• Legacy systems shouldn’t be seen as roadblocks to digital transformation, as modern tools like IO-Link, MQTT and OPC UA can bridge data gaps and connect isolated systems without costly rip-and-replace approaches. 
  • For successful digital transformation projects, manufacturers should focus on pilot projects that align with core business goals and offer high impact, while exploring use of subscription-based SaaS models to help spread costs over time and reduce IT infrastructure burdens. 
  • Companies that prioritize employee training and culture change are more than twice as likely to succeed in digital transformation, requiring a balance of internal skill development, new digital talent acquisition and proper change management. 

 

Over the last several years, there’s been a lot of talk about digital transformation and its benefits for manufacturing. Yet many in industry still wonder what it all means for their operations and what implementation practicalities are required.

While multiple definitions of digital transformation abound, simply put, it is the change that new computing, communications and connectivity technologies bring to manufacturing processes. “This transformation weaves together advances in technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and cloud computing, along with related changes in organizational processes,” explained Karthik Gopalakrishnan, solutions consultant at Yokogawa. 

“Digital transformation in manufacturing isn’t just about adopting new technology,” added Michael Hart, head of industry strategy and growth at Rockwell Automation. “It’s about rethinking how decisions get made, how people work and how value moves through the business.”

This synergy among people, processes and technology has become crucial in today’s environment where manufacturers face intensified global competition, heightened demand for product customization and frequent disruptions in supply chains as well as pressures to meet sustainability targets and address challenges posed by workforce turnover.

To get more granular insights into what digital transformation really means for manufacturers today, Automation World spoke with:

  • Dustin Beebe (DB), vice president of marketing for Emerson’s Guardian software and solutions business. 
  • Karthik Gopalakrishnan (KG), solutions consultant at Yokogawa. 
  • Michael Hart (MH), head of industry strategy and growth at Rockwell Automation. 
  • Dustin Johnson (DJ), chief technology officer at Seeq. 
  • Jeff Payne (JP), director of business development at AutomationDirect. 
  • Greg Tink (GT), director of industrial digital transformation at Schneider Electric.
  • Dale Tutt (DT), vice president of industry strategy at Siemens Digital Industries.

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