Master class on Intelligent Systems applied to industrial applications from Anthony J. Grichnik, Innovation Leader - Intelligent Systems, Caterpillar Logistics Inc.

Big data.  Analytics.  Artificial intelligence.  Soft computing.  Data mining.  It seems that no current news broadcast or popular magazine can get away from exaggerating the potential of these technologies or overpromising on their results.  Do these fields have any substance beyond the media hype cycle?  In this lecture we will explore the "warring clans" in the Intelligent Systems space, and how they are fueling a quiet revolution in Caterpillar products, processes, and global supply chain design.

About the Speaker

Tony Grichnik brings together diverse people, technologies, and points of view to discover solutions that are greater than the sum of their parts.

His educational background includes a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Valparaiso University, and holds Christ College honors in humanities, art, and theology.  He completed the New Entrepreneurs Program at the University of Chicago, and more recently completed the Supply Chain Executives Program at MIT’s Center for Transportation and Logistics.  He is currently Caterpillar’s Visiting Scientist to Bradley University’s Intelligent Systems Laboratory, and teaches in their Masters program in Computer Science.

In his professional life his work at Caterpillar has produced more than 30 US patents in a wide range of fields, including manufacturing quality, signal analysis, pattern recognition, medical diagnostics, and virtual sensing.  These technologies are used in the development and production of every current Caterpillar engine and transmission, and several other patents support Caterpillar’s Healthy Balance® employee wellness program.  Outside Caterpillar, he was one of the founders of smartenergy ltd., a start-up company developing wind energy for home heating and cogeneration.

Personal interests include sailing, virtual aircraft design, cooking, and building sports cars in his garage.  He teaches applied theology to high school and college students through Redeemer Lutheran Church in Peoria, IL.  He’s also a coach for the Eureka, Illinois Digital Hornets - a 3-time regional finalist team in the US FIRST Robotics’ LEGO® League program for middle school students.