About
In this briefing, Kevin Blum, Chief Operating Officer of Yokogawa Corporation of America, will lead a discussion on the future of AI in industrial operations and the path toward autonomous enterprises. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in control systems, maintenance workflows, compliance processes, and operational decision-making, leaders are being challenged to answer a critical question: what does it take to move from AI-assisted decisions to trusted autonomous operations? Drawing on the insights presented in Building Autonomous Operations: A CxO Agenda, Assisted Intelligence to Governed Autonomy at Scale, Kevin will explore why this transition is as much a leadership challenge as it is a technology opportunity.

The conversation will focus on the governance, accountability, cybersecurity, workforce, and trust considerations that determine whether AI can be successfully deployed at scale. Participants will examine how organizations can establish clear ownership of AI-driven decisions, build confidence among frontline teams, and create governance frameworks capable of supporting increasingly autonomous systems. The discussion will also address the risks associated with accelerating AI adoption without the appropriate controls, transparency, and accountability mechanisms in place.

Attendees can expect a practical exchange of ideas grounded in real-world industrial experience. Rather than debating whether AI will transform industrial operations, the discussion will explore how executives can prepare their organizations to lead that transformation responsibly. Key topics will include trusted data foundations, autonomous operations, AI governance, organizational readiness, and the strategic decisions leaders must make today to ensure their businesses remain competitive, resilient, and accountable in an increasingly AI-enabled future.

Download the Executive Briefing here: https://pages.yokogawa.com/building_autonomous_operations
When
Tuesday, November 3, 2026 · 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (US & Canada) (GMT -5:00)
Agenda
  • What separates AI experimentation from AI transformation.
  • Who should own accountability when AI begins making operational decisions.
  • Why trust may be the biggest barrier to autonomous operations.
  • How leading industrial organizations are preparing for governed autonomy at scale.
  • The critical decisions executives must make now to remain competitive in an increasingly AI-driven industrial landscape.
Presenters
1789668592-6cfbb476c80a55ba
Kevin Blum
Chief Operating Officer; Energy & Sustainability and Materials Business for Yokogawa Corporation of America
Kevin Blum is Chief Operating Officer of the Energy & Sustainability and Materials Business for Yokogawa Corporation of America. He leads initiatives that help industrial organizations accelerate digital transformation, strengthen operational performance, and build more resilient, data-driven enterprises.

With extensive leadership experience spanning industrial automation, operational technology, and enterprise software, Kevin works with executives across the energy, chemical, manufacturing, and process industries to navigate the convergence of AI, advanced automation, and human expertise. His focus is helping organizations translate emerging technologies into measurable business outcomes, including improved productivity, workforce effectiveness, sustainability performance, and operational agility.

Throughout his career, Kevin has partnered with some of North America's most advanced industrial companies to modernize operations, scale digital initiatives, and adopt technologies that enable smarter decision-making. He is particularly engaged in discussions around industrial AI, autonomous operations, cybersecurity, workforce transformation, and the future of intelligent manufacturing.

Kevin is a graduate of Texas A&M University and is based in the Houston area. As a member of Yokogawa's executive leadership team, he is committed to advancing innovation that helps customers achieve safer, more efficient, and more sustainable operations.
1738953798-e3098990cece01c4
Scott Jenkins
Senior Editor, Chemical Engineering Magazine
Scott Jenkins has been an editor at Chemical Engineering since 2009. Prior to joining CE, Scott worked in various capacities as a science journalist and communications specialist, reporting and writing on a variety of sectors, including chemical processing, biotechnology, pharmaceutical manufacturing and research policy. He also has industry experience as a quality assurance chemist and research experience as a synthetic organic chemist. Scott holds a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University, and a master’s degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Reserve Your Spot
Full name*
Email Address*
Job title*
Company*
Address
City
US State/County*
Zip/Postal Code*
Country*
Phone*
What is your company's primary end product?*
What is your job function?*
Marketing Permission
Access Intelligence LLC & Yokogama will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. We will not share or sell your personal information. You can unsubscribe anytime by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of our emails, or by replying to our emails and asking to be unsubscribed. For more information, please read our privacy policy.
Yes, I consent to receiving emails*
We use BigMarker as our webinar platform. By clicking Register, you acknowledge that the information you provide will be transferred to BigMarker processing in accordance with their Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.