This unique opportunity to share will accelerate the adoption of AR and make our employees more safe, capable, and productive while improving quality and enabling knowledge transfer.
The retreat – hosted by Index AR Solutions at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Virginia – is scheduled to allow participants to travel to Williamsburg on Tuesday, November 13 and return to any mainland U.S. destination by the night of Wednesday, November 14.
Attendees get a valuable opportunity to experience hands-on Index AR demos and exhibits, listen to speakers describe how their companies are using and considering using Index AR, and network with other participants who are assessing how augmented reality could help their companies.
INDEX AR SOLUTIONS DEMOS AND EXHIBITS
A morning session on November 14 will give retreat participants the opportunity to walk around and interact with AR-equipped tablets and Index AR Solutions experts. Breakfast will be served just outside the ballroom and participants are encouraged to eat, network and experience Index AR first hand.
The augmented reality demos and displays will feature a few of the more than 95 Index AR Solutions / Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) AR projects as well as some of the ongoing R&D conducted at NNS. Clients are encouraged to spend some time at their own displays/demos and speak to their experience utilizing AR. Demonstrations and information will be available from the following projects:
Client: Waste Management
Challenge: Waste Management has a large fleet of trucks that need to be maintained on a regular basis. Two important maintenance tasks are valve adjustments and brake pad replacements which are very complex with hundreds of required and sequenced steps. Waste Management executives wanted to provide a tool that helps their mechanics with just-in-time information for each step in a maintenance procedure.
Solution: Index worked closely with Waste Management’s front-line expert mechanics, SMEs supervisors and managers to optimize the best-practice steps into an AR app that overlaid key information on actual truck components during maintenance.
Client: Fluor Corporation
Challenge: In October 2015, Fluor announced a $1 billion joint venture that would change the way large off-shore oil rigs were built. Fluor needed a way to effectively communicate this capability to their oil-major clients other than an 80-page PowerPoint presentation or an expensive and time-consuming on-site visit in China.
Solution: Index created a bilingual, interactive, 3D, AR map with views at the global, regional and facility-level, packed with information the Fluor sales team could share with oil-majors.
Client: Evergy (Formerly Westar Energy)
Challenge: Like other utilities, Evergy must roll multiple trucks to inspect, troubleshoot, remove, install, replace and program controllers on multiple different pole-mounted voltage regulators and control panels. Evergy wanted to provide its linemen the approved procedures to perform these tasks on each voltage regulator and control panel variant.
Solution: Index worked closely with Evergy’s linemen, engineering, experts and supervisors to capture the safest and best-practice procedures and build them into the AR app, now available to other customers as the LineAssist SuperApp®. The app recognizes five different controllers and provides the linemen the appropriate procedure step by step overlaid on the pole mounted voltage regulator and control panel.
Client: Index AR Solutions Marketing
Challenge: Augmented Reality is a visual technology. Describing AR or explaining how it can impact work is almost impossible without a visual, hands-on experience.
Solution: Index built an AR app deployed on Apple and Android devices that demonstrated an oil rig occupying 3D space, a 2D drawing coming to life as a 3D object, a construction aide for stud placement, an assembly aide for valve installment, an X-ray vision on a valve, and step-by-step work instructions for a valve.
Client: Dominion Energy
Challenge: Dominion constructed an above-ground manhole model for their trainees to learn the different scenarios that they will see in the field. They needed a tool to visualize the different scenarios in an empty manhole as well as build out the manhole using the AR tool.
Solution: Index worked closely with Dominion’s SMEs, supervisors and training experts to create an AR app that would overlay the different scenarios right over the actual manhole. The AR app also allows the trainee to identify the different components and build out the manhole scenarios.
Client: A Southwestern Utility
Challenge: A southwestern utility had two voltage regulators fail and consequently lost two separate substations. Dissolved gas analysis of several other regulators showed a high likelihood of more regulators failing in the future. The utility is rate sensitive and chose to maintain versus replace the regulators. They needed a way to effectively train people on tap change and maintenance procedures, capture best practices, reduce error rates and improve efficiency.
Solution: Index worked closely with the lead electricians, capturing knowledge transfer from the most experienced members, creating a step-by-step process to put into an app on a tablet. The app was given to a qualified electrician that had never done the procedure before but did the tap change and maintenance in two hours and reduced error rates by more than 90% from the traditional use of manuals and paper. This app is also bilingual in English and Spanish for ease of use.
