December 9, 2025
* JOIN US FOR THE PRE-EVENT HAPPY HOUR on December 8, 2025 FROM 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Delegate Registration and Networking Breakfast
Chair's Welcome and Opening Remarks
Manufacturing Operations

Dan Key
SVP and Chief Operations Officer
Solenis
Quality and HSE
Mayor's Welcome Address

John Whitmire
Mayor
City of Houston
Keynote

Rebecca Teeters, Ph.D.
SVP, Fluoromaterial Stewardship and President Chemical Operations LLC
3M
Driving Operational Excellence and Sustainability through Leadership and Innovation
- Cultivating a culture of accountability and shared success in global chemical operations
- Leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies for quality, delivery, and cost efficiency Enhancing environmental stewardship through sustainable operational practices
- Building empowered teams with a focus on continuous improvement and profitability
- Applying servant leadership and coaching to foster growth and innovation in operations
Plenary

Dan Key
SVP and Chief Operations Officer
Solenis
Crafting a Best-in-Class, Integrated Global End-to-End Supply Chain
- What does supply chain excellence look like at Solenis?
- Success stories in strategic and operational planning, executing change, and driving performance
- Best practices for transformations, cost reductions, and supply chain optimization
- Uncovering strategies for network optimization, employee engagement, and development
- Improving organizational structures to enhance enterprise end-to-end supply chain performance
Plenary

Björn Jackisch, Ph.D.
President, US Operations and SVP, Operations and Supply Chain
Adhesive Technologies
Leveraging Data and AI to Drive Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
- Exploring how data analytics and AI are shaping Industry 4.0 in Henkel’s smart factories
- The importance of digitalizing existing production sites to optimize processes and improve decision-making
- Overcoming challenges of varied machine types and manufacturing processes in global operations
- Integrating customer feedback into production processes through digital platforms for continuous improvement
- The role of people in successful digital transformation: building skilled teams and fostering collaboration
- Achieving prescriptive operations through data transparency, AI tools, and sustainable process design
Refreshments, Networking, and Pre-Arranged 1-2-1 Meetings
sessions
Manufacturing Operations
Building a Culture of Continuous Process Improvement to Drive Long-Term Production Efficiency
- Understanding the principles of CPI and how it contributes to sustained operational efficiency in chemical manufacturing
- Fostering a mindset of ongoing evaluation, collaboration, and improvement across all levels of the organization
- Identifying inefficiencies, reducing waste, and enhancing productivity
- Involving frontline workers in the improvement process through empowerment, feedback loops, and collaborative problem-solving
- Establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) and using data analytics to track the impact of CPI efforts and ensure measurable improvements
Quality and HSE

Speaker TBA
OSHA
Process Safety Management (PSM): How OSHA is Protecting Industry from Risks
- Understanding the role of OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) in preventing accidents
- Discussing key PSM requirements: Safety reviews, employee participation, and proactive risk management
- The importance of regular inspections and preventive maintenance programs to mitigate chemical hazards
- Crafting and implementing emergency response plans to ensure effective action during chemical releases and accidents
- Supporting continuous improvement and compliance in chemical manufacturing
- Best practices for fostering a safety-first culture in chemical plants and maintaining PSM compliance
Workshops
Room 1
Leveraging Digital Tools, IoT, and Data Analytics to Optimize Manufacturing Operations and Drive Real-Time Decision-Making
- Understanding how digital tools and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are transforming chemical manufacturing operations for greater efficiency
- Implementing IoT sensors and digital platforms to collect real-time data on production performance, equipment health, and environmental conditions
- Utilizing advanced data analytics to interpret complex data sets, enabling faster, informed decisions and proactive issue resolution
- Using data to predict equipment failures before they occur, minimizing downtime, and extending asset life
- Applying data-driven insights to optimize production schedules, reduce bottlenecks, and improve overall efficiency
Room 2
Decarbonization Innovations, Challenges, and Opportunities
- Exploring the role of emerging technologies like carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy-efficient processes in decarbonizing operations
- Balancing production growth with environmental responsibilities to meet sustainability goals
- Overcoming barriers to adopting green technologies and integrating them into existing manufacturing processes
- Insights into regulatory pressures, industry standards, and how they are shaping sustainable practices in manufacturing
- Strategies for fostering innovation while driving operational efficiency and cost control in sustainable manufacturing
Lunch & Learn Roundtable Discussions and Open Seating Lunch
Benefit from additional learning by joining a moderated roundtable discussion on pressing issues in the industry. Registration is required, and attendance for moderated roundtables on Day 1 is limited to attendees and speakers. Choose from:
Optimizing Raw Materials Management: Strategies for Balancing Supply, Demand, and Cost Efficiency
Navigating Complex Industry Regulations: Best Practices for Achieving and Maintaining Compliance
Adapting Global Supply Chains: Tackling Challenges and Mitigating Transportation Disruptions
Ensuring Consistent Product Quality: Managing Standards Amid Supply Chain Instability and Raw Material Variability
Overcoming Data Integration Challenges: Streamlining Real-Time Decision-Making with Advanced Analytics
Hazardous Waste Management Best Practices: Navigating Disposal Regulations to Achieve Environmental Compliance
Sessions
Manufacturing Operations
Cost Efficiency and Asset Rationalization: Strategies for Operational Optimization in Chemical Manufacturing
- Addressing the challenges of reduced demand, high inventories, and the need for efficiency improvements
- Techniques for optimizing operations, reducing excess capacity, and leveraging regional opportunities to improve profitability
- How rationalizing assets and making selective operations decisions can help companies navigate economic pressures and enhance profitability
- Understanding how regional economic factors, including energy prices and inflation, impact cost structures and demand in different markets
- Evaluating the effect of excess production capacity and low operating rates
Quality and HSE

