John Dyck

After years of digitizing frontline knowledge through work instructions, procedures, checklists, and skills management programs, manufacturers are entering a new era of industrial AI. Rather than simply storing information, AI is increasingly being embedded into daily operations, helping workers troubleshoot issues, access institutional knowledge, prioritize improvement actions, and make faster, more informed decisions. As organizations explore this next phase of transformation, success will depend on deploying AI that frontline teams trust, integrating it seamlessly into existing workflows, and ensuring it supports workers in a safe, practical, and scalable way.

• Understanding how industrial AI is transforming frontline operations, from knowledge management and troubleshooting to decision support and task execution
• Identifying the critical success factors for building trust in AI, including data quality, operational context, safety considerations, and workforce adoption
• Exploring how to embed AI into daily routines and frontline workflows to drive productivity, consistency, and continuous improvement
• Assessing the impact of AI-powered augmentation on workforce roles, skills development, and the future relationship between workers and technology

Manufacturers continue to struggle with scaling digital transformation beyond isolated pilots. Despite strong interest in AI, connected worker tools, and smart factory initiatives, most plants remain constrained by legacy systems, fragmented data, limited resources, and a lack of strategic alignment. This session brings together leaders who are confronting these barriers head on. Led by CESMII CEO John Dyck, the discussion will explore how manufacturers can build interoperable data foundations, reduce cost and complexity, and create the conditions for scalable, repeatable transformation across the enterprise.