Panel: Digital Transformation in Manufacturing

Moderator: Angela Thurman, Thurman Co

Panelists:

Kristen Pope, General Manager, Gates Machine Tool Repair Inc

Mary Henderson, Senior Financial Executive, Arcosa, Inc

Srikant Menon, Senior Manage Cyber & Strategic Risk, Deloitte

The effects of Digital Transformation in Manufacturing is a very broad subject, but members of the Texas Chapter of Women in Manufacturing will touch on some of the most significant in this panel discussion. 

• The advent of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems that can collect and integrate data from multiple departments and divisions of the organization in real time, so that core business processes take place automatically. These include sales, procurement, inventory control, quality management systems, supplier management, accounting, shipping, and more.

• The implementation of Smart Manufacturing, using emerging and advanced technologies to increase the efficiency of the manufacturing industry, is another part of the Digital Transformation. Smart Manufacturing allows manufacturers to become more productive. Some examples include additive manufacturing (i.e., 3D printing), digital twins, and the “connected factory.” 

• Cybersecurity is another topic covered in the Digital Transformation. When an organization adds more digital assets they must be protected from attacks. Cybersecurity plays an important role in protecting the organization’s digital assets and intellectual property as the risk of cyber threats increases.

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) also significantly affect an organization’s Digital Transformation. IoT allows objects and devices to be connected to a digital network, where they then collect data, monitor performance, and allow users to better understand what is happening through a series of outputs, such as text messages or other alerts. IoT provides opportunities to reduce operational costs, improve productivity, improve quality, efficiency, and increase revenue.