquely supports both nonlinear and linear processes within a single application, enabling improved performance across a wide range of process technologies.

FT Analytics PavilionX continuously evaluates current and predicted operating conditions, compares them against desired outcomes, and dynamically adjusts control targets to:

• Reduce process variability
• Operate safely within equipment and process constraints
• Improve overall operational performance

Speaker

Rene Akkermans, Digital Sales Executive EMEA, Rockwell Automation

Rene is an experienced Executive with proven experience in value-based selling and supporting clients to develop strategy for Digital Solutions. He helps clients accelerate their path to autonomous operations through Industrial AI. With 25 years of multinational experience delivering sustainable results across diverse industries. And a proven track record of building strategic partnerships focused on mutual growth and long-term success.

Rene has a strong background in Industrial Al (MPC, APC, ML and AI) combined with process knowledge and 15+ years of expertise in Asset Management and Smart Manufacturing. He is a recognized leader and trusted advisor in delivering value at scale through innovation, operational excellence, and data-driven strategies.

Prior to Rockwell, Rene has previously worked for Infor, Wonderware and Pavilion Technologies.

Jon Ander Bengoechea Lopetegui, MPC Solution Consultant, Rockwell Automation

Jon Ander is a Solution Consultant in the Industrial Data Science & AI group. Specialized in statistical data analysis, data-driven analytics for Predictive Maintenance, and prescriptive analytics & causal models for closed-loop industrial process optimization through Advanced Process Control.

With an aerospace engineering background, Jon Ander devoted his first years of his career to the energy business, helping major energy and oil & gas players make their operations data-driven. Jon Ander combined Data Science and Engineering to design, deploy and maintain analytics which turned operational data into diagnostics for gas turbine fleets, saving thousands of operating hours and millions of dollars of OPEX.

Jon Ander works with Rene during business development activities and the definition of the strategy in different verticals.

The material presented has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter’s own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE, the Process Management and Control or the Food and Drink Special Interest Group. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Time

09:00–10:00 BST.

Software

The presentation will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. We recommend downloading the app from the Microsoft website, rather than using the web portal.