• Rockwell Automation’s CDIO appeared in a CIO.com video discussing IT, AI and the need for manufacturing resilience.
  • The conversation centered on integrating IT and OT, using AI for predictive insights, and strengthening cyber and supply-chain defenses.
  • Executives were urged to treat digital investments as resilience measures, not optional modernization projects.

What the discussion covered

In a CIO.com video interview, Rockwell Automation’s chief digital and information officer framed IT and artificial intelligence as core tools for making production systems more resilient. The conversation highlights a shift: IT and OT (operational technology) can no longer operate as separate silos if manufacturers want to reduce downtime, limit supply‑chain shocks, and protect operations from cyber risk.

Why IT and AI are central to resilience

AI-driven analytics can flag equipment wear, quality drift and supply issues earlier than manual inspection alone. When IT and OT data streams are combined, teams can move from reactive fixes to predictive maintenance and faster root-cause analysis—reducing unplanned stoppages and repair costs.

Beyond equipment health, digital capabilities provide better visibility across complex supplier networks. That visibility helps planners re-route materials, prioritize critical production lines and maintain service levels when disruptions occur.

Key capabilities leaders should prioritize

  • IT/OT integration: Break down data silos so operations, engineering and IT teams share a single source of truth for assets and performance.
  • Actionable AI: Focus on narrow, high-impact AI use cases (predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, quality control) that produce measurable uptime gains.
  • Cybersecurity for OT: Extend identity, patching and segmentation practices used in IT to industrial networks and controllers.
  • Edge computing: Keep critical analytics close to production to maintain resilience even when cloud connections are intermittent.
  • Skills and change management: Train frontline engineers and operators to trust and act on digital insights; culture is often the biggest barrier.

Why this matters now

Manufacturers face persistent pressure from supply-chain volatility, labor shortages and rising cyber threats. Treating digital work as a resilience investment reframes spending decisions: the cost of not modernizing shows up as lost production, slower response to market swings and higher recovery costs after incidents.

Practical next steps

Start with a small, measurable pilot that connects one production line or asset class to a modern analytics platform. Measure downtime and maintenance cost before and after, then scale proven pilots. Prioritize cybersecurity hardening at the same time to avoid introducing new risks.

Even without technical details from the full video, the message is clear: IT, AI and stronger digital practices are no longer optional upgrades. They are essential tools for manufacturers that need to stay running, competitive and secure in an uncertain world.

Image Referance: https://www.cio.com/video/4127332/rockwell-automation-cdio-on-it-ai-and-manufacturing-resilience.html