Loan Ngô
VP, Quality, Americas
Henkel
Leveraging Total Quality Management (TQM), Data Analytics, and Culture to Drive Continuous Improvement
- Understanding the principles of TQM and how they drive both operational excellence and business results
- Leadership strategies to create a TQM-driven culture that fosters high-performance teams
- Case study: Leveraging data and Statistical Quality Control (SQC) to help detect abnormalities and enable better decision-making
- Discussing quality improvements and their direct impact on cost, customer satisfaction, and business performance
- Demonstrating the importance people, process, and technology in achieving systemic quality and future readiness
Workshops
Room 1
Navigating Regional Shifts in Supply and Demand to Better Adapt to Global Production and Trade Changes
- Analyzing the impact of changing economic growth patterns in China, Southeast Asia, and Africa on global supply chains
- Examining how production shortages in Europe could result in increased imports from regions like the U.S. and Middle East
- Exploring the trend of regionalizing manufacturing, focusing on how it affects the supply chain and global competition
- How government incentives in the U.S. are driving the growth of industries like battery manufacturing and reshaping global markets
- How to mitigate risks by expanding supply networks and increasing flexibility in sourcing and production
Room 2
Advancing Quality Management Systems: Enhancing Compliance, Efficiency, and Risk Management
- Understanding the role of OSHA’s Process Safety Management (PSM) in preventing accidents
- Discussing key PSM requirements: Safety reviews, employee participation, and proactive risk management
- The importance of regular inspections and preventive maintenance programs to mitigate chemical hazards
- Crafting and implementing emergency response plans to ensure effective action during chemical releases and accidents
- Supporting continuous improvement and compliance in chemical manufacturing
- Best practices for fostering a safety-first culture in chemical plants and maintaining PSM compliance
Happy Hour, Networking and Pre-Arranged 1-2-1 Meetings
PANEL DISCUSSION
Quality and HSE
Sven Fastré
VP, Operational Excellence
BASFAgustin García Argibay
VP, Global Supply Chain and Managing Director, Latin America
EastmanMaureen Sorensen
VP, Operations
RPM InternationalLauri Boulge
VP, Supply Chain, Energy and Sustainability
Honeywell
Leveraging Lean and Six Sigma to Drive Next-Level Performance
- Leveraging Lean tools for process redesign to drive breakthrough improvements in production flow and supply chain
- Reducing process variation and achieving near-zero defect levels in high-volume manufacturing
- Case studies demonstrating the ROI of Lean and Six Sigma in scaling operations and improving margins
- Addressing the challenges of aligning Lean and Six Sigma initiatives with corporate culture and leadership engagement
- Quantifying continuous improvement initiatives on operational sustainability, profitability, and market competitiveness
Plenary
Manufacturing Operations
Securing Chemical Manufacturing: The Department of Homeland Security’s Role in Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
- How DHS works to secure chemical facilities
- Identifying and assessing high-risk chemical facilities: Criteria for facilities that may pose security threats
- Key CFATS requirements: Risk assessments, site security plans, and mandatory security measures for chemical manufacturers
- Ensuring chemical facilities meet security regulations to prevent terrorism and misuse of chemicals
- Best practices for compliance: Strengthening security practices and mitigating vulnerabilities within chemical operations
- Monitoring, enforcement, and continuous improvement in facility security to protect national interests
Panel Discussion
Hector Rivero
President and CEO
Texas Chemistry CouncilBruce Sullivan
VP and Head, Supply Chain and Logistics, North America
CovestroSunita Rai Singh
VP and General Manager
HoneywellBeth Galvin
VP, Polypropylene, Vistamaxx and Exact
ExxonMobilUsha Dasari, Ph.D.
VP, Global Supply Chain and Digitization
Huntsman Corporation
Panel Discussion: Attracting, Retaining, and Developing Top Talent for the Future of Chemical Manufacturing
- Navigating the talent shortage: Unpacking its impact on the future of chemical manufacturing
- Proven strategies for attracting elite professionals in a highly competitive market
- Developing training and upskilling programs that equip workers with cutting-edge technical skills
- Cultivating transformational leadership that inspires teams, drives performance, and fosters a high-engagement culture
- Ensuring a resilient and future-ready workforce in an ever-evolving industry
Chair's closing remarks
Manufacturing Operations

Dan Key
SVP and Chief Operations Officer
Solenis