Elementary Mr. Watson: Running the Signal Gauntlet
The Shaughnessy Report: Winning the Signal Integrity Battle
Connect the Dots: How to Avoid Five Common Causes of Board Failure
Book Excerpt: Cornerstone of Smart Manufacturing—The Convergence of IT and OT
June 10, 2020 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of the I-Connect007 eBook The Printed Circuit Assembler’s Guide to… Advanced Manufacturing in the Digital Age, written by Oren Manor of Siemens, a Siemens Business.
Chapter 2
The Cornerstone of Smart Manufacturing: The Convergence of IT and OT
The foundation on which data management and the resulting analysis needs to be built is information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT). For Industrial 4.0 to be turned into a reality, an alliance of IT and OT has to happen. Smart manufacturing cannot exist without this cornerstone.
Few business functions are hit harder by digital transformation than IT and OT. Traditionally, these departments have operated in isolation from each other, but for digital transformation in the factory to occur, they have to align. People can resist this kind of fundamental change to the way they do their jobs, but if IT and OT employees can see how their departments benefit from aligning their processes, everyone in the company can move forward. Manufacturers can start embracing Industry 4.0.
A factory is like a living organism with many different parts to it; materials, machines, and the people and the systems that they use to do their jobs. If IT and OT were sharing real-time data to make better business decisions, predict customer trends, and remain ahead of the competition, this would result in improved manufacturing processes, which leads to higher production performance and lower costs (Figure 2.1).
Strong leadership from key stakeholders in the company can ensure that both IT and OT collaborate, providing them with best practices and tools to use can help the company make better products. Enterprises often underestimate the complexity of this convergence. Priorities for what the company stands for and what it wants to achieve has to come from leadership. It is the duty of top-level leadership to adapt and bring about this paradigm shift to create an atmosphere of total collaboration between IT and OT. With senior-level buy-in and commitment to adoption, the two departments can be empowered to pull in the same direction with the right technology and access to the data they need. If this cannot be done, the company will not survive the digital transformation.
IT has often been seen by enterprises as a cost center, and they are not involved in the day-to-day operation or long-term organizational plans. Their role has been limited to a reactionary role responding to company needs as they arise. This is not going to work in today’s market because business needs require a proactive team that can anticipate needs and is ready before the need is imminent.
To download the free eBook The Printed Circuit Assembler's Guide to... Advanced Manufacturing in the Digital Age, written by Oren Manor of Mentor, a Siemens Business, click here.
To view the entire I-Connect007 library of free eBooks, click here.
Share on:
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
I-Connect007 Launches Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest
09/15/2025 | I-Connect007I-Connect007 is pleased to announce the launch of Advanced Electronics Packaging Digest (AEPD), a new monthly digital newsletter dedicated to one of the most critical and rapidly evolving areas of electronics manufacturing: advanced packaging at the interconnect level.
ICAPE Group Unveils Exclusive Report on Sustainability in Electronics Manufacturing
09/15/2025 | ICAPE GroupICAPE Group, a global leader in printed circuit boards (PCBs) and custom electronics manufacturing, today announces the launch of its 2025 Industry Outlook & Innovation Report: Sustainability in Electronics Manufacturing. This exclusive report is accompanied by fresh insights from a dedicated Statista survey of 100 electronics manufacturing professionals, commissioned by ICAPE Group.
Panasonic Industry will Double the Production Capacity of MEGTRON Multi-layer Circuit Board Materials Over the Next Five Years
09/15/2025 | Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd.Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group company, announced plans for a major expansion of its global production capacity for MEGTRON multi-layer circuit board materials today. The company plans to double its production over the next five years to meet growing demand in the AI server and ICT infrastructure markets.
Sustainability and Selective Soldering
09/15/2025 | Dr. Samuel J. McMaster, Pillarhouse InternationalSustainability is more than just a buzzword for the electronics industry; it’s a key goal for all manufacturing processes. This is more than a box-ticking exercise or simply doing a small part for environmentally friendly processes. Moving toward sustainable solutions drives innovation and operational efficiency.
ASM Technologies Limited signs MoU with the Guidance, Government of Tamilnadu to Expand Design-Led Manufacturing capabilities for ESDM
09/15/2025 | ASM TechnologiesASM Technologies Limited, a pioneer in Design- Led Manufacturing in the semiconductor and automotive industries, announced signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Guidance, Government of Tamilnadu whereby it will invest Rs. 250 crores in the state to expand its ESDM related Design-Led Manufacturing and precision engineering capacity. ASM Technologies will acquire 5 acres of land from the Government of Tamilnadu to set up a state-of-the-art design facility in Tamil Nadu's growing technology manufacturing ecosystem, providing a strong strategic advantage and long-term benefits for ASM.