5 Takeaways from our Fireside Chat with Jeff Winter

Published on
January 30, 2025

The manufacturing industry is in the midst of a digital revolution, and Industrial DevOps is emerging as a key driver of this transformation. In a recent fireside chat, Gerry Abbey, Director of Product Marketing at Copia Automation, discussed this evolving landscape with Jeff Winter, VP of Business Strategy at Critical Manufacturing. Jeff's insights shed light on the crucial aspects of Industrial DevOps that organizations need to embrace to thrive in the era of Industry 4.0. Here are five key takeaways from their conversation:

1. The Code Review Paradox: It's striking that while nearly every manufacturing and distribution organization has a code review process in place, most dedicate disproportionately more time to fixing bugs than preventing them. This reactive approach, as Jeff pointed out, leads to significant inefficiencies and costly downtime. The solution? Shifting towards proactive and thorough code reviews. By investing more time upfront in identifying and resolving issues in the code, organizations can save valuable time and resources down the line.

2. DevOps: Not Just for IT Anymore: DevOps isn't solely an IT initiative; it's a critical strategy that operations leaders need to embrace. Jeff emphasized the importance of understanding how Industrial DevOps can streamline processes, improve productivity, and minimize downtime. By fostering collaboration between IT and OT teams, organizations can effectively tackle challenges, optimize processes, and boost overall efficiency.

3. Breaking Down the IT/OT Wall: A Collaborative Imperative: The traditional silos between IT and OT teams are a major obstacle to digital transformation. Jeff offered practical advice on how to bridge this gap: build empathy through shared experiences, create cross-functional teams, and establish open communication channels. By encouraging mutual understanding and aligning goals, organizations can effectively merge IT and OT, driving meaningful transformation and sparking innovation.

4. Security: A Shared Responsibility: In the age of Industry 4.0, with increased connectivity and data sharing, cybersecurity is more critical than ever. Jeff stressed the importance of integrating security practices into every step of the Industrial DevOps process. This includes implementing robust network segmentation, adhering to industry-specific security standards, and fostering a culture where everyone is security aware.

5. Adapt or Perish: The Industry 4.0 Mandate: The manufacturing landscape is rapidly evolving, and organizations must adapt to survive. Jeff's final thought resonated deeply: embracing Industrial DevOps is no longer optional; it's a necessity for driving transformation, innovation, and ultimately, success. By getting tech and operations teams to "play nice" and embracing automation and data-driven decisions, manufacturers can position themselves to thrive in this fast-paced environment.

This fireside chat provided invaluable insights into the current state and future of Industrial DevOps. We encourage you to listen to the full conversation, which you can find here, and share your thoughts. Stay tuned for more insightful discussions with industry leaders!

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