Client: Ameren Corporation
Challenge: Ameren Corporation has a requirement to troubleshoot and replace thousands of routers and modems. For cost considerations, the company has chosen to have this task performed by their linemen rather than by a specialty workforce. Ameren needed a tool to help their linemen perform this new task safely and efficiently with minimal quality escapes.
Solution: Index worked closely with Ameren to create an AR app that overlays each step-by-step task over the actual modems, routers and collectors.
Client: Southern Company
Challenge: The utility wanted to explore new ways to boost worker safety, quality and capabilities. Company leadership sought innovative tools that would assist with knowledge transfer among workers while addressing cost and schedule considerations.
Solution: An AR app was built by Index AR in collaboration with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Southern Company. Conveying situational awareness information, the app makes the invisible visible – displaying visual indicators of equipment health, capacity factors and required minimum clearances such as flame retardant (FR) zones in the substation. Later versions of the app will display detailed maintenance histories of equipment and include all of the directions needed to perform maintenance tasks using a lean process that includes step-by-step procedures, warnings and videographic recording of critical steps for internal and external compliance.
Client: Cisco Systems
Challenge: Concepts like cybersecurity and cloud computing can be abstract and difficult to fully understand for non-technical people. Cisco sought an innovative, easy-to-use way for its prospects to learn more about its solution offerings that went above and beyond traditional marketing methods.
Solution: The Cisco cybersecurity marketing and sales tool is a self-directed AR app that takes a person through all of the different levels of the Cisco Cloud business and the layers of security preventing cyber-attacks. The app is easy to use and conveys key data and information on the Cisco cybersecurity products. There is also an interactive simulation that allows a user to play the role of computer virus trying to penetrate the Cisco cloud.
Client: Riverside Health System
Challenge: Endoscopes are powerful medical instruments that help doctors examine internal organs. But without careful cleaning, endoscopes can carry potentially dangerous bacteria from one patient to another, introducing a potential health risk.
Solution: The Riverside endoscope app will use AR to help medical staff visualize the specific cleaning procedures required by an endoscope manufacturer – thereby addressing a significant health and safety issue faced by hospitals. The app contains a standardized best practice that ensures new technicians are taught the precise way to safely clean an endoscope and reduce the risk of infection from a medical procedure.
Client: MidAmerican Energy Company
Challenge: MidAmerican sought to increase quality outcomes and understanding of their Gas Tech Apprenticeship. In addition, the company wanted their training to follow their apprentices into the field as a valuable tool and reference, even after their apprenticeship is complete.
Solution: Index is working closely with MidAmerican’s managers, instructors, and SMEs to create an AR application and an e-book that serves as a highly effective and engaging way to deliver their Gas Tech Apprenticeship material. Packed with videos, imagery and contextual references to important standards and regulations, the app will include new ways to visualize the materials, tools and equipment used in the field. The multiple module app is also equipped with testing and feedback tools for instructors.
Client: MidAmerican Energy Company
Challenge: The source-transfer controllers used by electrical utilities to minimize power interruptions are complex, with multiple decision trees that often require a 4-6 hour schedule for an engineer to initially set up or reset. In addition, missed or incorrect steps can result in equipment damage, injury or service delays.
Solution: By helping workers visualize specific setup steps, the MidAmerican source-transfer controller app uses AR to address a common challenge in the electric utility industry. The app presents workers with an agreed-upon set of best practices, decision trees, and safety warnings at the exact time and place they are needed within a procedure. The app gives a qualified electrician the confidence to safely perform troubleshooting and start-up tasks with minimal errors or risk.
Client: Various
Challenge: Today’s youth thrive in the digital world of internet-connected apps and interactive touchscreens. The learning friction that is created when younger workers are trained with traditional textbooks, binders and PowerPoint presentations is challenging to the onboarding process and slows professional development as well.
Solution: Combining AR and eBooks creates an experiential learning tool that is well suited to a younger generation that grew up using computers and tablets. Index is partnering with MidAmerican Energy and Dominion Energy to create the first in a series of combined AR / eBook apps that bridge this learning gap. Complete with built-in dynamic feedback mechanisms, updates to these apps can be easily pushed out to users in training and in the field – overcoming the limitations of static traditional learning tools.
Client: Various
Challenge: How can the power of new, custom-built AR applications be shared with a broader customer audience in a way that also makes exceptional business sense for both the developer and the original client?
Solution: Index AR’s SuperApp® product development puts the power of custom AR applications to work addressing broader industry challenges. Through co-marketing agreements, clients involved in the original creation of an Index AR SuperApp® share in its future success as pre-packaged resale offering. Index AR currently has three SuperApps® in its library, with that number expected to grow exponentially.
