Education Event: From Instruments to Insight: Building Data Integrity for Operational Excellence

GMP facilities are becoming increasingly data-driven, yet many organizations still struggle to convert raw process data into actionable insight. This session explores how modern instrumentation, data-driven control architectures, and historian strategies work together to improve reliability, compliance, and operational performance.

Attendees will learn how high-integrity data originates at the instrument level and flows through control systems into historians and enterprise platforms. The session highlights practical approaches to improving data quality, reducing project risk, and enabling better decision-making across the lifecycle of GMP facilities.

Through real-world examples, including a perspective from AstraZeneca, participants will gain insight into how these concepts are applied in practice. The session will also include a guided tour of the Eastern Controls Process Training Unit (PTU), providing a live demonstration of instrumentation, control strategies, and data integration in a working environment.

Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:
· Describe the role of modern data-driven architectures in GMP environments
· Explain how historians support data integrity and compliance
· Identify how smart instrumentation improves reliability and diagnostics
· Evaluate strategies to reduce project risk through integrated I&C design
· Recognize opportunities to improve efficiency and sustainability using better data

Key Topics / Agenda
· Modern data-driven system architecture and control strategies (IXP)
· Role of the historian in data integrity and operational insight
· Smart instrumentation and digital technologies as the data foundation (
· Customer perspective: applying these concepts in a GMP environment
· Discussion: impact of increased capital project activity on execution and quality
· Design integration: aligning instrumentation, controls, and procurement in GMP projects
· Sustainability through improved diagnostics and energy visibility

Facility Tour
Eastern Controls Process Training Unit (PTU)
A guided tour of a fully functioning process system, demonstrating real-time instrumentation, control architectures, and data flow from field devices through control systems and historian platforms. The tour will reinforce session concepts with live, practical examples.

Target Audience:
Engineers, automation and controls professionals, operations and maintenance leaders, validation/quality personnel, and project managers supporting GMP facilities.

This session is educational in nature and will focus on industry practices, system architecture, and operational outcomes. No specific products or vendor solutions will be promoted.

Thank you to our sponsors for this event:

Presenters:

Philip Ceary, AstraZeneca

Philip Ceary is a University of Maryland chemical engineer with 20 years of experience in the fields of process design, safety facilities, and project development in refinery construction and operations. A career of building refining facilities resulted in extensive assignments worldwide throughout 21 countries. Philip made the career jump to pharmaceuticals and commercial autologous cell therapy in 2023 bringing his knowledge and perspective of high resiliency facilities and reliable process operations to the pharmaceutical industry.

Kevin Lavelle, Eastern Controls

Kevin Lavelle is General Manager at Eastern Controls, where he leads business operations, customer engagement and growth initiatives across the organization. He brings a strong blend of technical and commercial expertise, underpinned by a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA in Finance from Drexel University. Lavelle began his career in engineering roles before advancing through product management, sales and leadership positions, including experience with leading instrumentation and automation companies. Over time, he has built a reputation for aligning engineering-driven solutions with customer needs, driving performance in competitive industrial markets, and fostering long-term relationships across the Mid-Atlantic process automation sector.

Chris Monchinski, InflexionPoint

As Chief Technology Officer at InflexionPoint, Chris Monchinski leads the company’s strategic vision for digital transformation across manufacturing and critical infrastructure industries. With over three decades of experience in industrial automation and systems integration, he partners with global clients to design and implement data-centric architectures that unlock the full value of operational data—bridging OT and IT to enable smarter, more agile operations. Chris is a prominent contributor to global standards and industry advancement. He serves as Chair of the MESA Knowledge Committee and Chair of the ISA-95 committee on Enterprise-Control System Integration. He is also Convenor of the IEC/ISO Joint Working Group 5, responsible for maintaining the IEC 62264 standards. Chris is an active voice in organizations such as ISA, MESA, and ISPE, frequently speaking on topics including Pharma 4.0, data governance, interoperability, and the future of industrial AI.

Location:

Eastern Controls

3850 Providence Road, Edgmont, PA 19028

Parking:

There is ample, free parking at Eastern Controls.

Registration will open at 5:00 pm; networking and light refreshments until 6:00pm; presentations will begin at 6:00 pm and conclude by 7:30 pm.

Cancellation Policy: Full refund or credit voucher for a future program will be given up until 7-days before program; After July 21st no refunds or credit vouchers will be provided. Registration website will close at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 28th.

"Walk-in" registrations will be allowed with a $20 per ticket surcharge (Cash, Credit Card or PayPal accepted on-site).

Schedule of Events:

• 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm:  Networking and Light Dinner, Beer and Wine
• 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm:  Presentations and Q&A Discussion
• 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm:  Networking