Jamshedpur,: The 66th National Convention and 8th International Conference of the Indian Institution of Industrial Engineering (IIIE) took place in Jamshedpur on September 27 and 28.
The theme of the convention was “Innovation & AI-enabled Sustainable Growth: Emerging Roles of Industrial Engineers,” bringing together experts, academics, and industry leaders to discuss the vital role of industrial engineers in promoting sustainable development.
The conference commenced with an inaugural session featuring speeches by distinguished speakers such as Dr. Amiya Kumar Behera (Chairman, IIIE NC), Chanakya Chaudhary (Vice President Corporate Services, Tata Steel), Krishnan Iyer (President & COO, Bharat Forge), S Gopalakrishnan (IAS, Director General, NPC), and S K Behera (Chairman, CII Eastern Zone & MD, RSB Transmissions). This was followed by the IIIE National Headquarters Award ceremony, where the speakers highlighted topics such as AI-driven sustainability solutions, innovation in renewable energy, circular economy, Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, sustainable supply chain management, and emerging technologies for environmental sustainability.
Following the inaugural function on September 27, three consecutive conference sessions were held, focusing on topics like building a sustainable future through technology, balancing efficiency and sustainability, and integrating innovation and sustainability for a resilient tomorrow. Keynote speakers during these sessions included experts from various organizations such as DRDO, ISB Hyderabad, McKinsey & Company, TVS Motors, BCG X, Deloitte, University of Pittsburgh, and JP Morgan Chase & Co., who emphasized the role of emerging technologies like blockchain, IoT, and 5G, AI’s potential in disaster response, the importance of digital literacy and AI education, and the need for diversity and inclusion in AI development teams.
The event also featured a panel discussion on integrating innovation and sustainability, where panelists from Tata Steel, EY, and Maribus Solar Pvt. Ltd. discussed topics like defining resilience and sustainability, challenges and opportunities, industry-specific solutions, policy and regulation, and public engagement and education.
The conference concluded with a valedictory function attended by Chief Guest Ravindra Kulkarni (Head – Jamshedpur Plant, Tata Motors Ltd) and Prof. Alok Raj (Associate Professor, XLRI Jamshedpur).
Throughout the two-day event, around 170 technical papers and productivity case studies were presented by over 40 organisations and institutions, with awards presented to the best papers and case studies at the conclusion of the function.