CONFIRMED SPEAKERS
Dan Arczynski – President & CEO, Index AR Solutions
Prior to Index, for 19 years Dan held a series of executive positions in the shipbuilding industry. He has served as corporate vice president of both business development and strategy at HII as well as sector vice president of strategy at both Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and Northrop Grumman Newport News. During this period Dan had staff responsibility for both strategic and growth initiatives and served on the board of directors for Continental Maritime of San Diego, AREVA Newport News and Savannah River Nuclear Solutions.
Prior to shipbuilding, for five years Dan was vice president of strategy and vice president of mergers and acquisitions for Shawmut, a large New England regional bank. He was also a consultant for Marakon Associates a firm focused on creating shareholder value for its clients.Dan is a veteran of the US Army and served for twelve years attaining the rank of Major. During this time he led five platoon size units and commanded a light infantry company. He also taught economics, finance and investments at West Point.
Dan is a 1978 graduate of the United States Military Academy where he was on the Dean’s List, Commandant’s List and Superintendents List. He is a 1986 graduate of the Harvard Business School where he was a graduate of Highest Distinction and was elected Baker Scholar.
Erik Bierbrauer – Substation Support Engineer, Alabama Power Company
As Substation Support Engineer for Transmission Engineering Services, Eric acts as the subject matter expert and single point of contact for Alabama Power Company’s company-wide Standard Transmission Operations and Maintenance Program (STOMP) and provides training, technical support, troubleshooting, and guidance for end users in the field. Eric earned his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Binghamton University.
Mike Hoff – Director, Business Optimization and Innovation, MidAmerican Energy Company
Mike Hoff has been a member of MidAmerican Energy’s team since 2012 with an educational background in mechanical and nuclear engineering. Mike started his career with MidAmerican Energy as an intern evaluating potential locations to construct a new nuclear generation facility within the service territory. Upon graduation, he joined the gas delivery department working in engineering and compliance, before transitioning to supervising frontline represented employees installing gas distribution facilities to serve customers.
Later, Mike served as manager of delivery assurance and quality prior to taking on his current role in business optimization and innovation.
As a member of the gas delivery leadership team, Mike lead the operational support departments that include apprenticeships, training, storerooms, metering shop, and damage prevention and recovery. Mike also leads the strategic development of the 10-year financial plan, regulatory filings and growth plans.
Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and three kids (ages 7, 5 and 2). Mike stays involved in his community by coaching youth sports specifically hockey, soccer and baseball.
Jason Gambill – Manager, Electric Safety & Training, Dominion Energy
A 17 year veteran of Dominion Energy, Jason currently serves as Manager of Electric Safety and Training, heading up training design, development and implementation for the Electric Distribution and Transmission Organizations. In this role, Jason is responsible for safety communications including safety topics, alerts, and bulletins. He also oversees safety data analysis for the two organizations.
Julia Jones – Director of Operations Integration, Newport News Shipbuilding
Julia Jones is the Director of Operations Integration at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII). She is responsible for consolidating, standardizing and optimizing processes across the entire division in support of the business transformation to become more agile and efficient as the company move towards digital shipbuilding. In her 20 years at HII, she has worked in manufacturing, production control, nuclear fabrication, craftsmen management and corporate strategy.
Prior to shipbuilding, Julia held management positions in finance and accounting with manufacturing firms, commercial banking, and defense contractors. She earned a BS degree in Business Administration and Finance from Christopher Newport University and she also holds a MBA from Averett University.
Dr. Jim Lesnick – Senior Vice President, Business and Venture Development, Riverside Health System
Dr. Lesnick is Senior Vice President of Business and Venture Development for Riverside Health System, building on more than 20 years of experience serving patients. Earlier, he was Senior Vice President and Medical Director of Riverside Medical Group, a diverse and growing group of over 500 providers. He also served as Riverside Medical Director of the Chesapeake Regional, Riverside and University of Virginia Radiosurgery Center located at Riverside Regional Medical Center.
With a particular practice interest in Gamma Knife radiosurgery, Dr. Lesnick managed conservative treatment for all neurosurgical conditions of the brain and spine. His philosophy was to remember that he is not treating scans or x-rays; he is treating a patient.
In his spare time, Dr. Lesnick enjoys spending time with his family and their golden retriever, sailing and playing golf.
