The effective use of data to drive productivity is an aspiration for most manufacturers. The understanding of just how to achieve that goal is more elusive, even as topics such as artificial intelligence bubble to the surface.
In the first of a two-part video discussion, Machine Design talks with Steve Dertien, executive vice president and chief technical officer at PTC, about the digital revolution in manufacturing and how to get plant leaders from the front office to assembly to supply chain engaged and moving in the same direction.
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Dertien notes that the getting alignment on technology is not nearly as daunting a task as getting alignment among personnel. “I think we all kind of generally prefer to tailor things the way that we want to buy them,” he tells Machine Design’s senior content director, Bob Vavra. “And that's kind of prolific in the marketplace. That actually is a good strategy for return on capital.
“But at the same time, it takes everybody to kind of lean in in a particular way to say that this corporate objective is worth the effort to kind of get there," Dertien continues. “That's fueling a lot of the growth that we have. But it's delivering a lot of value to customers as well. They're seeing their quality improve. They're seeing customer satisfaction certainly increase—and ultimately, at the end of the day, brilliant products in the market.”
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