Moderator
Maria Smarandache is a journalist with over 20 years of experience. She started his career as a radio personality, at Radio România Actualități, after which, following a telegenie, diction and general culture contest, he became a presenting editor at Romanian Television and a political correspondent in the News Department.
Executive Director at AKFI
Executive Director for AKFI (Actionable Knowledge Foundational Institute), a nonprofit bridging the divide between Digital Transformation and ESG. Facilitator and instructor at Cornell for Sustainability, Digital Transformation, innovation and 5G.
Known as an outstanding communicator as well as an exceptional executive training instructor and coach
Presented at 170+ global industry events attended by fixed and mobile operators globally
Developed and delivered 30+ digital transformation classes 93%+ satisfaction rate
BCR
Ramona Kurko, as the Head of Strategic Clients Corporate Banking at BCR, represents an impressive presence in the corporate finance arena. With 8 years of experience leading the Energy & Utilities Corporate Banking department at BCR, Ramona enjoys a solid reputation in the industry.
Her extensive background in corporate finance and investment banking makes Ramona a valuable resource for any conference. Our team is confident that her leadership skills, deep knowledge, and thorough understanding of the sector will make a significant contribution to our event.
With a clear vision and a strategic approach, Ramona Kurko stands before the audience as an industry excellence, and we are excited to have her as a speaker at our conference. Her presentation will undoubtedly shed light on key topics in the corporate finance world.
EIT Manufacturing
Dr. Niki Kousi serves as the Managing Director of EIT Manufacturing CLC South East. With a rich career in manufacturing and innovation, she plays a pivotal role in shaping the industry.
Dr. Kousi's extensive expertise covers various aspects of manufacturing, and her position involves overseeing the strategy and direction of EIT Manufacturing CLC South East. She approaches this role with determination and passion.
Her leadership is based on a relentless pursuit of excellence and the promotion of innovation in manufacturing. Her impact on the industry is substantial, with contributions that influence not only the South East region but also other areas.
With a strong knowledge base and a pragmatic approach, Dr. Niki Kousi is an influential figure in the manufacturing industry, making significant contributions to its development on both regional and global scales.
FACTORY 4.0 conference
Undertaking the “Romania 4.0” initiative would require a long-term commitment from both the government and citizens. It would involve navigating challenges, such as funding, public acceptance, and policy implementation, but the potential benefits for Romania’s future would be substantial.
Phoenix Contact
Sales Manager at Phoenix Contact in Romania
An Information and Communications Technology specialist with over 20 years of experience in the field of industrial automation.
Agenția Română pentru Investiții și Comerț Exterior
ifm
Florin Molosit, Director General, ifm electronic s.r.l., a manager with over 16 years of experience in B2B, has developed projects and partnerships with the largest and most significant industrial companies in Romania. He is always focused on delivering added value to clients, partners, and the company he leads.
Passionate about technology, with a track record and references in national digitization projects, he will share with participants in the Factory 4.0 workshop the key aspects that have contributed to the success of the projects he has overseen.
InfoCons
Sorin Mierlea is the President of ASOCIAȚIA INFOCONS, a prominent consumer protection and advocacy organization in Romania. With a rich background in consumer rights and market advocacy, he holds key positions in various national and international bodies, including the Federation of Consumer Associations, the National Federation of Parents' Associations, and the Consumers' Committee. Sorin Mierlea is dedicated to empowering Romanian consumers to make informed choices and become active participants in the market. His extensive involvement in healthcare ethics boards, European consumer groups, and industry councils reflects his commitment to consumer education and advocacy. Sorin Mierlea's mission is to transform passive consumers into active, informed decision-makers, ultimately strengthening consumer rights and market fairness.
Dell Technologies
With more than 20 years of experience in IT industry, passionate about technology, Dan joined Dell Technologies in 2007 and experienced different roles, covering not only Romania but other regions as well. Currently, he is leading Technology Consulting team, focused on providing technology expertise, enabling new opportunities, and being an advocate of companies digital journey.
InoviTeC
Ovidiu is an accomplished Digital Transformation Consultant with an impressive track record spanning 14 years across diverse industries, including Business Services, Banking, Financial Services, and High-Tech. His expertise and international experience have made him a sought-after leader in the field.
A graduate of Dublin City University in Computer Applications - Information Systems, Ovidiu's academic foundation provided him with a strong grounding in the technical aspects of digital transformation. He furthered his education with post-graduate studies in Quality Management Six Sigma at the University of Limerick in Ireland, demonstrating his commitment to excellence and process optimization.
