EEMUA Conference 2027

Day One - Wednesday 21 March 2027

Time	Description	Location
09:00 - 09:50	Registration, Professional Networking, Exhibition
	Opportunity to visit the exhibitor stands and catch up on what’s happening in your industry
09:50 - 10:00	Welcome
10:00 - 10:50	Keynote 1: Engineering integrity in a changing world: What leaders must get right now
	This keynote will explore how engineering leaders can maintain integrity, safety and resilience in an increasingly complex operating environment. Drawing on lessons from major global events, industrial transition, ageing assets, supply chain pressures and emerging technologies, the session will examine the leadership priorities needed to manage risk and maintain readiness in a changing world.
11:10 - 12:00	Breakout sessions A
	(A1) Sustainability and decarbonisation
	Sustainability and decarbonisation are reshaping industrial operations, introducing new technologies, materials, energy systems and operational challenges. This session will examine how organisations can deliver transition objectives while maintaining engineering integrity, process safety and reliable performance across existing and future assets.
	(A2) Welded and temporary repairs (cumulative risk)
	Temporary and permanent repairs are often essential to maintaining operations, but repeated interventions can introduce cumulative integrity risks. This session will examine how organisations assess, justify and manage welded and temporary repairs, with a focus on maintaining confidence in ageing equipment and ensuring that short-term solutions do not become long-term liabilities.
	(A3) EEMUA 191
	Effective alarm management remains essential for maintaining safe and reliable operations. This session will explore the principles and practical application of EEMUA 191, including alarm system performance, operator effectiveness and reducing alarm overload in increasingly complex operating environments.
12:10 - 13:00	Breakout sessions - B
	(B1) Building supply chain resilience
	Supply chains are facing increasing pressure from globalisation, geopolitical uncertainty and the transition to new energy systems. This session will explore practical approaches to building resilience, including supplier assurance, procurement challenges, infrastructure demands associated with net zero objectives and strategies for reducing supply-related risks.
	(B2) HSG23 - Safe isolation of plant and equipment
	Safe isolation remains one of the most critical activities undertaken during maintenance and shutdowns. This session will examine good practice for planning, implementing and verifying isolations, drawing on industry experience and highlighting common weaknesses that can compromise workforce safety and operational integrity.
	(B3) Assuring AI in control and monitoring environments
	Artificial intelligence is increasingly being applied to industrial operations, monitoring and decision support. This session will examine how organisations can gain value from AI while maintaining confidence in safety, reliability and performance. It will explore assurance requirements, governance expectations and the challenges of integrating AI into operational environments.
13:00 - 14:00	Lunch
14:00 -14:50	Breakout sessions - C
	(C1) UKCA/CE Marking - Procurement risk and mitigation strategies
	Many organisations face challenges sourcing equipment from international suppliers operating under different regulatory frameworks. This session will explore common procurement and compliance issues associated with UKCA and CE marking, alongside practical strategies for supplier assurance, risk reduction and preventing costly downstream problems.
	(C2) EI-EEMUA Hydrogen network and storage project
	Hydrogen is expected to play a significant role in the future energy landscape, creating new challenges for asset owners and operators. This presentation will share findings from the EI-EEMUA Hydrogen Network and Storage Project, examining future hydrogen demand, infrastructure requirements and the engineering considerations associated with large-scale deployment.
	(C3) LOPA – How to get out of reverse - Axiom
	Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA) is widely used to assign or verify Safety Instrumented Functions (SIFs), but older plants often struggle to validate legacy systems. Reverse-engineering SIFs frequently fails due to missing HAZOP data and lost organisational knowledge, leading to safety functions with no clear hazard basis. Effective revalidation must begin with renewed hazard identification. This paper shows how starting from first principles resolves issues created by “LOPA in reverse” and outlines a practical method for validating SIFs in line with BS EN 61511.
15:00 - 15:50	Breakout sessions - D
	(D1) CPD, guidance, networks: What EEMUA delivers for teams
	Strong engineering organisations depend on competent people, effective knowledge sharing and access to practical guidance. This session will highlight how EEMUA supports members through technical resources, networking opportunities, professional development initiatives and programmes designed to attract, develop and retain the next generation of engineering professionals.
	(D2) Ageing plant, life extension and fitness-for-service: Practical decisions for dutyholders
	Managing ageing assets requires informed decisions that balance risk, performance and investment. This session will examine approaches to life extension and fitness-for-service assessments, providing practical insights into how duty holders can demonstrate continued safe operation while addressing degradation and changing operating conditions.
	(D3) Growing DC - where, why and how
	Interest in direct current (DC) systems is increasing as industries explore new approaches to power transmission, renewable integration and energy resilience. This session will examine emerging applications for DC networks, the drivers behind adoption and the engineering challenges associated with implementation, operation and maintenance.
15:50 - 16:10	Break & Networking
16:10 - 17:00	Keynote 2: Regulating for innovation without compromising integrity (Regulatory perspective on AI)
	Emerging technologies offer significant opportunities, but they also introduce new risks and assurance challenges. This keynote will explore how regulators and industry can support innovation while maintaining confidence in engineering integrity, safety and operational resilience, with particular consideration given to artificial intelligence and digital technologies.
17:00 - 19:00	Mezzo plenary
	Professional Networking and visiting exhibitor stands
19:00 - 19:30	Event Reception
19:30 - 21:30	Dinner
22:00 - 24:00	Drinks at the bar