Realworld Doable Digital

This series of posts published Tuesdays and Fridays is addressed to the digital wary, transformation weary technocrats (much like myself). Whatever stage of your digital journey you are at, or even if yet to start, this series is sure to lead you through the path where digital transformation becomes a way of life. It lays down a contrarian doable minimalist approach to digital competence building.

In the real-world that technology leaders inhabit it also intends to eliminate the technology buzz, information overload and simplify the roadmap to what’s essential. It’s no easy task tech leadership is faced with: both running the operations and changing the operating processes all at the same time.

It’s about moving from “Doing” Digital To “Being” Digital.

Why contrarian? Because instead of having to first build a behemoth digital transformation infrastructure and a programme that doesn’t fly, it specifies how to embrace digital from where you are right now. Its basic philosophy is: Do it now and here, keep it simple, do more with less.

Make no mistake: In a single decade, the 2020s, digital technologies will combine to fuel more innovation than in the last 40 years. Data will become central to enterprise operations. Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) will have an impact as profound as both electrification and the mainframe computer, ushering in the fourth industrial revolution.

AI is surely moving from good-to-have, to transformational technology: It is not the future – it is the present. And the ability to leverage it to solve today’s problems will separate the enterprises that will thrive in the brave new world from those that become mere also rans of a world that was.

The general principles outlined in this series are applicable to all manufacturing organisations. However, they especially focus on organisations in the Discrete and Complex Discrete Manufacturing sectors to build digital muscle to remain relevant, compete and grow. Essentially this refers to precision machining operations in the Automotive, Heavy Engineering, Aerospace and Defense industry. These organisations need today more than ever to continuously innovate, applying new digital technologies to improve quality, throughput, efficiency, workforce productivity, security and business agility with their digital transformation initiatives.

Do keep in mind that most innovation is integration, not invention. The magic happens once you interconnect the new technologies with people and processes. It’s pretty much like a single neuron doesn’t make a brain.

Organisations need two backbones today. One in the brick-and-mortar body that they currently inhabit, which is Operational and brings in the revenues today. It is the one which evolved after the three last industrial revolutions. The second is being formed by the fourth industrial revolution led by digital transformation. It is the future and the future is now. Let’s start building the digital spine while strengthening the operational; strong, lean, fit, quick and agile.

What is the scope of this digital competence building? Digital transformation initiatives cover inbound, in-plant manufacturing activities and outbound logistics to establish digital continuity across the value chain. However, we shall focus here on the most value add stage, that is manufacturing.

The ‘Make in India’ campaign launched by the government of India is aimed at making India a manufacturing Hub for economic transformation of the country. Implicit is also the effort to provide a viable manufacturing diversification in the global supply chain. It is imperative for Indian manufacturers to adopt smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 to be globally competitive in cost, quality and agility for this vision to come true.?

This series of posts (published Tuesdays and Fridays) is also an effort in that direction. Here’s what in store over the next few weeks:

# It’s now or never

# Yes, Data is the new oil- Snake oil

# To Make or Buy your IIoT Solution?

# Why most Industrial IoT implementations fail.

# ?An IIoT Platform for the discrete Manufacturing Industry

# Forrester Consulting Thought Leadership Paper (1,2)

# The Digital Thread

# Quality 4.0

# ?………..

And more up to the Holy Grail ….

Please do like, share or comment to suggest what you think and keep the posts on a track you find of value. See you again on Friday!