AI as a Skill Multiplier in Manufacturing, Not a Replacement
As AI tools and automation platforms race ahead, manufacturers face a critical question: is technology helping the workforce, or quietly pushing it aside? In the world of smart manufacturing, the answer is increasingly clear—AI works best not as a substitute
From Static to Synchronized: The Emerging Role of Time-Aligned Data in Grid Innovation
As energy systems evolve into hyperconnected, data-driven ecosystems, a less talked-about—but rapidly growing—challenge is surfacing: temporal data alignment. In modern energy operations, it’s no longer just about having data; it’s about having the right data at the exact right time. Why Synchronized Data Is
Starting Smart: The First 90 Days of an OT Cybersecurity Program
Cyber threats targeting manufacturing environments are becoming more sophisticated—and more relentless. But for many industrial organizations, the biggest challenge isn’t dealing with ransomware. It’s knowing where to start. In the session “From the Concrete to the Carpet: Assessing and Navigating OT
Why Brownfield Digitalization Holds the Key to Cost-Effective Innovation in Oil & Gas
Modernizing Legacy Infrastructure Without Breaking the Bank As digital transformation sweeps across the energy sector, oil and gas operators face a critical question: how can legacy infrastructure catch up with today’s smart technologies? The answer lies not in replacing the old,
Why AI Success in Manufacturing Starts with Leadership, Not Code
Manufacturers don’t lack AI tools. They lack the readiness to use them well. That was one of the clearest undercurrents at IIoT World’s Manufacturing Day session on generative AI. While the panelists from Siemens, Databricks, and Retrocausal brought technical insights, they
Why OT Cybersecurity Is Moving to the CISO’s Desk—and What That Means for Manufacturers
For decades, cybersecurity in manufacturing was someone else’s problem—usually the plant manager’s. That’s changing fast. As industrial organizations digitize more of their operations and face increasingly aggressive cyber threats, responsibility for securing operational technology (OT) is shifting up the chain
The Hidden Advantage of Generative AI in Manufacturing: Speed, Not Just Smarts
For manufacturers, generative AI isn’t just about prediction—it’s about eliminating bottlenecks in model creation and deployment. While predictive maintenance and quality optimization often dominate the conversation around AI in manufacturing, a more transformative shift is quietly underway: AI is finally fast enough
Energy’s Silent Challenge: The Operational Bottlenecks of Data Volume, Not Data Access
As the energy sector doubles down on digital transformation, a quiet but critical issue is becoming more visible: data overload without operational context. Unlike cybersecurity or grid reliability, this problem rarely makes headlines, yet it's increasingly responsible for slower decisions,
How Virtual PLCs Are Changing the Way Factories Operate
Manufacturers are moving control systems off physical hardware and into virtual environments to reduce downtime, lower costs, and respond faster to production needs. As industrial automation evolves, more manufacturers are looking to virtualization—not just for analytics and dashboards, but for the
How Oil & Gas Operators Are Enabling Remote-First, Low-Touch Operations
A Practical Shift Toward Remote Operations Oil and gas operators are increasingly transitioning to remote-first infrastructures. With mature IIoT platforms, edge AI, and automation, facilities are now being managed with minimal on-site personnel—especially offshore. This isn’t a future-state vision; it's already
The AI Gap: Can Manufacturing Keep Up With the Pace of Innovation?
AI is moving faster than most industries can digest. According to data cited during a recent IIoT World session, AI capability is now doubling every 3.5 months—a 100x improvement in a single year. That’s not evolution; that’s exponential transformation. For industries
Cybersecurity in Manufacturing: Why Cultural Alignment Is Now a Critical Control
When it comes to cybersecurity, the manufacturing floor isn’t just another network—it’s a living system, deeply integrated with decades-old processes, lean teams, and mission-critical operations. That’s why, despite growing awareness, many manufacturers still find it difficult to implement robust OT