From Pilot to Plant-Wide Scale: Architecting AI systems that survive harsh manufacturing environments

Many manufacturers succeed with small AI proofs-of-concept—yet struggle to scale those wins across entire plants or global networks. This panel brings together leaders who have successfully deployed AI in mission-critical, high-variability production environments. They will explore how to design AI systems that operate reliably amid extreme temperatures, vibration, electromagnetic interference, patchy connectivity, and aging equipment.

Panelists will discuss pragmatic strategies for:

• Creating a unified data architecture across legacy PLCs, MES/SCADA systems, and modern sensors

• Choosing the right balance between edge, near-edge, and cloud compute to withstand latency and connectivity constraints

• Engineering models that adapt to drift from environmental changes, tooling wear, or fluctuating raw material conditions

• Implementing MLOps for continuous learning in environments where downtime is costly or impossible

• Ensuring cybersecurity, safety, and compliance when AI touches critical OT infrastructure

• Designing fault-tolerant systems that gracefully degrade when hardware, sensors, or networks fail

Attendees will leave with concrete frameworks, reference architectures, and best practices to take AI from isolated pilot projects to robust, plant-wide deployments that deliver consistent ROI in tough industrial conditions.