Speakers 2022

Uwe has more than 25 years experience in the manufacturing environment and with industrial software and automation products. He spent 5 years as an application engineer with Schiess a major manufacturer of heavy machine tool builder before he started to be involved of developing the first Industrial pc´s and the use of pc equipment to control and optimize palletize systems. Prior to Incuity and Wonderware, Uwe has built up the sales area for an engineering company and sold automation solution to all kinds of manufacturing segments. After running his own business Uwe joined Wonderware in 1994 as regional sale manager in the west part of Germany. 1995 he moved to the head quarter in the US to develop the OEM program. In this timeframe Uwe gained also international expirience in Asia. Since 1997 he was leading the sales organization of the German operation including the ERP and Maintenance sales which came through Wonderware in 1999. January 2001 he took over the position as managing director in Scandinavia where he was building up the new entity which was created in April 2001 with a clear focus on adding value to their customers business. In 2003 Uwe became the additional responsibility of the German operation as Managing Director. April 2005 he exepted the position as Director Business Development and Marketing EMEA where he was responsible for extending the established markets and grow new emergency market segments or area. Together with his Marketing manager he developed the marketing strategies for Wonderware in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. His primary goal was to grow significant the business in EMEA as well as identifying new potential business segments. Since Jan 2014 Uwe was also appointed to the Chairman of the EMEA board of Mesa International a non profitable association focusing since more than 20 years on Manufacturing. Uwe Kueppers is married and has a son and a daughter.

Jesper has delivered organizational footprint and technology strategies within Element design and Mould Manufacturing - establishing Engineering centers in LEGO manufacturing sites in Mexico and Denmark. Responsibilities include delivering innovation to support product development and leading engineering on manufacturing sites. During his work Jesper has profound focus on how IoT can support his visions and enable the future – a true IOT-technology evangelist. Jesper has worked for LEGO in several roles. 1) Responsibility for R&D in Packaging and Processing (Decorations and Assembly) product line. 2) Responsibilities for product development execution for LEGO DUPLO, LEGO Games, LEGO Technic, LEGO Hero Factory - leading development teams through design, sourcing and marketing process from concept to finished product. 3) establishing logistics strategy, delivered turn around results in increasing differentiated services and reducing costs by e.g. outsourcing, consolidating sites and redefining logistic service offering.

My name is Roberto Napione (56) , I’m working in SKF since 1992 . I’m mechanical engineer ; I studied Mechanical Engineering in Politecnico of Turin an important Engineering University . My career has been initially in manufacturing Operations: Quality manager , Manufacturing manager , Unit manager, Factory Director (800 people) Then I move to Manufacturing Development : Manufacturing Development for Business Unit, Group Divisions, SKF Group global, Responsibility in technology step up , managing investments and EHS From 2016 till 2020 I build the Machine Centre of Excellence ; teams in Sweden, Italy, France , India and China. Task to develop machines and IP’s based on key strategic knowledge and connected to I4.0 and smart manufacturing. We produce proof of concept in new technology and we install the machines and the knowledge. In 2020 I got the responsibility of Manufacturing Knowledge Management for EU/ASIA/AMERCAS with the task to preserve the strategical knowledge in Covid and post covid situation and prepare for the new future needs. Involved in several external communication experiences , summit, video, books.

Christian studied Materials Handling at the University of Applied Science at Erfurt, graduating with a degree in engineering (2002) and later completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree program at the University of Wales, UK (2012). Currently he is enrolled in a Master of Science degree program in Information Technology at the Indiana University Bloomington, USA. From 2003 till 2018 Christian held several leadership roles in Operations, Lean and Supply Chain Management for Grammer, ITW, TRW, Faurecia and Federal Mogul in Europe, Asia and the US. During this time, he was responsible for the setup of two manufacturing plants in Asia as well as more than 15 restructuring projects across the globe. Beside his operational responsibilities Christian was also jointly responsible with the conceptual design and roll out of the Production System for Federal Mogul as well as for TRW. His most challenging project was the setup of a new Just in Time plant in South Korea (2009). “At this time, I was fairly young (29) and put in charge in a culture where it is all about seniority and hierarchical levels. I have done many mistakes, have learned a lot and was successful in the end because of a great team and an inspirational leader”. Christian has a deep technical understanding and a high level of expertise in Production and Supply Chain with modern methods and standards. This expertise he is passing over in form of his lecturing assignments in International Production, Digital Strategies and Lean Management at two technical universities in Germany. Currently, Christian is working for STAEDTLER, a traditional German FMCG manufacturer, where he is responsible for the lean transformation along with the digital agenda for the manufacturing network.

Angelique Mesch started her career as a field engineer on offshore drilling facilities and pivoted to various cross-functional global roles in technical sales, program management, engineering to now product management. Her career path has been marked by constant reflection, self-awareness, and personal growth. One common theme is that she has always worked in a male dominated environment. This has taught her how to break boundaries, challenge the status quo and find her voice, advocating and paving the path for coming generations that Female leaders can be assertive, determined, and resilient. This drives diversity of thought which is the fuel for high productive and innovative business cultures.

Mesch is the global Product Manager for Waygate Technologies Digital Inspection Solution division based in Wunstorf, Germany. Her Product line consist of InspectionWorks Remote Monitoring and Diagnostics – System health Data Monitoring - and Inspection Works Archive – Data Storage and Data Management Solution. Prior to this Angelique was a field engineer for the Oil & Gas industry as well as the NDT-Industry. Angelique has 8 years of professional experience, two years in upstream oil and gas and six years in the NDT-Industry. 

Angelique is currently pursuing an Executive M.Sc. in Intercultural Leadership and Technology and holds a Masters in Industrial Engineering focusing on Energy and Natural Resources from the Clausthal University of Technology, Germany. She has a proven track record of adapting into different business environments and excelling in roles through her excellent understanding of complex coherences and fast learning abilities, paired with an above and beyond mindset.

Inspired by the significant value prescriptive AI delivered to local manufacturers as an industry consultant, Frans Cronje co-founded DataProphet in 2014. His mission is to establish this innovative, results-driven company as the leading global provider of AI-as-a-Service for manufacturing. Frans was amongst Fast Company SA’s top 20 industry leaders under 30. He is also a regular keynote speaker on the international circuit at key manufacturing vertical summits, conferences, and other prestigious events.

In 2019, the WEF invited Frans to speak at its Annual Meeting of the New Champions (the “Summer Davos”) in Dalian, China, recognizing DataProphet as a Technology Pioneer.

Marc Winkelman is a global director of Procter & Gamble’s “Product Supply Manufacturing, Innovation & Capability center of excellence”. 

Marc is from The Netherlands. He completed his studies at the Rotterdam University of Business Management and he became additional a Certified Production and Inventory Manager during his army time. His 25+ years of professional experience in P&G spans multiple supply chains, manufacturing sites and corporate functions.

He has worked in many areas of product supply: at country-, regional- and global level, from initiative planner to manufacturing execution roles, from site responsible to manufacturing excellence within and outside P&G.

He is recognized as a very pragmatic expert in applying and coaching the IWS methodology. For the last 4 years, he has a leading role in consulting P&G’s manufacturing excellence methodology, “Integrated Work System” (IWS) in the alliance with EY Consultancy to coach the methodology at non-P&G’s companies. 

He has successfully coached this methodology in various environments (low & high tech) and various areas (from production line to board-room) around the globe with multiple companies.