INTERVIEW 126 New architecture for industrial intelligence AI will radically change how workers and businesses in the industrials and manufacturing sectors operate, but the technology must be implemented in a structured way to drive success, says Jim Chappell of AVEVA BY REBECCA GIBSON Manufacturing organisations integrating AI technology into their operations will gain a significant competitive advantage over those that do not, according to 93 per cent of senior manufacturing AI leaders surveyed in KPMG International’s Intelligent Manufacturing – A BluePrint for creating value through AI Driven transformation report. KMPG found that 96 per cent of the respondents recorded operational and efficiency improvements since implementing AI, with a total of 77 per cent saying the technology has had the greatest impact in IT and R&D. In addition, 70 per cent noted significant operational improvements across the value chain once AI has become embedded into core functions. To achieve these benefits, however, manufacturing and industrial organisations must first develop a wellstructured AI adoption plan. Jim Chappell, global head of AI and advanced analytics at AVEVA, explains what steps organisations should take to ensure success. The promise of AI is real, but organisations can only capitalise on it if their data estate is ready. What can they do to prepare to scale up their AI use? It starts with data hygiene – every time. Companies must get their data in order before investing in AI, which means building a consolidated, accessible and governed data estate. They should ensure information is catalogued and visible within a single pane of glass, so that analytics and machine learning can be confidently applied on top of it. Businesses should also prepare themselves to be nimble. AI strategy should not be tied to any one model or vendor. New technologies will continue to emerge – generative AI with massive language models, agentic AI, immersive interfaces – and companies require agility to pivot with the times. Can you tell us what factors are driving the success of enterprise-wide AI initiatives? The best performing initiatives are powered by three essentials: the right foundation, the right people, and the right mindset. Fundamentally, it’s about having structured, governed data and access to multiple platforms which unify operational, customer relationship management and enterprise resource management data. When information is visible in one place, it becomes actionable. Cross-functional collaboration is also essential. All stakeholders – from frontline operators to data scientists and business leaders – need to be fully engaged. This is because AI adoption isn’t just a technical upgrade, it’s a cultural shift. Users need to be part of the process design, so the solutions get optimally used in practice to support both workers and business goals. Finally, innovation must be responsibly managed. Layered safeguards, clear objectives and continuous improvement cycles are non-negotiables. How are AVEVA and Microsoft working together to empower employees through AI? At AVEVA, we’ve always believed AI should augment people – not replace them. Our collaboration with Microsoft strengthens that vision. Through platforms like CONNECT and Microsoft Azure, we’re embedding AI into day-to-day workflows in a way that simplifies and streamlines tasks. Take generative AI as an example. It allows all users to interact with data through natural language. Employees no longer need to be data engineers to get insights, which opens the door for everyone to participate in decision-making. Agentic AI is the next step in the journey towards task simplification. Microsoft’s work with tools like 365 Copilot and GitHub Copilot is inspiring – it has created agents that handle IT tasks, generate reports, or retrieve data across platforms. We’re applying that same thinking to the industrial space. We want to create an asset monitoring agent, a safety Photo: iStock/gorodenkoff
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