Back to Basics Workshop: Getting Back to the Heart of Automation Excellence

With smart factories, IoT-driven ecosystems, and AI-enabled control systems, the industrial world is moving forward quickly. We need to reconnect with the basics that really drive this change. When it comes to automation, getting the basics right is not an option; it's a must.

The Back to Basics Workshop, which is part of Automation Expo 2025, Asia's Biggest show for new ideas in industry, will take place on August 12, 2025.

Date: August 12, 2025

Venue: The Grande, BEC, Mumbai

Timing: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

Why "Back to Basics" in 2025?

Automation workers today are required to do a lot of different things, such design systems, assess risks, manage projects, and protect networks from cyberattacks. But when responsibilities grow and technologies change, one thing that often gets lost is essential technical clarity.

The Back to Basics Workshop isn't a class. It's a high-impact, mentor-led technical resurrection for professionals who want to improve their skills, troubleshoot with confidence, and make better, safer decisions about automation.

This room is full of engineers, managers, planners, and experts who are all going back to the basic ideas that still make businesses successful today.

Meet the Professionals Who Are Making This Knowledge Experience Happen

An industry professional, not simply an academic, leads each class but someone who has used these ideas in refineries, chemical plants, pharmaceutical facilities, and complicated infrastructure projects.

•           Dr. B.R. Mehta – Director Projects, Waaree GroupTopic: Selection of Safety SystemsGain critical insights into functional safety layers, redundancy logic, and real-world SIL implementation challenges.

•           Dr. Jagdish Pranami – AVP, SRF LimitedTopic: Control Valve Performance in Harsh ConditionsUnderstand valve sizing, erosion challenges, and selection criteria for high-pressure, high-temperature applications.

•           Dr. Kartik Fojdar – Head, CoE Engineering, Reliance IndustriesTopic: Anti-Surge Control in CompressorsLearn how to prevent catastrophic equipment damage through intelligent surge prediction and control logic.

•           Dr. V.P. Raman – Empanelled ICE/IECEx Trainer, KLPLTopic: Hazardous Area Classification & Device SelectionDemystify hazardous zone assessments, explosion-proof standards, and selection of compliant field instruments.

•           Mr. S. Syam – Director, Deiktis Technologies Pvt LtdTopic: Control System ArchitectureBuild systems that are scalable, fail-safe, and future-ready — from fieldbus to hybrid networks.

•           Dr. Sudhir Pai – Country Head – India, exida Consulting Pvt. Ltd.Topic: Cybersecurity in Automation SystemsExplore OT cybersecurity frameworks, threat mitigation, and the practical implementation of IEC 62443.

Get ready to carry out your projects in an organized way, from figuring out if they are possible to commissioning them.

What Makes This Workshop a Must-Attend?

1.       It's Not Just a Hypothetical Situation

There are a lot of real-life case studies throughout each session, not simply PowerPoint. You will hear about failures, repairs, lessons, and breakthroughs, all based on real-world experience in the field.

2.       Useful from the start

This course will give you useful information that you can use right immediately, whether you're running a plant, building a skid, or managing an upgrade.

3.       Value Across Disciplines

This class covers a lot of ground, from safety and instrumentation to cybersecurity and planning. It helps people understand how everything works together in an automated plant.

4.       Talk to experts openly

This is your chance to ask the hard issues that are specific to your plant, project, or problem area and get answers from those who have already solved them.

5.       Technical Confidence Booster

The workshop helps you understand the most important ideas better, whether you're a new engineer, a mid-career engineer, or a senior leader. These are the ideas that set good professionals apart from future leaders.

Who Will Get the Most Out of It?

•           Engineers who work with automation and instrumentation

•           Managers of process safety

•           Engineers and maintenance heads at plants

•           EPC project engineers

•           System integrators and solution providers

•           Final year engineering students in instrumentation or electronics

•           Anyone who wants to remember why they do what they do

Back to Basics is a strong reminder that what comes next is only as strong as what came before it, in a time when most conversations are about what's next. This session isn't only about looking back; it's also about getting ready for the future with a strong understanding of what matters most.

Be there. Learn a lot. Change how you lead.