Lucian

Lucian

An entrepreneurial software engineer with global business leadership experience and a passion for digital transformation. Lucian has worked in the industrial software and automation industry since 1998. He holds a BSEE from Cleveland State University and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Finance from Case Western Reserve University. He has worked in various positions: software development, product development, training, marketing, pre-sales, product management, M&A integration and global marketing. Lucian has served as the World Trade Center Cleveland Representative for Eastern Europe and as a Board Member for the Promisepartner.biz. He teaches in the Electrical & Computer Science Department at Cleveland State University (CSU) focusing on Industrial Automation & Industrial IoT and currently serves on the Board of Industry Advisors, Engineering Technology, CSU. He was selected to represent the United States in Europe for Technology and Services on the economic trade mission lead by Dr. Samuel Bodman, undersecretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Interests: skiing, playing soccer, global travel.

Lucian Fogoros is on Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Recent activities (Radio Shows, Speaking Engagements, analyst engagements):

The Urgent Shift in Automotive Manufacturing: Data Ownership, Shorter Lifecycles & Trust in AI
· Discrete Manufacturing

The Urgent Shift in Automotive Manufacturing: Data Ownership, Shorter Lifecycles & Trust in AI

As manufacturing becomes increasingly digital and sustainability-focused, automotive leaders are confronting new pressures that reach far beyond the factory floor. In a recent interview at the MES & Industry 4.0 Summit in Porto, Dr. Thomas Kaufmann, Executive VP & COO of Infineon’s Automotive Division, outlined several emerging challenges—and opportunities—that are redefining the future of industrial […]

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Subscription MES: A New Path to Digital Transformation
· Hybrid Manufacturing

Subscription MES: A New Path to Digital Transformation

What if deploying MES didn’t require a massive budget, a year-long integration plan, or buy-in from every corner of the enterprise? A growing number of manufacturers are shifting away from all-in-one MES rollouts and embracing a more agile approach—building their execution systems app by app, module by module, and scaling only what works. The result […]

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Still Using Excel on the Shop Floor? Why That’s Costing You More Than You Think
· Discrete Manufacturing

Still Using Excel on the Shop Floor? Why That’s Costing You More Than You Think

Despite years of digital transformation buzz, many manufacturers still rely on spreadsheets, paper-based records, and siloed systems to run critical operations. As Augusto Vilarinho, Head of Global Sales at Critical Manufacturing, bluntly put it during the recent MES & Industry 4.0 Summit in Porto:“Excel is still the most used MES in the world.”The consequences? Missed […]

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From Execution to Intelligence: Generative AI’s Role in the Future of MES
· Hybrid Manufacturing

From Execution to Intelligence: Generative AI’s Role in the Future of MES

At the second edition of the MES & Industry 4.0 International Summit in Porto, Portugal, Lucian Fogoros, Co-founder of IIoT World, spoke with Francisco Almada Lobo, CEO and Co-founder of Critical Manufacturing, about how generative AI is evolving the role of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)—from rule-based executors to intelligent, collaborative decision-support platforms.The conversation revealed more than future potential—it surfaced […]

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The Industrial AI Payoff: Where ROI Is Happening and What’s Shaping What’s Next
· Artificial Intelligence

The Industrial AI Payoff: Where ROI Is Happening and What’s Shaping What’s Next

At the Automate 2025 show in Detroit, Sebastián Trolli, Research Manager at Frost & Sullivan, shared deep insights into how industrial AI is delivering measurable value now—and where it’s heading next. His perspective draws from extensive engagement with vendors, end users, and technology providers across both the U.S. and European manufacturing landscapes.Short-Term ROI: Predictive Maintenance […]

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Modular, Scalable, Software-Driven: The New Direction of Industrial Robotics
· Discrete Manufacturing

Modular, Scalable, Software-Driven: The New Direction of Industrial Robotics

At the Automate Show in Detroit, Christine Bush, Director of the Robotic Center of Excellence at Schneider Electric, shared a forward-looking perspective on how industrial robotics is evolving to meet the needs of a changing manufacturing landscape. The conversation focused not on futuristic hype but on practical shifts that are already redefining how manufacturers deploy […]

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How Manufacturers Can Build Real Momentum in Digital Transformation
· Discrete Manufacturing

How Manufacturers Can Build Real Momentum in Digital Transformation

At the Automate Show in Detroit, Gregory Tink, Digital Transformation Consulting Director at Schneider Electric, shared a clear and actionable approach to industrial digital transformation—one that moves beyond buzzwords and into scalable, measurable progress.Start with Strategy, Not TechnologyToo many manufacturers jump straight into pilots or advanced technologies like AI and digital twins, bypassing the foundational work […]

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How Leading Manufacturers Are Scaling Digital Transformation in the U.S.
· Discrete Manufacturing

How Leading Manufacturers Are Scaling Digital Transformation in the U.S.

The U.S. manufacturing sector is undergoing a renaissance, driven by a wave of digital transformation that separates leaders from laggards. Speaking from the floor of the Automate Show in Detroit, Andre Marino, SVP of Industrial Automation for Schneider Electric North America, shared practical insights on how forward-thinking manufacturers are overcoming common roadblocks and driving scalable innovation.Strategic […]

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Inside the Future of Manufacturing: What End Users in CPG and Life Sciences Need to Know Now
· Process Manufacturing

Inside the Future of Manufacturing: What End Users in CPG and Life Sciences Need to Know Now

At Automate Show 2025, one key theme echoed across the exhibit halls: industrial end users in consumer-packaged goods (CPG) and life sciences are under growing pressure to produce faster, smarter, and more flexibly—without adding complexity or cost. But while new tech is everywhere, the difference-makers are clear: modular design, integrated energy and automation systems, and scalable AI are unlocking measurable results across the […]

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Why Manufacturers Still Struggle with Industry 4.0—and What to Do About It
· Discrete Manufacturing

Why Manufacturers Still Struggle with Industry 4.0—and What to Do About It

At a time when Industry 4.0 conversations dominate industrial trade shows and boardrooms alike, many manufacturers still miss the mark. The problem isn’t the technology. It’s how it’s being approached.Jeff Winter, a well-known voice in digital manufacturing and VP of Business Strategy at Critical Manufacturing, shared insights at Hannover Messe 2025—cutting through the jargon to […]

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Why AI Needs IoT to Deliver Real Value in Industrial Operations
· Discrete Manufacturing

Why AI Needs IoT to Deliver Real Value in Industrial Operations

At Hannover Messe 2025, amid the buzz around generative AI and intelligent automation, Bernd Gross, CEO and co-founder of Cumulocity, offered a pragmatic lens into the convergence of AI and IoT—and what industrial leaders are still getting wrong.As co-founder of Cumulocity and an early architect of industrial IoT platforms, Gross has witnessed the sector’s evolution firsthand. His […]

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Why Software-Defined Automation Is the Key to Industrial Progress
· Discrete Manufacturing

Why Software-Defined Automation Is the Key to Industrial Progress

As the conversation shifts from Industry 4.0 to 5.0, one problem remains unsolved: most industrial environments are running on legacy infrastructure. Machines last decades. Control systems are often 30 years old. But the demands placed on manufacturing—greater flexibility, lower emissions, workforce shortages—are growing quickly.The question isn’t whether the technology exists. It’s how to implement change […]

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