What sets Ovidiu apart is his entrepreneurial spirit. He is the visionary founder of a digitalization startup, where he harnesses cutting-edge technology and implements rigorous quality processes. His primary goal is to deliver robust digital solutions and create value-producing opportunities for his clients. Through InoviTeC & Cloudimpuls, he has established himself as a driving force in the digital transformation landscape, consistently pushing the boundaries of innovation and efficiency.
Digital Innovation Zone
Cristina Baghiu is a remarkable figure and a driving force in the world of digital innovation. As the President of the Digital Innovation Zone Association and the Coordinator of the European Digital Innovation Center, she is an inspired leader, bringing progressive visions and innovative solutions to this ever-evolving field.
With extensive experience in innovation, healthcare, business models, and HR agility, Cristina Baghiu is recognized across Europe for her exceptional expertise. She introduces innovative solutions and cutting-edge business concepts, revolutionizing how we approach innovation and technology.
As a leader, Cristina is a promoter of collaboration and innovative thinking, adding value not only to the Digital Innovation Zone Association and the European Digital Innovation Center but also to the entire European community. With her passion for innovation, healthcare, and human resources development, she serves as an inspirational example for those looking to embrace change and progress in the digital era.
FACTORY 4.0
MARIUS HĂRĂTĂU is the founder and CEO of FACTORY 4.0 national initiative, a digital consulting and training company in industrial management and industry 4.0.
MARIUS founded FACTORY 4.0 in 2019, a national initiative supported by the most important technology companies. FACTORY 4.0 national initiative is positioning itself as a catalyst in the Romanian training and consulting market in the field of digital transformation.
MARIUS has over 18 years of experience in multiple fields, covering a large range of competencies in management consultancy in the area of industrial production and IT technologies.
ACAROM
Manager for ACAROM SPRINT cluster and coordination of daily activities related to the member companies, partner organizations, domestic and foreign companies/associations.
Management of projects including support activities for strategy and development of industrial, commercial activities in Romania for automotive groups like: Renault, Hyundai, Daimler, VW, GM, BMW, FORD, PSA, VW, Skoda, and Nissan North America.
Providing advisory services for foreign companies in order to support establishment of their activities in Romania.
Leading board meetings and top level meetings, speaker presence to conferences, product launches, seminars at national and international level.
Building, developing cooperation and projects with universities, especially with technical faculties including EU and government projects financed and training programs.
Providing support for purchasing and outsourcing activities, including commercial negotiations and validations. Developing analysis, reports and statistics concerning automotive suppliers Tier 1, 2 and 3 related to various products, commodities and services.
Coordinator of the national pavilion at international automotive industry fairs. Member in the board of ACAROM and The Romanian Automotive Partnership. Member of the Liaison Committee of ACEA - European Automobile Manufacturers Association
Technical University of Iaşi
An attentive and passionate Associate Professor of Faculty of Automatic Control and Computer Engineering, Technical University from Iași – Romania, focused on creating an attractive study environment where students can discover the knowledge of actual and new technologies.
15+ years of experience in the industrial automation field from the Romanian market, going all the way from automation engineer to General Manager in TECH-CON Company.
Researches in the direction of Industry 4.0 technologies focused on autonomous mobile robots used in the intelligent logistics field and digital twin solutions for industrial facilities and applications.
Involved in more interactions between academia and industry for a win-win situation.
AHK - România
Sebastian Metz is an economist with an impressive career, making his mark in various corners of the world and bringing extensive expertise to the realm of international business. After completing his studies in economics in 2006, Sebastian embarked on an exceptional professional journey, accumulating valuable experience in France, Algeria, and Nepal.
His business journey began in Algeria, where he successfully led the department for SMEs, export promotion, and trade fairs at the German-Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Algeria). This experience prepared him for new challenges and led him to Nepal, where he assumed the role of GIZ/CIM consultant for export promotion and SMEs at the German-Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NGCCI).
With his passion for international development and a deep understanding of the business environment, Sebastian Metz continued his professional ascent in January 2012, taking on the role of Managing Director and Member of the Board of Directors at the Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania). Here, he took responsibility for the strategic development of the portfolio of services and activities offered by AHK Romania and oversaw their implementation.
Among his top priorities are providing high-quality consultancy services to private and public clients, continuous support for the AHK member community, and increasing advocacy efforts to represent the interests of the German business community in Romania. With his extensive international experience and evident passion for business and economic relations development, Sebastian Metz is a distinguished expert who makes a significant contribution to the global business ecosystem.
TotalSoft
Radu Zanfir, Senior Sales Manager at TotalSoft, has over a decade of experience in leading the digital transformation processes of manufacturing companies. Radu graduated from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest, and his mission is to bridge the gap between business knowledge and the vast technical expertise provided by TotalSoft, to address the specific challenges faced by manufacturing companies. His main objective is to guide them in their journey of becoming “smart factories” in the era of Manufacturing 4.0.
