With entries for Robotics & Automation Awards 2025 now open, Robotics & Automation Magazine has launched an exclusive series of Q&A interviews with the expert panel of judges responsible for evaluating this year’s submissions.
Over the coming weeks and months, the magazine will spotlight each judge – a dynamic mix of thought leaders, technical specialists and business strategists drawn from across the robotics, automation, AI and smart manufacturing sectors – to explore their backgrounds, industry outlooks and what they’ll be looking for in an award-winning entry.
From end users and integrators to researchers and investors, this year’s panel represents a diverse blend of practical and academic expertise – all of which will help identify the most transformative, scalable and commercially viable innovations driving the next era of automation and intelligent systems.
Our next judge is Loai Gomaa, director of digital supply chain transformation and performance excellence at P&G. He is a seasoned leader in digital transformation, supply chain excellence, and manufacturing innovation, with over 15 years of experience across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
He leads operational and digital initiatives that drive productivity, simplify processes, and embed automation and emerging technologies into real-world operations.
Gomaa’s approach blends lean thinking, performance leadership, and organisational development to create resilient, future-ready systems. Passionate about human-centred innovation, he believes that technology succeeds when it empowers people, strengthens businesses, and builds sustainable competitive advantage.
Name: Loai Gomaa
Job title: Director of digital supply chain transformation and performance excellence
Organisation: Procter & Gamble
How does your professional background align with the Robotics & Automation Awards’ goal of recognising excellence in automation and intelligent technologies?
My background sits at the intersection of operational excellence, digital transformation (inclusive to automation), and leadership within manufacturing and supply chain environments. Over 15+ years, I have led major transformations blending lean manufacturing with emerging digital and automation technologies. I understand that true excellence in automation is not just about the sophistication of the technology, but about how well it is integrated into real-world operations to deliver sustainable, human-centred value with strong business case and ROI.
What current trends or technologies in robotics and automation are you most excited about, and how do you anticipate seeing them reflected in this year’s entries?
I’m particularly excited about collaborative robotics (cobots), AI-driven autonomous systems, and the convergence of data analytics with physical automation. Another key trend is the shift toward modularity and resilience — building systems that can adapt quickly to disruption. I anticipate seeing entries that reflect not just technical achievement, but scalability, adaptability, and the ability to empower frontline teams — making technology a true enabler rather than a standalone solution.
From your perspective as a judge, what qualities will distinguish a truly standout submission?
A standout submission will balance technical innovation with real-world impact. It will show:
- Clear business value and measurable outcomes.
- Simplicity in complexity — elegant solutions to complex challenges.
- User-centric design that empowers operators, not burdens them.
- Resilience — the ability to handle disruption or scale flexibly.
- A clear story of leadership, collaboration, and change adoption — not just technical specs.
How do industry awards such as these help foster innovation, investment and commercialisation in the robotics and automation sector?
Industry awards serve as amplifiers: they recognise bold thinking, validate new approaches, and shine a spotlight on technologies that might otherwise stay hidden. Recognition builds credibility, which in turn attracts investment, accelerates commercialisation, and inspires broader adoption across industries. Awards also foster a culture where learning, risk-taking, and cross-sector collaboration are encouraged — essential ingredients for sustained innovation.
Can you share an example of a robotics or automation innovation – either recent or historic – that you believe has had a lasting impact on the way industries operate?
Several innovations in manufacturing have fundamentally reshaped operations. One is the adoption of autonomous condition-based monitoring systems, where sensors and AI predict equipment failures, optimize maintenance schedules, and eliminate routine manual inspections — shifting maintenance from reactive to proactive and freeing technical talent for higher-value work. Another is the deployment of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to replace manual material movement inside factories, improving flow efficiency, reducing ergonomic risks, and supporting Lean initiatives by minimising transportation waste. A third critical innovation is the use of robotic vision systems for quality inspection, delivering higher accuracy, consistency, and speed than traditional human inspection methods, while enabling real-time feedback loops that dramatically enhance process control. Together, these technologies reflect how automation, when thoughtfully applied, elevates both business performance and human potential, not simply by replacing tasks, but by redefining how work is organised, optimised, and improved.
What advice would you give to companies and individuals submitting an entry this year?
Tell a story — not just about the technology, but about the problem you solved, the people you empowered, and the future you enabled. Be specific about outcomes, lessons learned, and how your innovation can inspire broader application. Judges are not just looking for technical prowess; we’re looking for vision, resilience, and the courage to push limits in a way that elevates both business and human potential.
Achievements and innovations in retail and e-commerce, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, automotive, transport & logistics, and more will be celebrated at the Robotics & Automation Awards on 29 October 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.roboticsandautomationawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s robotics and automation sectors!
