AI for Reliability at Domtar: Hype, Help, or Hard Truths?
Opening keynote at Asset Performance 2026 with Tor Idhammar, Director of Reliability at Domtar
Artificial intelligence and machine learning offer enormous potential for maintenance and reliability. Yet in complex industrial environments, turning those technological possibilities into measurable improvements in reliability and performance is far from straightforward.
Where is AI already creating real value today? Where are we overestimating the technology? And are organisations sometimes investing in advanced tools while the fundamentals of reliability are not yet sufficiently in place?
During the opening keynote of Asset Performance 2026, Tor Idhammar, Director of Reliability at Domtar, offers a practical and critical perspective on the role of AI in reliability.
From Technology Promise to Reliability Results
Within Domtar, the corporate reliability team explores and tests a range of technologies, from advanced analytics to AI-driven condition monitoring.
The biggest challenge is not necessarily finding the right technology, but successfully integrating it into existing maintenance and reliability processes.
During his keynote, Tor Idhammar focuses on three crucial gaps:
- The Tools vs. Basics Gap: investing in advanced technology while essential reliability fundamentals are missing;
- The Know vs. Do Gap: knowing the best practices, but failing to apply them consistently in day-to-day operations;
- The What You Buy vs. What You Get Gap: the difference between technological promises and the results ultimately achieved on the shop floor.
Drawing on experience from Domtar, he explores what organisations need to move from AI hype to sustainable reliability improvement.
Why Attend?
This keynote is highly relevant for anyone exploring how AI, machine learning, condition monitoring or advanced analytics can contribute to better maintenance and reliability.
You will gain a pragmatic view of both the opportunities and limitations of new technologies and discover why strong reliability fundamentals remain essential, even in an increasingly digital maintenance environment.
About Tor Idhammar
Tor Idhammar is Director of Reliability at Domtar, an international producer of pulp, paper and wood products. Before joining Domtar in 2025, he spent 28 years as CEO and President of the reliability and maintenance consulting company IDCON.
His expertise includes work management, preventive maintenance and structured root cause problem elimination. Throughout his career, he has advised industrial organisations across different industries and countries on maintenance and reliability.
Practical Information
Date: Wednesday 18 November 2026
Time: 09:00
Location: Flanders Meeting & Convention Center Antwerp (FMCCA), Carnotstraat 4, 2018 Antwerp
Language: English
This keynote opens Asset Performance 2026, BEMAS’ international conference on digital transformation in maintenance, reliability and asset management.
The keynote is included in a ticket for Wednesday 18 November and in the full two-day conference pass.
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