James Merlo – Vice President, Reliability Risk Management, North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
James Merlo is a Vice President at NERC, leading the Reliability Risk Management department. Joining NERC in July 2011, James leads the electric reliability organization’s efforts to assess the industry status and needs with regard to events and occurrences on the Bulk Electric System and explores human performance challenges affecting bulk power system reliability. In this role, he identifies opportunities and methods for improvement based on proven methods from other industries and within the electrical industry to improve the reliability of the bulk power system.
Additionally, he is responsible for ensuring that reliability based industry alerts, lessons learned, best practices and other valuable industry publications are quickly identified and communicated to the industry stakeholders and other various audiences.
James served in a variety of leadership roles in the United States Army including combat tours in Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Significant positions include; Deputy Brigade Commander in Baghdad, Iraq 2004-2005 and as an assistant professor and program director at the United States Military Academy.
James has his Bachelor of Science in Human Factors Psychology from West Point, his Masters in Engineering Psychology from the University of Illinois, and his PhD in Applied Experimental and Human Factors Psychology from the University of Central Florida. He is the author of over 50 publications and book chapters on the subjects of human factors engineering and human performance.
Vu Nguyen – Manager, Corporate Venturing, Waste Management
Vu currently serves as Manager, Corporate Venturing at Waste Management, Inc., where he manages technology scouting & investment activities with entities within the waste space. Previously, Vu spent 7 years with GDF Suez developing generation facilities including wind, solar and combined cycled plants. Vu has a chemical engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin.
Lorne Poindexter – Maintenance Manager, Instrument and Controls, Ameren
Currently assigned to the Corporate Innovation team. Responsibilities include implementation of projects to improve efficiency and keep customer rates as low as possible. Lorne has 28 years of experience at the Callaway Nuclear Plant and has done a number of jobs during his career, as a deconner, non-licensed operator, licensed reactor operator, general supervisor radwaste, senior reactor operator certification, work week manager and maintenance manager I&C. He enjoys continuous improvement and project implementation.
Thomas A. “Andy” Ralph – Vice President, Business Development Offshore and Arctic, Fluor
Andy Ralph is currently Vice President, Business Development, for Fluor’s Energy and Chemicals business line. In this role, he is responsible for managing Fluor’s involvement in the offshore oil and gas market globally. Andy also leads business development efforts related to the ongoing Sakhalin Island work and Arctic ventures. Andy’s participation was instrumental in the establishment of several Fluor joint ventures, including COOEC-Fluor Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. between Fluor and COOEC, and Sakhlin Neftegas Technology between Fluor and Rosnet.
Before assuming his current role, Andy was responsible for various key corporate accounts and the LNG regasification global industry account. Andy has more than 20 years of Fluor experience and has held various positions in engineering, project management, and sales.
Andy graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. Andy and his wife, Jill, currently reside in Sugar Land, Texas with their two children. In his free time, Andy volunteers as Scout Master for Troop 1631, is Past-President of the Fort Bend Education Foundation, and enjoys endurance running.
Kyle Robertson – Senior Engineer, Substation Maintenance, Evergy
Kyle Robertson is currently a Senior Engineer for Substation Maintenance at Evergy, which recently formed through the merger of Westar Energy and Kansas City Power and Light. Kyle began his career with Westar Energy in 2007, as an Engineer at a natural gas fired power plant. In 2012 he transitioned into a front line supervisor’s role at Westar’s 2,400 Megawatt Jeffrey Energy Center. After multiple supervisor roles at Jeffrey, Kyle moved to Substation Maintenance as a Staff Engineer in 2015.
He currently supports the day to day operations of the maintenance group, and also manages the group’s capital replacement budget. Kyle has a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Kansas.
Dr. John J. Simmins – Technical Executive, Electric Power Research institute (EPRI)
Dr. John J. Simmins is a Technical Executive at the Electric Power Research institute (EPRI) where he manages the Information and Communication Technology for Distribution project set. At the retreat, he will speak about the evolution of AR. John’s current responsibilities at EPRI focus on bringing thought leadership in the area of integrating diverse applications such as Advanced Meter Infrastructure, Meter Data Management Systems, Distribution Management Systems, Customer Information Systems, Geospatial Information Systems and Outage Management Systems.
John also leads the EPRI efforts in the use of augmented reality, social media, data analytics, and visualization to improve outage restoration efforts and improve grid resilience. He received his B.S. and a Ph.D. in Ceramic Science from Alfred University in 1984 and 1990 respectively.
