Audience Opinion Piece
4th MX.0 Southeast Speaker Interview | Lonnie West
Please can you give a summary of your role and main responsibilities?
I am a Principal Systems Engineer with Bausch + Lomb. My role is primarily focused on digital integration projects that integrate traditional IT systems, factory automation, and Industry 4.0 platforms.
How long have you been in your current role and what do you enjoy the most about it?
I’ve been with B+L for 11 years now but have been involved in data integration and smart factory automation for over 30 years. What I love the most about this role is that it does not fit cleanly into one silo. Digital integration and transformation projects intersect engineering, automation, quality, IT, regulatory, and cybersecurity roles.
Looking back at your career trajectory, how have your role and responsibilities evolved in response to the increasing digitalization of manufacturing?
I started my career as a mechanic in a factory, which evolved over years through controls automation, software development, database administration, IT, virtualization, cybersecurity, and landed me firmly back in Engineering. That meandering career path gave me a unique perspective and ability to see digital transformation challenges from the perspective of other departments. Ultimately this perspective helps break down communication barriers and clarify technical jargon so we can all work together more effectively. The best compliment I received was being referred to as “The IT Whisperer” because I could demystify technical meeting so everyone could understand the details and impact.
Can you share a specific example of a time when you had to adapt or learn a new skill to keep pace with technological advancements in the industry?
I’m 58, so I’ve lost count of the number of times a disruptive new technology changed the rules. The first time was that brand new thing called “the internet” and how would that impact business. The transition from a traditional IT mindset to embracing the Industry 4.0 model has been a significant effort for me. While it was easy to recognize the advantages, I had to unwind old ways of thinking about technical debt, agility, ownership, and risk.
What were some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned as you’ve grown as an innovation leader in the manufacturing industry?
Listen first. Walk in the shoes of the folks who will be impacted by technical change so you can see the challenges through their eyes. Find the reluctant champions and bring them in early. Don’t just focus on low cost and rapid implementation; make sure every effort is on a path toward a long-term strategy. Find the compromise when you can. Dare to break the mold when you recognize that business process have calcified. Speak with your team, not to them.
What role has continuous learning and upskilling played in your career success in this era of rapid technological change?
I love learning and am always digging into new topics and trends. Technology has reached a point where it is nearly organic in its complexity. Much like organic life, it is constantly evolving, hardening, and growing in an exponential curve. It is critical to be able to recognize and embrace trends as they become relevant to business.
How do you stay informed about the latest technological advancements and trends relevant to the manufacturing industry?
A myriad of ways. Conferences, technical journals, formal training on new technologies, visiting other facilities, and just talking shop with others.
In your opinion, what are the most crucial skills and qualities that manufacturing leaders need to possess in the digital age?
Having an agile mind and ability to communicate effectively with people outside your own circle of expertise. This means you need to be able to question everything, including yourself.
What advice would you give to aspiring manufacturing leaders who are interested in building a successful career in this digitally transforming industry?
Learn status quo only as a baseline, then challenge everything.
How do you envision your own role and responsibilities evolving in the future as digital technologies continue to reshape the manufacturing landscape?
At my age, that formula has changed a bit. I still love learning and growing but am hindered by decades of “old data” that new information must flow around before it can seep in to take hold. In my earlier years my ability to rapidly absorb new skills and implement them effectively was my edge. Today, my non-traditional (ok, wildly meandering) career path gives me a unique ability to communicate technical topics in a very digestible manner. This is becoming a rarified skill: with the vast changes in technology and how we interact and learn, it’s changed us as a society. New professionals entering the workforce communicate differently than my generation. I hope to be an effective communication bridge and “IT whisperer” until it’s time to retire.
Which emerging technologies are you most excited about and why?
AI continues to excite and scare me. The technology and promise of even faster evolution of change is thrilling. Most organizations recognize that incorporating AI is critical to remaining competitive and are rapidly deploying projects to leverage the technology. Yet at the same time I see a disturbing trend: many organizations are not learning how to create AI models or develop in-house data science expertise; they’re just hiring third-party consultants to deploy solutions. That is a significant knowledge gap for systems that are critical to the overall health of a company.
How do you see the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) evolving within the manufacturing sector in the coming years?
We’re in the Wild West stage right now where --as businesses and consumers-- AI is being thrown at us from every angle. Ultimately, this will significantly change the scope of many areas in manufacturing. Many tasks only performed by specialized teams today will be replaced with AI. Optimizing production process flow, planning, and scheduling are areas that AI will have advantage over traditional ways of doing business. Predictive maintenance, inspections, and first-tier quality decisions can also be vastly improved with AI and ML.
What are you hoping to take away from the 4th MX.0 Southeast conference?
I always look to be inspired or surprised by something new! It’s a good day when I find a new way of doing things, a new technology, or novel way to think about a problem.