Radu's expertise relates to smart production planning (MPS), optimizing supply chain and inventory management processes (MRP), regaining control over production costs, and facilitating real-time data access (MES). Radu is currently the driving force behind Charisma for Manufacturing, a venture that has earned him an impressive portfolio of clients.
Egebimtes
Alp ATAY is a Turkish professional with extensive experience in business development, project management, and IT solutions. He is passionate about improving the world with Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and Analytics, and has a strong technology focus that includes Industrial IoT, automation, AR/VR, cloud computing, and machine learning. He holds a Master's degree in Project and Enterprise Management from University College London and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from the University of Manchester. His career highlights include roles as Business Development Manager and Business Solutions Manager at Egebimtes Bilgi Teknolojileri San. Ve Tic. A.Ş., where he currently holds the role as Director of MES Systems & Board member drawing strategic projects, fostering client relationships, and leading policies that promote company culture and vision to ensure success & sustainable growth. He is also an active member of multiple professional and volunteering organizations, showcasing his dedication to social and community initiatives.
Autoliv
From the halls of Transilvania University, where I earned my degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1995, to the dynamic world of manufacturing, my journey has been marked by two decades of dedicated growth and innovation.
For the past 22 years, I've been a proud member of the Autoliv family, immersed in the art of manufacturing. My expertise spans various facets:
I've fine-tuned production systems, drawing inspiration from the famed Toyota Production System.
I've embraced critical production methods, such as PFMEA, APQP, and VSM, ensuring quality at every turn.
I've mastered the intricacies of process design and optimization, driving efficiency gains.
I've overseen the successful industrialization of new projects and the seamless transfer of production lines.
I've harnessed the power of IT systems like PLM, MES, and ERP to streamline operations.
Over the past nine years, my role has taken on a global dimension within Autoliv's Corporate Manufacturing. I've spearheaded transformative projects across 80+ production sites, with a singular focus: ushering in the Digital Transformation era. Through technology and data-driven insights, I've elevated efficiency, quality, and sustainability.
Today, I stand at the forefront of Autoliv's Manufacturing Excellence strategy. It's not just a job; it's a mission, a commitment to shaping the future of manufacturing.
INFLPR
Head of the Innovation Center in Photonics and Plasma for Advanced Materials and
Technologies- PHOTOPLASMAT C400, within the National Research-Development
Institute for Lasers, Plasma and Radiation Physics.
Author of numerous internationally published scientific works and invention patents based on
the development of laser and plasma material processing techniques.
Phoenix Contact
Vice President Operations and Sustainability for BA IMA, Phoenix Contact
ASE București
CRE
Currently Head of Projects Department within Romanian Energy Center, Mihai has a large experience of over 15 years in management consulting, EU funding and technical assistance projects, holding the positions of manager and senior consultant in a multinational, cross-industry environment.
He is certified in Project Management and Business Process Management, having an extensive experience as Project Manager and Senior Advisor in the implementation of 11 large international energy research projects, funded through the H2020 and ERASMUS programs, but also in several transnational and cross-industry management consultancy projects, business development activities, and administration of state aid schemes.
The area of expertise and involvement in research projects is mainly aimed at the coordination of the work packages on business modelling, economic impact assessment, dissemination, exploitation of the project results, policies, and regulations.
Dumitru Catalin is an accomplished professional with a diverse background in academia, research, and industry. Currently serving as an Associate Professor, Habil. PhD, and R&D Scientific Adviser at the University Politehnica of Bucharest (UPB), Romania, he holds expertise in Computing and Artificial Intelligence. His educational journey includes a Ph.D. in Digital Signal Processing and Machine Learning, an engineering degree in Signal Processing and Image Processing, and a postgraduate degree in International Business and Economics.
In his extensive career spanning over 20 years, Dumitru has made significant contributions to the fields of Machine Learning Defense Industry, Cyber Defense, and Artificial Intelligence. His roles include being an R&D Consultant at SOLIDUS AI TECH, specializing in R&D Machine Learning, and a Software Systems Architect at UTI GROUP. Notably, he spent two decades at the Defense Advanced Technology Institute, serving as an R&D Military Officer, focusing on the development of Machine Learning systems for IMINT & SIGINT.
Dumitru's research interests cover a broad spectrum, including Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Digital Signal Processing, Neural Networks, and Cybersecurity. He leads the Lab for "Intelligent Transportation Systems" at UPB and has been actively involved in projects related to neuro-fuzzy diagnosis, neuroprostheses design, and applications of Machine Learning in various domains.
Phoenix Contact
Vice President Operations and Sustainability for BA IMA, Phoenix Contact
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© 2023 FACTORY 4.0 ® | INFOSEC CENTER S.R.L All rights reserved
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