Saint Louis University to Hold Conference Exploring Applications of AI in Supply Chain Management

The inaugural one-day event is hosted by SLU’s Center for Supply Chain Excellence

ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University’s Center for Supply Chain Excellence will host its first Tech-Chain conference on Friday, Oct. 18, at SLU’s Busch Student Center.

The conference will bring together experts from academia and industry to share insights on the practical applications of AI, machine learning, GenAI and digital twins in the supply chain industry. The day-long event will feature expert presentations and a hands-on workshop.

Discussions will include:

• How machine learning will transform supply chain management
• Bayer’s digital journey towards smart customer experience
• Navigating generative AI transformation and governance in supply chain management
• Myth-busting digital twins in operations and supply chain management
• AI product implementation

“Supply chain management is integrated with the latest technology and we will be discussing cutting-edge tools,” said Vineet Sharma, director of SLU’s Center for Supply Chain Excellence. 

The speakers will include Johnny Ivanyi, global head of logistics excellence at Bayer Corporation; Mohit Ahuja, transformation program leader at Caterpillar; Naren Agrawal, Ph.D., professor of supply chain management and analytics at Santa Clara University; Rajinder Bhandal, Ph.D., lecturer in management at Leeds University; and Gowri Selka, president and AI strategist at Volantsys Analytics.

Participants will learn fraud detection, LLM integration, data app development, and AI tool exploration in a workshop with KNIME Analytics.

The workshop will introduce participants to the powerful, low-code KNIME Analytics Platform, ideal for novices and seasoned professionals. Attendees will learn to enhance data analytics with GenAI for practical applications, such as fraud detection, without coding. The session will cover various topics, from generating custom alert messages using GenAI's multi-language capabilities to building and deploying data apps.

Key integrations like GPT4All, Hugging Face, and more will be explored, providing a comprehensive toolkit for immediate application in various business contexts. Participants should bring a laptop with the KNIME Analytics Platform and the KNIME AI Extension (Labs) pre-installed to benefit fully from this hands-on experience.

SLU’s Center for Supply Chain Excellence offers training and education about various supply chain tools and activities — such as supplier relationships, purchasing management, operations and inventory management, logistics and transportation, quality measurement and information technology — through programs, events, publications and interactions with corporate supply chain professionals.

The conference will be held in person at Saint Louis University. Advance registration is required. An early bird registration rate of $99 is available through Oct. 4. 

Register

Tech-Chain 2024 Conference Details

• When: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18
• Where: Saint Louis University’s Busch Student Center, Room 300
• Cost: $150. Discounts are available for SLU faculty, staff and students. 

About SLU

Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 15,200 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University’s diverse community of scholars is SLU’s service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place.