As advanced therapy organizations move from clinical development to commercial manufacturing, production scheduling becomes increasingly complex. Capacity constraints, evolving demand, resource availability, and process variability can all impact an organization's ability to scale efficiently.

Join a panel of industry experts for a discussion on how dynamic scheduling approaches are helping advanced therapy manufacturers improve visibility, evaluate capacity, and adapt to changing production conditions as they grow. 

Applications for QC Lab scheduling will also be discussed.

Through real-world examples and practical insights, our panelists will share their experiences using Emerson’s DeltaV Real-Time Scheduling technology to support planning and operational decision making across advanced therapy manufacturing environments.

✓ How advanced therapy manufacturers are addressing scheduling challenges as production scales

✓ The role of dynamic scheduling in balancing resources, capacity, and changing priorities

✓ Lessons learned from performing capacity analysis to support growth planning and investment decisions

✓ Strategies for improving schedule resilience and responding to operational disruptions

✓ Key considerations when transitioning from clinical-scale operations to commercial manufacturing

Supply Chain and Operations Excellence Professionals

Digital Transformation and Manufacturing Systems Professionals

Keith Hope, Life Science Solution Consultant, Emerson

Keith Hope is a Life Sciences Solution Consultant at Emerson with over 10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry. During his six-plus years at Emerson, he has held engineering, engineering leadership and solution consulting roles focused on manufacturing operations, advanced scheduling, and digital transformation for life sciences organizations. Before joining Emerson, Keith worked as a Process Engineer designing pharmaceutical facilities using process simulation and modeling technologies. He is passionate about helping manufacturers improve operational performance, increase agility, and accelerate the delivery of life-changing therapies.

Cristian Berg, Sr. Life Science Solution Consultant, Emerson

Christian Berg has a passion for driving operational excellence and leveraging digital solutions to enable world class performance. He brings over 28 years of life sciences industry experience to his role at Emerson. Just prior to joining Emerson, he was Director of Manufacturing at Invitae (formerly ArcherDX) where he implemented operations management standards and initiated digital transformation to enable production and rapid scale-up of patient-specific molecular diagnostics. Prior to Invitae, Christian held multiple operations management positions at Johnson & Johnson, Genentech, and Amgen. Christian holds a BS in Biophysics and a MS in Organizational Leadership. He also has black belt certifications in Six Sigma methodology and Lean transformation.

Olivia Farrell, Associate Director, CGT Site Production Scheduling, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Oliva Farrel is an operations leader with 10+ years of experience spanning supply chain, manufacturing operations, business transformation, and strategic planning. At Vertex Pharmaceuticals, they lead site production scheduling and manufacturing readiness initiatives, partnering across operations, supply chain, quality, and technical teams to ensure the successful execution of complex cell and gene therapy manufacturing programs. Their work focuses on connecting strategy to execution through process improvement, operational governance, and cross-functional collaboration. They thrive in fast-paced environments where they can build structure from ambiguity, solve complex business challenges, and develop sustainable solutions that support both patients and business growth.

Steven Bengis, Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Operational and Automation Technology, Kite Pharma

Steven Bengis is Director of Manufacturing Engineering, Operational and Automation Technology at Kite Pharma, where he leads automation, manufacturing systems, and digital transformation initiatives supporting cell therapy manufacturing operations. He brings 29 years of experience across manufacturing, engineering, automation, and operational excellence within highly regulated industries. Throughout his career, Steven has led automation organizations at two manufacturing sites and driven the implementation of innovative technologies that improve operational performance and manufacturing scalability. He has served as system owner for multiple Emerson platforms, including DeltaV, Inmation, and Real-Time Scheduling (RTS), providing first-hand experience with advanced digital manufacturing solutions. His expertise includes manufacturing systems integration, process optimization, automation strategy, capacity planning, and operational technology governance. As a certified Six Sigma Black Belt, Steven is passionate about leveraging technology and continuous improvement methodologies to reduce complexity and increase business value. He works closely with cross-functional teams to enhance operational agility, reliability, and manufacturing readiness. Steven is committed to helping organizations scale advanced therapy manufacturing while accelerating the delivery of life-changing therapies to patients.

Scaling Advanced Therapies: Dynamic Scheduling for Growth and Capacity