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Panel Sessions

The PHM Society provides an opportunity to hear and interact with recognized industry leaders in relevant areas for our PHM work. These 90-minute panel sessions will consist of presentations and open discussion by 4-6 panelists directly engaging with the conference audience on the different topics listed below.

These sessions add an enriching dimension to the conference experience and a welcome networking alternative to traditional paper presentations, which dominate some conferences. We believe balancing the conference time in this fashion provides participants with a much more engaging experience and an increased opportunity to gain unique knowledge.


Panel Committee Chairs:

  • Sarah Lukens, LMI
  • Ariel Cano, GE Research
  • Alvaro Silva, GE Research

  • Panel Session Topics and Schedule:

    No.Panel NamePrimary Chair(s)DateTime
    1Can PHM Really Enhance Automotive Regulation (details)Steve HollandTBDTBD
    2Data Governance for Commercial Aerospace (details)Ariel Cano and Alvaro SilvaTBDTBD
    3A Fireside Chat – Experience and Lessons Learned over the Multiple Eras of PHM Development and Implementation (details)Andy Hess and Derek DevriesTBDTBD
    4SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) 7140: Common Open Data Exchange (CODEX) Health and Usage Monitoring System (details)Dave LarsenTBDTBD
    5Standards Debate – Standards Are Needed For Building PHM Consortiums (details)Greg Vogl and Jeff BirdTBDTBD
    6Bridging the Gap: From Academic Study to Industry Application in PHM (details)Jeff BirdTBDTBD
    7PHM for Renewables – Challenges and R&D Opportunities (details)Shawn ShengTBDTBD
    8Technical Language Processing and Large Language Models (details)Sarah LukensTBDTBD
    9MRO Panel (details)Frank ZahiriTBDTBD
    10Identifying and Managing Cybersecurity Risks for PHM – Problem Statements and Solutions Across Multiple Domains (details)Mark WalkerTBDTBD

    Panel Details

    Panel 1: Can PHM Really Enhance Automotive Regulation?
    Chair: Steve Holland (SAE HRCS Consortium Chair)

    Regulation in the automotive industry is clearly necessary to achieve broadly supported goals relating to emissions and safety. This panel would like to explore the question if PHM technology can enhance the manner in which these goals are achieved. “Enhance” in the sense of more effectively and efficiently meeting the goals using the techniques and processes developed in the PHM field. There is power in simplicity as goals are articulated but there are risks and costs if there is no common vision for how to implement the needed  solutions. This can manifest itself in inconsistent and expensive implementations, incomplete coverage, lack of clarity, difficulty in verification, etc. PHM offers tools and techniques to commonize the data, standardize the interpretation of the data, use common models to extract the relevant information, and define the processes to match the goals. When done well, there is potential for lowering industry costs and improving industry performance while achieving the goals. 

    List of Panelists:
    • Xinyu Du (GM’s Research and Development)
    Panel 2: Data Governance for Commercial Aerospace
    Chairs: Ariel Cano (GE Aerospace)

    Data Governance includes all activities needed to provide data that is secure, private and with quality. Datasets can come from a variety of domains, it can be operational data, workshop data, customer data, asset data, etc. All of these datasets are key for the development and deployment of PHM functionalities. Along the data flow path of PHM systems, data can be extracted or manipulated by different entities such as manufacturers, operators, data service provider, etc. Also, as data sources can be geographically in a different place than servers for PHM functionalities, data exporting can also play a role dealing with regulations podes by governments or regulatory agencies. This panel will explore the challenges and considerations for data governance in commercial aerospace applications regarding data  sharing, exporting, storage & proprietary information protection  and how they can affect performance of PHM functionalities.

    List of Panelists:
    • Ravi Rajamani (drR2)
    • Eric Bechhoefer (GPMS International Inc.)
    Panel 3: A Fireside Chat – Experience and Lessons Learned over the Multiple Eras of PHM Development and Implementation
    Chair: Andy Hess (Hess PHM Group), Derek Devries (Northrop Grumman)

    This panel is made up of several “seasoned” experts who have been developing and implementing PHM related capabilities and technologies for a great number of years. This panel will use their experiences and stories to explore the issues, barriers, and lessons learned that have evolved across the many eras of PHM related activities including: requirements generation, capability benefits, ROI, justifications; development; validation & verification; policies; expanding applications; integration: implementation; operations, sustainment; enterprise-wide perspectives

    List of Panelists:
    • Coming soon!
    Panel 4: SAE Aerospace Standard (AS) 7140: Common Open Data Exchange (CODEX) Health and Usage Monitoring System
    Chairs: Dave Larsen (Collins Aerospace System)

    Today, almost every HUMS is a proprietary system imposing restrictions on offboard data display and analysis. The analysis station of an engineer with a mixed fleet requires multiple computers to view the same data from different platforms. Although the data coming off each aircraft HUMS is similar, the data format from each HUMS is different. The software on each analysis station is therefore different, presenting a resource and training burden
    The new SAE standard, AS7140, provides guidance on the development and implementation of a Common Open Data Exchange (CODEX) format for rotorcraft Health Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS). The standard is intended to apply to data generated onboard rotorcraft, the transmission of that data, as well as the data ingested by ground stations to facilitate Integrated Vehicle Health Management (IVHM). The initial standard is focused primarily on drive train systems but is designed to potentially accommodate other data (e.g., structural fatigue) in future revisions. It is acknowledged that current rotorcraft on-board systems do not generate data in this format and will require a translator for use in other systems. However, the intent is to set the standard and have future on-board systems provide data natively with the CODEX-HUMS format.