Scott Sommers – Vice President, Client and Corporate Development, Index AR Solutions
Scott Sommers is Vice President of Client and Corporate Development at Index AR Solutions. At the retreat, he will present on the company’s growing SuperApp® family of pre-packaged AR applications. Prior to Index AR Solutions, Scott Sommers was SVP, Finance and Corporate Development at SureWest Communications. He was instrumental in setting the Company’s strategic direction, leading the sale of the directories, wireless and tower assets as well as the acquisition of the Kansas City properties. He also lead the restructuring of the corporate compensation plans, freezing the defined benefit plan and outsourcing of non-core functions.
Additionally, he led all treasury functions, investor relations, banking and financial institution relationships; directing the planning, procurement and investment funds. Prior to the Communications industry Scott has over 20 years of banking and finance experience serving as managing director of investment banking for Cantor Fitzgerald in Los Angeles, CA and held executive roles with Mellon Financial Group, KBC and UBS with a focus in the energy industry.
Scott is a graduate of the University of Iowa with degrees in History and Psychology, 1981 and received his MBA from The American Graduate School of International Management in 1984.
George Washington (Ron Carnegie) – Colonial Williamsburg Reenactor
Ron Carnegie has been an historical interpreter since 1979, all of his adult life. He started at California’s Living History Center portraying various people of Elizabethan England. He also worked for various museums and sites in California as an independent contractor. Some of these sites include Fort Tejon State Park, The Los Angeles Master Chorale, The Los Angeles Museum of Natural History, and Pia Pico Adobe. Since 1995 Ron has been employed by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, performing as George Washington since 2005.
The George Washington role is exceptionally challenging and is surrounded by so many personal feelings, cherished myths and misconceptions. A daunting task indeed. Ron brings to it his high intelligence, dry wit, studious research, dedication, professionalism and period flair.
AGENDA
Tuesday, November 13
Kingsmill Resort – Riverview Room
Wednesday, November 14
Kingsmill Resort – Burwell Ballroom
Reception and Dinner for those staying at Kingsmill Resort Tuesday Night
6:30–7:30pm
Welcome Reception
7:30–9:30pm
Dinner
George Washington (Williamsburg Re-enactor)
Registration and Breakfast
7–10am
AR Demos, Displays, Networking
Index and NNS
10am – 12pm
Formal Program*
Multiple Speakers
Lunch
1–3pm
Formal Program*
Multiple Speakers
3pm
Depart Kingsmill
*During the 10am–12pm and 1–3pm sessions, each speaker will, for 15 minutes, discuss their position, company, industry and challenges faced; explain if they currently do or would consider the use of AR and Index AR and their view on the future role of AR.
LOCATION
Stunningly set against the James River, Kingsmill Resort is a place steeped in honored traditions and genuine Southern hospitality.
When the first English foot was placed in Virginia, it was here on these grounds that once served as a central part of the area’s plantation life in the 1600s through 1800s.
Today, Kingsmill Resort retains those magnificent traits inherent in Kingsmill’s early life with grand accommodations, gracious hospitality and stately service.
The Resort’s Plantation Golf Course is routed along what was once the original Kingsmill Plantation, and other resort properties and features are similarly located on plantation grounds.
In 1969 Anheuser-Busch purchased 3,900 acres of James River land with plans to build a large brewery. As part of the land purchase agreement, Anheuser-Busch agreed to develop hundreds of those acres into what is now Kingsmill Resort.
Learn more about Kingsmill Resort, its accommodations and amenities at kingsmill.com.
REGISTRATION AND FEES
There are two elements to the Fall 2017 AR Retreat Fees – 1) accommodations and dinner Tuesday, November 13 and 2) the retreat activities and meals on Wednesday, November 14. Please be sure to register for both below if attending the entire retreat for both days. If you are not staying at Kingsmill Resort and arriving Wednesday, November 14 for the retreat only, please only register for the retreat.
RETREAT REGISTRATION
The $150 retreat registration fee includes breakfast Wednesday, November 14, beverages and snacks throughout the day, lunch buffet and access to networking, speakers, AR demos and exhibits.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE RETREAT NOW
ACCOMMODATIONS
Kingsmill Resort has reserved the following rooms at the rates listed below:
Resort Guestrooms: $299.96
Resort One-Bedroom Suites: $367.16
River Guestrooms: $344.76
River One-Bedroom Suites: $456.76
The room rates above include one night of accommodations and the Tuesday evening welcome reception and dinner.
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR ROOMS NOW
Reservations can also be made by calling the Resort Reservation Department at 757-253-1703 or 1-800-832-5665. A credit card will be required to make a reservation. Please identify yourself with the Index AR Solutions Retreat.
CONTACT INDEX AR
For more information about the Enterprise Augmented Reality Retreat, presented by Index AR Solutions, please contact:
