Paul Viorel

Paul Viorel
Before the AI Magic: Why Manufacturing’s Biggest GenAI Problem Is Still Data
· Artificial Intelligence

Before the AI Magic: Why Manufacturing’s Biggest GenAI Problem Is Still Data

Generative AI promises a revolution on the shop floor—faster decision-making, adaptive production, smarter quality control. But ask any manufacturing leader what’s actually slowing things down, and you won’t hear about algorithms. You’ll hear about data.At IIoT World’s Manufacturing Day, the conversation around GenAI quickly turned from excitement to infrastructure. The verdict? Manufacturers aren’t short on […]

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Why Factory Connectivity Is the Weak Link in IIoT Scalability
· Connected Industry

Why Factory Connectivity Is the Weak Link in IIoT Scalability

Industrial IoT platforms can’t deliver full value if networks lag behind. Real-time insight depends on infrastructure that most manufacturers are still underinvesting in.As manufacturers invest in AI, automation, and real-time analytics, one critical enabler is often overlooked: factory network infrastructure. During the session “The Current State and Capabilities of Real-Time IIoT Platforms” at IIoT World’s Manufacturing & […]

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AI as a Skill Multiplier in Manufacturing, Not a Replacement
· Artificial Intelligence

AI as a Skill Multiplier in Manufacturing, Not a Replacement

The manufacturing skills gap continues to widen, with an estimated 3.8 million positions expected to go unfilled in the coming years. Rather than viewing AI as a wholesale replacement for human labor, forward-thinking manufacturers are deploying it as a skill multiplier, amplifying the expertise of existing workers so that a single operator can perform at […]

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From Static to Synchronized: The Emerging Role of Time-Aligned Data in Grid Innovation
· Renewable Energy

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 Becoming Mission-CriticalHistorically, energy operations relied on fixed-interval data—15-minute SCADA readings, hourly forecasts, and daily load […]

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Starting Smart: The First 90 Days of an OT Cybersecurity Program
· Cybersecurity

Starting Smart: The First 90 Days of an OT Cybersecurity Program

Launching an OT cybersecurity program can feel overwhelming, especially in manufacturing and critical infrastructure environments where legacy systems, air-gapped networks, and production uptime constraints complicate every decision. In this guide, IIoT World breaks down the first 90 days into a clear, phased framework that security leaders can follow regardless of industry vertical. From conducting an […]

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Why Brownfield Digitalization Holds the Key to Cost-Effective Innovation in Oil & Gas
· Renewable Energy

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, but in rethinking how to connect, integrate, and extract value from what’s already in […]

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Why AI Success in Manufacturing Starts with Leadership, Not Code
· Artificial Intelligence

Why AI Success in Manufacturing Starts with Leadership, Not Code

Most conversations about AI in manufacturing focus on algorithms, data pipelines, and compute infrastructure, but the evidence increasingly points to a different success factor: leadership. According to industry research, over 70% of AI pilot projects in manufacturing fail to scale, and the root cause is rarely technical. In this article, IIoT World explores why executive […]

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Why OT Cybersecurity Is Moving to the CISO’s Desk—and What That Means for Manufacturers
· Cybersecurity

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 of command. More and more, CISOs are becoming the de facto owners of OT cyber […]

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The Hidden Advantage of Generative AI in Manufacturing: Speed, Not Just Smarts
· Discrete Manufacturing

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 to scale.At IIoT World’s 2024 session on Revolutionizing Asset Management, experts from IBM and Prometheus Group […]

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Energy’s Silent Challenge: The Operational Bottlenecks of Data Volume, Not Data Access
· Renewable Energy

Energy’s Silent Challenge: The Operational Bottlenecks of Data Volume, Not Data Access

The energy industry generates staggering volumes of operational data from sensors, smart meters, grid monitors, and SCADA systems, yet the biggest challenge is no longer getting access to that data. Instead, the real bottleneck lies in processing, contextualizing, and acting on the sheer volume of information flowing through energy operations. In this article, IIoT World […]

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How Virtual PLCs Are Changing the Way Factories Operate
· Discrete Manufacturing

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 control systems at the heart of production. A key shift underway is the migration from […]

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How Oil & Gas Operators Are Enabling Remote-First, Low-Touch Operations
· Process Manufacturing

How Oil & Gas Operators Are Enabling Remote-First, Low-Touch Operations

A Practical Shift Toward Remote OperationsOil 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 happening in regions like Norway, where onshore control rooms are fully running offshore platforms.Reducing the […]

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