Conference FAQ's

What is the IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Technical Conference?

Since 1959, the technical conference is the cement industry's premiere event for technical paper presentations, tutorials, poster sessions, vendor exhibits, and cement plant tour. Technical papers are sponsored by each of the Cement Industry Committee's working groups: Automation, Drives and Related Products, Environmental Maintenance and Safety, General Practices, and Power Generation and Distribution.

What do all of those letters mean?

The IEEE-IAS is the Industrial Automation Society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The IEEE is the world's leading professional association for the advancement of technology.

IAS is just one of some 40 different societies within IEEE. The vision of IAS is ... to be a world leader in the advancement of technology and dissemination of technical information to support professionals engaged in the applications of electrical and electronic engineering to industry.

The PCA is the Portland Cement Association. Since its founding in 1916, the Portland Cement Association has had the same mission: "Improve and expand the uses of portland cement and concrete." Other abbreviations that you should know about include: MTC, the Manufacturing Technical Committee of PCA and CIC, the Cement Industry Committee of the IAS. Both of these organizations hold their meetings in conjunction with the annual conference.

Who attends the conference?

The conference is literally an international event that draws participants from dozens of countries. Virtually anyone with an interest in cement manufacturing is represented. This includes plant and corporate-level operations, production, automation, power, maintenance, safety, and environmental personnel along with equipment manufacturers, suppliers, vendors, and consultants. The trade press is also well represented.

Where is the conference?

Each year the conference is hosted by a different cement company chosen by a site selection committee years in advance. The conference invites local cement plants to provide a tour of their facilities and operations typically on the final day of the conference.

What happens day-to-day at the conference?

The various committees and working groups of the CIC typically hold their meetings on Sunday. After the conclusion of the meetings, the exhibits are opened for the first time. Tutorials sponsored by the working groups along with the MTC meetings are held throughout the day on Monday. Once these meetings conclude, the exhibits are again opened. Technical paper presentations take center stage Tuesday and Wednesday with exhibits opened at the conclusion of each day's presentations. Plant tours are finally conducted on Thursday. In some cases, the plant tours have extended into Friday to accommodate locations where multiple plants are available. Special events during the conference include: the Keynote Address and Lucheon, PCA's annual Safety Awards Luncheon, and the General Reception and Awards Banquet. In addition to exhibits, many vendors choose to host hospitality suites throughout the conference.

How can I sponsor a tutorial or present a technical paper?

Contact the appropriate individual working group chair to discuss specific requests. Make sure that you have an abstract and suggested speakers included with your request.

Does the conference publish any proceedings?

Absolutely. Conference proceedings are provided to each registrant at the conclusion of the program.

I submitted a paper for the conference and I would like to publish it in a trade journal, how do I do that?

Authors of technical papers presented at the conference assign all copyrights to the IEEE and PCA. If you would like to have your paper appear in the bi-monthly IEEE Industry Applications magazine, just contact the editor. Alternatively, you can always rewrite your paper using the same information but in a different presentation to avoid potential copyright violations. The best policy though is to follow the copyright agreement that you signed and check with IEEE and PCA before you republish.

How else can I get involved in the conference?

If you don't want to present a technical paper or sponsor a tutorial, you can always volunteer to help the local organizing committee with the day-to-day operation of the conference. Just contact the local organizing committee chairman or one of the working group chairmen.

What does my registration fee include?

The registration fee includes a single copy of the Conference Record in a CD-ROM format, the Tuesday and Wednesday breakfasts and luncheons, exhibits, awards, banquet, and plant tour. Spouse registration allows for attendance to all the scheduled events with an accompanying full conference registrant.

I'm an exhibitor, do I still have to register for the conference?

Yes. This allows the exhibitors the same opportunity to fully participate in the technical conference. Technical paper presenters and tutorial speakers are also required to register for the conference.

Why aren't the exhibits or the hospitality suites open during the technical presentations?

As a technical conference, the technical presentations and tutorials take precedence over any other conference activity.

Why aren't the exhibits open later? Why don't the hospitality suites open sooner?

The length of time that the exhibits are open is a balance between the time available after the technical presentations and tutorials along with the exhibition hall's schedule. The length of time that the hospitality suites are open is likewise a balance between the time available after the technical presentations and tutorials, the closing of the exhibits, and the hotel or exhibition hall's policies. The ultimate goal is to allow attendees the opportunity to take equal advantage of all of the conference activities.

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