Simplifying Software Integration for Every Factory

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

As a leading provider of factory digitalization solutions for electronics manufacturers, Cogiscan is at the heart of the software integration process. Davina McDonnell, director of marketing and product management, discusses how Cogiscan ensures that customers are ready to integrate and what it looks for to ensure a quick and appropriate installation.

Nolan Johnson: Davina, with all the other changes going on in the industry, both in terms of capabilities and market environment, is now the right time to integrate new software tools into the manufacturing flow? What are the drivers?

Davina McDonnell: There certainly is a lot going on right now, and capital investments aren’t as cheap as they used to be. Many small- to mid-sized manufacturers need to make the most of what they already have in terms of equipment and resources. We’re seeing that C-level management is more eager to leverage technology improvements in inefficient areas on the production floor and is prioritizing these improvements with SMART objectives. The right software tools can help them along this journey by reducing waste and improving production efficiency.

Of course, the ubiquitous nature of good software in our everyday lives (e.g., smart thermostats, remotely starting the car, home automation, vehicle infotainment, smartphone apps) means that the personalization and ease of use of these applications—and their positive impact on daily efficiency—have also opened up our industry to the advantages of being more software-driven. Those are internal drivers.

An external driver might be acquiring new contracts from customers with more stringent data visibility and access requirements than before. Now, growing and maintaining revenue is tied to data systems. It’s no longer sufficient to deliver a finished product and say that the customer’s requirements were met. They now want a record of what actually transpired during the assembly process.

Continue reading this interview in the October 2025 issue of SMT007 Magazine.