Audience Opinion Piece

Please can you give a summary of your role and main responsibilities?

I am the technical lead of our Manufacturing Technology – Process Analytics group. Within this role, I provide the technical vision and tactical strategy for development and application of industrial analytic tools and platforms that help solve 3M’s most common and critical manufacturing problems. We combine commercially available tools with internally developed capabilities to create end-to-end analytics platforms that provide a competitive advantage.

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Looking back at your career trajectory, how have your role and responsibilities evolved in response to the increasing digitization of manufacturing?

I began my career as a process engineer, focusing on traditional data analysis and process optimization within the manufacturing environment. As the industry increasingly embraced digitization, my role evolved into that of an industrial analytics engineer. This transition expanded my responsibilities to include advanced analytics and machine learning, requiring me to develop new skills in data science and artificial intelligence.

Additionally, I now lead advanced analytic initiatives in manufacturing, managing both the technical implementation of new technologies and ensuring our teams are equipped with the necessary skills to adapt. This evolution has transformed my career from traditional engineering practices to a more dynamic role that blends technical expertise with strategic vision.

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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 began my career as a process engineer and utilized tools like SQL, Excel, and Minitab to extract, cleanse, and analyse data. This approach to data analysis was not efficient or sustainable long term considering the volume of data that is generate every day on a manufacturing line. I knew there was more insight hidden in the data but didn’t know how to extract it. This prompted me to return to school and acquire more advanced skills in Python, SQL, statistics, and machine learning through a data science degree.
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What were some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned as you’ve grown as an innovation leader in the manufacturing industry?

One of the most important lessons is the value of continuous learning and adaptability. The rapid pace of technological advancements means that staying current with new tools, methodologies, and industry trends is crucial. Additionally, I've learned the value of resilience and perseverance. Driving innovation can be challenging, with setbacks and failures along the way. Viewing these challenges as opportunities for growth and maintaining a resilient attitude has been vital in overcoming obstacles and achieving long-term success.

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‍How do you stay informed about the latest technological advancements and trends relevant to the manufacturing industry?

I rely on several key sources to stay informed about the latest advancements and trends in the manufacturing industry. Attending digital manufacturing conferences, such as MX.0, provides valuable insights and networking opportunities with industry leaders. Additionally, I subscribe to Medium blogs for daily updates on manufacturing and data science, which help me stay current with new developments and best practices. Lastly, LinkedIn is a useful platform for gaining insights from industry experts and staying connected with professional peers.

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What are you hoping to take away from the 4^th MX.0 Southeast conference?

I am primarily looking forward to networking amongst peers, benchmarking where our organization stands with respect to industry leaders, and bringing back new ideas to explore.

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