Veikko Saikkonen is a seasoned AI Solution Architect and Head of North American Operations at Norrin, formerly Smartbi, where he leads the development and deployment of cutting-edge industrial AI systems. With a foundation in Applied Physics and Machine Learning, Veikko brings over seven years of hands-on experience designing and implementing AI-driven solutions across manufacturing, energy, aerospace, and water treatment sectors.

His portfolio includes predictive process optimization systems for pulp & paper and water treatment, computer vision-based quality inspection tools for infrastructure and EV battery manufacturing, and AI-powered scrap prevention systems for aerospace components. Veikko’s work consistently bridges the gap between experimental AI concepts and robust production-grade deployments, demonstrating a deep understanding of both technical feasibility and operational impact.

At Norrin, Veikko has spearheaded the development of the AI Enablement framework, which integrates AI Design, AI Lab experimentation, and a Center of Excellence to accelerate value delivery across enterprise functions. His approach emphasizes rapid prototyping, rigorous testing, and scalable architecture—ensuring that AI solutions not only perform but also comply with governance, security, and privacy standards.

Veikko’s contributions exemplify how boutique AI firms can deliver transformative results in industrial settings. His insights into real-world deployment challenges and strategies for scaling AI across legacy systems make him a valuable voice in the AIMST panel discussion on manufacturing-related AI applications.