Digitalization from Manufacturing to Customer Experience: Thought Leader Interview with Sam Immordino and Lou Stocco, USG

April 2023

Gain insights into two key aspects of the digital transformation journey: manufacturing and the customer experience. Lou Stocco, Director, Manufacturing Advanced Analytics at USG, will share how they are leveraging roadmaps and data and connecting their workforce as they work toward automated action. Sam Immordino, Director, Construction Software and Services, will discuss their digital center of excellence, how they are creating virtual spaces and experiences for their customers, and the ways they are developing institutional knowledge.

Sam Immordino has over three decades of experience in product development, R&D management, and digital innovation pertaining to construction. His educational background includes a B.S. degree in Chemistry from Northern Illinois University, a M.S. degree in Engineering Management from Marquette University, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research from the University of Illinois at Chicago, wherein his research focused on the use of machine learning and natural language processing to compare patent inventive concepts. He has 38 U.S. patents related to both product and process innovations and is a past recipient of a Chicago Innovation Award. Presently, he heads the North American Digital Center of Excellence for USG & Knauf. The primary mission of the COE is to create construction software and services that increase customer satisfaction in selecting and using the company’s products, with a particular focus in Building Information Modeling.

Lou Stocco has been with USG for over 29 years. USG is a continuous process building products manufacturer founded in 1902. USG is a market leader in wallboard and gypsum products in North America inventing SHEETROCK panels in 1916; in addition, inventing latex paint, mineral fiber ceiling tile, shaft wall elevator systems and Durock® cement panels. Headquartered in Chicago, USG serves construction markets around the world with wall, ceiling, flooring, sheathing and roofing products that enable their customers to build the outstanding spaces where people live, work and play. USG network of plants includes 49 manufacturing locations and 6,900 employees across North America.  Lou has a wide breadth of experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Maintenance, Operations, and Management; as well as, new product development, new technology development, technology licensing, technology transfer; Corporate Engineering Management including Technology, Design, Process Controls, and Process Technology, Manufacturing Advanced Analytics, Machine vision, and natural gas pipeline operations and compliance oversight.  Lou is currently leading the Smart Factory and Automation Evolution Strategy and Roadmap.