data transfer applications, applications that respond to process events and generate data records to support product sampling & testing, and monitoring/reporting applications
Speaker
Thomas L. Roach
After earning a B.Sc. with highest distinction in Interdisciplinary Engineering (Electrical Major, Mechanical Minor) from Purdue University in 1973, Tom has spent over 40 years in Northwest Indiana research and industry. He worked for 12 years at the Atlantic Richfield Co. Technical Center in Harvey, IL, holds several co-patents for point-of-sale automation innovations in widespread use today, and administered large-scale cooperative research test programs with the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Chrysler Corporation. Tom worked for 24 years at the National Steel Midwest Plant in Portage, IN and for U.S. Steel Corporation, in the Operations Technology and Process Control departments. There, he developed innovative applications including an interactive tensile-test-robot data collection interface, added 3D wireframe live & post-processing display capabilities to rolling & temper mill shape control systems, and implemented PC-based fully-electronic “chart recorder” systems for gauge+ data collection, analysis and reporting. For the last 4 years at the BP Whiting Business Unit, Tom has been developing custom data transfer, analysis and reporting applications to replace legacy systems and to enhance/leverage detection and notification capabilities for optimizing operations.