    Intended Outcomes:

    • Inform the PHM community of the impending publication of AS 7140, targeted at aviation rotorcraft
    • Describe the standard and its benefits to all potential users
    • Encourage the adoption of the standard across the U.S. government and industry
    List of Panelists:
    • MG (Retired) Todd Roeyar (Textron)
    • Brian Tucker (Bell)
    • Danny Parker (Army CTR)
    Panel 5: Standards Debate – Standards Are Needed For Building PHM Consortiums
    Chairs: Gregory W. Vogl (NIST), Jeff Bird (TECnos)

    Something non-standard will take place this year at the PHM Society’s annual conference: The Standards panel will not follow a standard format! Ten years ago, a formal debate was held – “Standardization must give way to proprietary innovation?”. The audience vote was: For-7, Against-4, and Undecided-14! As an homage to the 10 th anniversary of that first PHM debate, another debate will be held for this year’s Standards panel, but with a twist.

    The topic to be debated will be, “Standards are needed for building PHM consortiums?” Four debaters will take the stage: Two for and two against the proposition. Each debater will present their points (< 5 min each, no slides required), with each side of the argument able to rebut the points from the other side. The back-and-forth friendly argumentation among the debaters is intended to lead to a provocative discussion with the audience. Then comes a twist: After 30 minutes, the debaters will switch sides! Once again, the debaters will present their quick points but from the other side of the argument. Then the audience can add their opinions and experience for 25 minutes! Then the vote.

    The aim of this lively debate is to identify and publish experiences, gaps, and opportunities in developing and delivering results from one of the preferred ways to advance technology: consortia. Academic, industrial, and public-sector perspectives will be encouraged and discussed. No fisticuffs will be permitted. Fun is encouraged. A vote and minutes will be recorded. Please come and enjoy!

    Debaters:
    • Ed Manns (International Society of Automation)
    • Steve Holland (VHM Innovations, SAE Health-Ready Components and Systems Consortium)
    • Sarah Lukens (LMI)
    • Ravi Rajamani (drR2)
    Panel 6: Bridging the Gap: From Academic Study to Industry Application in PHM
    Chair: Jeff Bird (TECnos)

    The PHM Society works to advance PHM as an engineering discipline including through its Educational and Professional Development Committee. A Society hallmark is the synergy among industry, academia and public sector PHMers. What is exciting and satisfying about this domain are its diverse career opportunities (see the society’s evolving taxonomy of skills- Towards a Capabilities Taxonomy for Prognostics and Health Management | International Journal of Prognostics and Health Management (phmsociety.org). These panels at our two conferences this year will challenge some topics for discussion and aim to identify opportunities for the Society AND you!

    • What are the opportunities and needs for industry to give back to academia?
    • What other opportunities, content and experience would academia like to give to their students?
    • What else would industry supervisors wish that new grads arrived with?
    • What are the key skills and competencies needed to excel in a PHM career?
    • How can students develop these skills while still in college?
    • What are the various career paths available in PHM?
    • What advice would you give to new graduates entering the PHM field?

    The brief introduction will include a report from the PHME 24 panel in July. We will poll conference registrants prior to the event to prioritize the questions. The planned format for the 90 minute session will be short, provocative remarks from a few panelists and a facilitated discussion with the audience, culminating in a vote on priorities for society action through the Education and Professional Development Committee.

    List of Panelists:
    • Rhonda Walthall (Collins Aerospace)
    • Jesse Williams (GTC Analytics)
    Panel 7: PHM for Renewables – Challenges and R&D Opportunities
    Chair: Shawn Sheng (NREL)

    Renewable power generation plays an increasingly crucial role towards our green and sustainable energy future. However, various renewable power generation technologies are challenged by premature component failures and increased operations & maintenance (O&M) costs. Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) techniques have the potential to help mitigate these challenges and make renewables reliable, safe, and economical. In this panel, experts from academia, industry, and research institutions will explore the latest advancements of various renewable power generation technologies (e.g., wind, photovoltaic, and energy storage), challenges with O&M, and R&D opportunities in PHM to benefit their development and deployment. Topics will include real-time monitoring, modeling to support predictive maintenance, decision-making, and testing, etc. Join us as we delve into the critical role of PHM in maximizing renewable energy generation while minimizing downtime and maintenance costs.

    List of Panelists:
    • Alabsi Mohammed (Technical College of New Jersey)
    Panel 8: Technical Language Processing (TLP) and Large Language Models (LLMs)
    Chair: Sarah Lukens, LMI

    Technical Language Processing (TLP) is a set of tools, techniques, and methodologies designed to adapt Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools to expert-driven, text-based data within engineering and other specialized domains. Adapting Large Language Models (LLMs), which are trained on vast amounts of text for processing, to specialized applications is an emerging area of innovation. As the intersection of industry, artificial intelligence, and human-centered intelligent automation accelerates, mastering communications and language processing is essential for maintaining a competitive edge. This panel will explore key aspects of TLP and LLMs, including: state-of-the-practice and best practices, risk awareness, needs and gaps, sector-specific applications, metrics and measurement, and the evolving role of humans as observers in optimizing the interaction between operators and monitoring systems.

    List of Panelists:
    • Michael Sharp (NIST)
    • Neil Eklund (Oak Grove Analytics, LLC)
    Panel 9: MRO Panel
    Chair: Frank Zahiri

    Coming Soon!

    List of Panelists:
    • Walter Keller (Nokimis Inc.)
    Panel 10: Cybersecurity and PHM
    Chairs: Mark Walker (End-to-End Enterprise Solutions)

    Coming soon!

    List of Panelists:
    • Sarah Lukens (LMI)
    • Edward Manns (International Society of Automation)
    • Carlton Harris (E3S)