Session: Industry 4.0, Digital Twins, and Digital Transformation

This session will discuss the current status and future trends for Industry 4.0 in manufacturing facilities across the chemical industry. Topics within the scope of this session include overviews on trends and challenges with digital transformation and Industry 4.0, how manufacturers are employing digital twins, how processing facilities are using data in new ways to improve energy efficiency, reliability, and process safety, what new skillsets are required for manufacturing as more collaboration is required. Topics also include what universities are doing to embrace the digital transformation, how automated data analysis can help compensate for shortages in skilled resources by reducing the technical burden placed on less experienced staff, and how manufacturers are utilizing online asset health data and predictive analytics to more effectively plan maintenance based on condition rather than time. Submissions from industry and national labs are welcome to facilitate discussions at the industry/national lab/academic interface. Discussion of policy or other practical considerations of immediate relevance to Industry 4.0 are also welcome.