PEX Network’s weekly news bulletin rounds up the latest from the process community including operational excellence (OPEX), digital transformation, business process management (BPM), process mining, artificial intelligence (AI) and more.
This week includes:
- AI, transformation and process excellence leaders convene at OPEX Week 2025
- Ryanair cuts passenger forecast amid Boeing’s operational failures
- San José State University brings process mining technology to the classroom
- BCC Iccrea Group accelerates IT transformation
- Miraka streamlines operations to enhance efficiency and sustainability
- Northrop Grumman enhances innovation and OPEX
- Premier Truck Rental announces leadership updates to support OPEX
AI, transformation and process excellence leaders convene at OPEX Week 2025
OPEX Week: Business Transformation World Summit 2025 took place in Miami, Florida this week. The world’s biggest event for enterprise and digital transformation brought together hundreds of global leaders in AI, OPEX, business transformation and automation. The 26th iteration of the event featured more than 100 speakers – including Olympic swimmer Regan Smith as well as business leaders from Walmart, Edward Jones, Mars and Goldman Sachs – along with in-depth workshops, interactive discussion groups, deep-dive masterclasses and a new AI innovation zone.
The event also featured the 2025 OPEX and Business Transformation Awards ceremony, recognizing businesses and their teams for pioneering work. The winners were:
- Best Process Improvement Project Under 90 Days: Siemens Gamesa
- Best Digital Transformation Initiative: Vueling Airlines
- Best Strategic Business Transformation Project: GWL Realty Advisors
- Business Transformation Leader/Team of the Year: Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)
- Best Achievement in Driving Change and Transforming Organizational Culture: GWL Realty Advisors
- Best Continuous Improvement System (Sponsored by explic8): Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
- Best Achievement in Using Data Analytics: Pernod Ricard
- Best Transformation Delivering Customer Excellence: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Amelia Brand, SEO editor of PEX Network, attended the event and reflected on her experience in Miami. “I’ve had a fantastic time at OPEX Week 2025, attending insightful sessions and speaking with industry leaders about the future of OPEX. The event has been a great opportunity to hear how organizations are tackling challenges with AI-driven automation, change management and process optimization. The conversations have been truly inspiring, offering valuable takeaways for businesses looking to drive real transformation. I’m looking forward to sharing more insights from the event soon.”
Watch Cathy Gu, deputy divisional director at IQPC, discuss OPEX Week 2025
Ryanair cuts passenger forecast amid Boeing’s operational failures
Budget airline Ryanair has cut its forecast for passenger numbers for a second time as delivery delays from Boeing continue to impact its growth ambitions. Europe’s largest low-cost airline said it expected to carry 206 million passengers in its next fiscal year (beginning in April), down from a previous estimate of 210 million, reported the Financial Times.
Over the course of the last year, Boeing has faced a damaging workers’ strike and was forced to slow production lines to improve manufacturing processes following a mid-air door panel blowout on a jet last January.
“While Boeing 737 production is recovering from Boeing’s strike in late 2024, we no longer expect Boeing to deliver sufficient aircraft ahead of summer 2025,” commented Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary. However, Ryanair’s CFO Neil Sorahan said he believed “things are improving operationally” at Boeing’s factories.
Watch Pradheep Kileti, director at National Grid, reflect on balacning operations with innovation
San José State University brings process mining technology to the classroom
San José State University formed a new academic partnership with process vendor Celonis that will introduce cutting-edge process mining technology to the classroom. It is designed to equip students with tools to analyze, optimize and enhance manufacturing and supply chain processes.
“Starting this semester, students in my Tech 147 – Manufacturing Analysis and Management – course will gain hands-on experience using Celonis’ process mining tools,” said V. Alex Ionescu, adjunct professor at San José State University. “Through this partnership, they’ll learn to identify inefficiencies, streamline operations and unlock new opportunities in manufacturing analysis and management.” The collaboration marks an “exciting step” toward preparing students to excel in the evolving fields of manufacturing and supply chain management, he added. “Looking forward to seeing the impact of process mining on our students’ learning journey.”
Register for All Access: Process Mining and Process Intelligence 2025
BCC Iccrea Group accelerates IT transformation
BCC Iccrea Group, Italy’s largest cooperative banking group, is accelerating its IT transformation including the improvement and modernization of banking applications, expansion of products/services available through digital channels and development of its AI strategy program. In a new partnership with Accenture, BCC Iccrea Group aims to provide improved levels of service for the 114 BCC member banks and other subsidiaries, thereby offering members and customers services that are increasingly secure, efficient, innovative and user-friendly, according to a press release.
“We are pleased with the partnership signed with Accenture, as it enables us to further strengthen technological innovation within our Group,” commented Mauro Pastore, general manager of the BCC Iccrea Group. “This collaboration will allow us to offer our customers increasingly efficient, secure and personalized services, while simultaneously reinforcing our market positioning. The integration of advanced IT solutions is essential to addressing future challenges in the banking sector and to ensuring the sustainable growth of our banks.”
Watch Lisa Williams, global operations talent strategy and employee experience director, manufacturing and engineering operations at Dow, outline embracing new technology
Miraka streamlines operations to enhance efficiency and sustainability
New Zealand-based Miraka, the world’s first dairy processor to get its power from renewable geothermal energy, is streamlining its operations to enhance efficiency and sustainability. The company will use Plex software from Rockwell Automation to integrate its enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and connect, automate, track and analyze operations from pasture to factory floor.
Robert Bell, Miraka’s chief financial offer (CFO), called Plex a “single source of truth” with intuitive tools that will help the firm optimize business and operational performance by increasing efficiencies. “Plex is a modular system, so it can grow and adapt as needs change in the future, allowing companies like us to remain agile and stay ahead of the competition,” Bell added.
Watch Sangeeta Krishnan, senior analytics lead at Bayer, discuss consolidating tools for better efficiency
Northrop Grumman enhances innovation and OPEX
Leading global aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman Corporation is seeking to drive innovation and enhance OPEX across the organization, selecting Planisware Enterprise to serve as its enterprise-wide program management system. With approximately 100,000 employees and 550 facilities across the US, Northrop Grumman is one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers and military technology providers.
“We are honored to partner with Northrop Grumman as they continue to implement digital technologies across their business,” said Loic Sautour, CEO of Planisware. “Planisware will act as a key partner in their digital transformation efforts, streamlining portfolio management technology across the end-to-end product lifecycle.”
Watch Nao Anthony, senior manager in OPEX at Commonwealth Bank, and Tariq Munir, APAC financial planning transformation lead at PepsiCo, explore the complexities and challenges of digital transformation
Premier Truck Rental announces leadership updates to support OPEX
Commercial and municipal truck hire firm Premier Truck Rental announced three new operations leadership changes to support OPEX. Dustin Hames joined the team as VP of Fleet, Jason Bird has been promoted to VP of operations and Rich Krause joined as general manager of the company’s Fort Wayne facility. The updates reaffirm Premier Truck Rental’s commitment to delivering exceptional service to customers across the nation, according to a press release.
“Dustin’s expertise in fleet management and passion for service excellence will be invaluable as we expand and improve operational efficiencies,” said Jason Gold, chief operating officer at Premier Truck Rental. “We are equally excited to promote Jason Bird to VP of operations and welcome Rich Krause as general manager. Together, these leaders will help us continue to evolve and transform our operations.”
Watch Susan Jarrell Kushnir, VP, head of investment bank talent development at Deutsche Bank, discuss leadership in change management
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