On Artificial Intelligence in Operations & Manufacturing
A Confluence of AI, Operations, and Future-Ready Leadership
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon, in collaboration with the Warehousing Association of India (WAI), successfully hosted the 3rd Industry–Academia Interface (IAI) Conference on 26th February, 2026 bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, academicians, and future managers.
Centered around the theme of Artificial Intelligence in Operations and Manufacturing, the conference served as a dynamic platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaborative thinking on the future of industrial transformation.
Keynote Address
Dr. Luthra delivered a compelling keynote on the transformative role of AI across education, skills, and the future of work. He emphasized the importance of responsible and human-centric AI adoption, highlighting how policy frameworks, governance structures, and continuous skilling will be critical in preparing India for a technology-driven future.
Opening Address
Dr. Mathew set the tone for the conference by underscoring the significance of industry–academia collaboration in nurturing agile, future-ready leaders equipped to navigate evolving technological landscapes.
Insights from Industry Leaders
Panel 1: AI in Operations & Supply Chain – Strategy, Governance, and the Future of Industrial Work
The session brought together leading voices from industry, including:
- Mr. Arun Pandit – Co-Founder, Hyphen SCS
- Ms. Puja Tiwari – Management IT Consultant
- Mr. Angad Reyar – Head of Global Inventory Optimization, Amazon
- Mr. Alok Kumar Singh – VP – Manufacturing & Supply Chain, Piccadily Agro Industries
- Mr. Santosh Singh – CFO, Tropolite Foods
The discussion explored how AI is reshaping supply chain ecosystems, while highlighting the need for context-driven adoption in India’s fragmented and low-digitized warehousing sector.
From an e-commerce lens, AI emerged as a strong growth driver, while in manufacturing, use cases such as predictive maintenance, OEE optimization, demand forecasting, and logistics planning were identified as key enablers of efficiency.
A key theme that emerged was data maturity—the shift toward autonomous decision-making—with panelists emphasizing that AI’s true value lies in solving the right business problems.
Panel 2: Designing Humane AI in Manufacturing: Productivity Gains, Worker Strain, and Social Sustainability
The discussion was led by a distinguished group of panelists, including:
- Mr. Sandeep Batla – Executive Director & COO, Plasser India
- Dr. Lalit Upadhayay – Head – Procurement & Supply Chain (India), Arctech Solar
- Mr. Om Prakash Dubey – Senior Consultant, IBM
- Mr. Avijit Das – Founder & Chairman, Premas Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd.
- Ms. Shalini Kumari – Assistant Manager, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP
This panel shifted the conversation from efficiency to responsibility, focusing on the concept of “Humane AI.”
Panelists discussed how AI can enhance productivity while ensuring employee well-being, psychological safety, and long-term sustainability. The dialogue emphasized that AI should augment — not replace — human capabilities, and highlighted the growing importance of reskilling, change management, and ethical AI deployment.
Special Highlight
A key highlight of the conference was the launch of the OPUS Casebook — a student-led initiative designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world industry application, enhancing placement readiness and practical understanding.
Key Takeaways
- AI is emerging as a strategic enabler across operations and manufacturing, not just a technological tool.
- Data maturity and contextual implementation are critical for successful AI adoption.
- The future of AI lies in balancing efficiency with ethics and human well-being.
- Upskilling and workforce transformation remain central to sustainable growth.
- Industry–academia collaboration continues to play a pivotal role in shaping future-ready professionals
The 3rd Industry – Academia Interface Conference 2026 reaffirmed Great Lakes’ commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue, innovation, and collaboration between academia and industry.
As AI continues to redefine the industrial landscape, platforms like IAI will remain instrumental in shaping responsible leadership and future-ready talent.
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