Digital Transformation Forum for the Steel Industry

The first program day examines the move from automated processes toward intelligent, connected systems capable of decision-making, optimization, and adaptive control. Sessions cover programmable cloud laboratory nodes for AI materials and manufacturing, Sandia’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation, the Alabama Materials Institute, and an autonomous robotic metallurgist materials innovation platform. The program also connects self-driving and autonomous laboratory efforts associated with the Genesis Mission and Programmable Cloud Laboratories agendas to real-world applications, collaboration, and the future of autonomous manufacturing systems. An industry technology exhibition and demonstrations are included. The second program day explores Internet of Things for Manufacturing (IoTfM) use cases, implementation lessons, standards for connectivity and interoperability, and the future direction of IoTfM. Sessions address OPC UA, digital technologies and digital twins, factory-floor digital transformation, automation and additive manufacturing, manufacturing data, practical industrial IoT, and technologies shaping future factories. The program also includes advanced manufacturing pilot facility tour stations and demonstrations.

The executive forum addresses new capital investment opportunities and green technology, along with China’s peak production, rising low-cost imports, and changing U.S. tariff schedules. It brings together leaders across the global steel value chain, including raw-material suppliers, steelmakers, processors, fabricators, buyers, traders, technology and equipment providers, and investors. Its program connects strategic market economics with steel production technology.

The program includes keynotes, panels, breakouts, and interactive roundtables on steel-industry conditions; fabrication businesses, leadership, and industry outlook; AI and digitization in manufacturing; shop-floor equipment use cases and return on investment; and manufacturing’s economic and financial outlook. Sessions also address profitability, capital investment, business growth, tariffs, steel, leadership development, recruitment, small- and midsize-manufacturer growth, and potential changes to tax policy, OSHA and EPA regulations, and tariffs. Roundtable topics include culture, marketing, AI, and operations.

The technology conference covers ironmaking, steelmaking, finishing processes, and engineering and equipment technologies. Program topics include safety and health; environmental technology; cokemaking; ironmaking and direct reduced iron; electric and oxygen steelmaking; specialty alloys and foundry operations; secondary refining and continuous casting; hot and cold rolling, galvanizing, tinplate, plate and long products; pipe and tube; metallurgy; energy and utilities; electrical and digitalization applications; project and construction management; maintenance and reliability; refractory systems; material handling; cranes; and transportation and logistics. Technical topics include hydrogen-based ironmaking, scrap optimization, energy efficiency, greenhouse-gas reduction, carbon capture and storage, water treatment and reuse, AI and digitalization, predictive maintenance, industrial control-system cybersecurity, steel product quality, and process reliability. The schedule lists technical sessions, the Howe Memorial Lecture, an undergraduate student project presentation contest, a graduate student poster contest display, a Steel to Students roundtable, Technology Committee meetings, and a Town Hall Forum. The event also includes an iron and steel exposition.

The conference objective is to enhance the value of participation in AIST activities and provide resources to help attendees grow as leaders in the association and the steel industry. Program topics include a North American steel update, economic perspectives, AIST strategic plan and program updates, and a rapid-fire discussion for questions, comments, and concerns. Leadership sessions address leading through uncertainty using neuroscience, psychology, and practical leadership strategies. A session on applying AI across a steel business addresses finance, supply chain, HR, and sales; data privacy and protecting proprietary know-how; AI adoption examples; identifying which data is safe to use with which tools; and preparing an implementation plan for IT. The event is invitation-only and open to Member Chapter officers, Technology Committee officers, Board of Director members, Board standing committee officers, and AIST Foundation Board of Trustees.

The program addresses safe, efficient, and responsible coal use, with sessions on emergency preparedness, procurement, reliability, AI-ready coal assets, unit-operation costs, workforce recruitment and knowledge retention, maintenance prioritization, combustible-dust hazards, ash use and marketability, heat-rate degradation, fire protection, and contractor safety. Roundtable themes include safety and health, boiler and combustion, coal handling, emergency response, incident prevention, uses for ash, and AI applications.

A four-day industrial automation and digital transformation event at the Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center. The program combines keynotes, an expo with demonstrations, and general-access sessions featuring customer voices, industry viewpoints, partner solutions, and product introductions. Featured tracks cover executive insights; AI and edge-to-cloud operational data; process control; production logistics; OT security; and the future of industrial automation. Industry tracks include automotive and tire, food and beverage, life sciences, mining and metals, energy, OEMs and machine builders, and water and wastewater. Topics include rare-earth processing automation, critical metals and industrial energy systems, grid decarbonization through hydro and bioenergy, and data-driven oil and gas operations. Five curated summits address process automation and PlantPAx DCS; secure digital operations, industrial data, AI, MES, digital thread, and OT cybersecurity; OEM machine building, digital twins, and secure design; production logistics, autonomous material movement, robotics, and orchestration; and industrial safety. The safety program covers functional-safety and cybersecurity standards including IEC 61508, IEC 61511, ISO 13849, and IEC 62443, as well as robotics, AI, and autonomous operations. Process-summit sessions include copper-mine control systems, PlantPAx modernization, predictive control, and EtherNet/IP. Keynotes address leading through change and complexity, the future of industrial operations, and innovation through experimentation.

The conference focuses on data-driven strategies to maximize upstream production and support digital transformation. Topics include improving data quality for AI, integrating data across IT and operational technology systems, evaluating returns from digital and AI investments, secure and ethical AI adoption, cybersecurity and data governance, workforce upskilling, and change management. The event emphasizes real-world use cases and operational efficiency in oil and gas.

Sessions examine natural gas market fundamentals for AI data center demand, including basin capabilities, rig activity, storage trends, pipeline bottlenecks, competition with LNG exports and other electricity demand, and commercial strategies for procurement, hedging, and risk management. The program also addresses AI and predictive analytics for pipeline nominations, forecasting, capacity management, and gas-flow optimization, plus integration with ERP, ETRM, CRM, and SCADA systems. Infrastructure discussions cover pipeline capacity, reliability and right-of-way; regional transmission, distribution and generation investment; federal-land development models; and the commercial and regulatory structures needed to advance large-load projects. Utility service challenges include pipeline limitations, public perception, permitting, capital requirements, commercial structuring, cost allocation, reliability obligations, and protecting existing customers. A developers roundtable covers demand forecasts versus speculative projects, developer qualifications, speed-to-power and behind-the-meter strategies, gas procurement, community hurdles, and regulatory and policy issues. Other sessions address mobile gas delivery and virtual pipelines, including CNG/LNG solutions for remote or capacity-constrained markets. The keynote considers AI-driven electricity demand, gas and electric utility bottlenecks, regional load growth, and nuclear energy. A Texas-focused panel examines policy, technology, research, planning, permitting, investment, and cross-sector coordination for large-load development, including data centers and advanced manufacturing.