Farhana Haque, Senior Director and Cloud Head ,Microsoft

 

A brief overview of the key drivers, benefits, and examples of digital transformation in manufacturing, enabled by AI and cloud technologies.

Introduction

Digital transformation is not a destination, but a journey. A journey that requires manufacturers to embrace cloud-powered strategies for success in the face of unprecedented challenges and opportunities.

Manufacturing companies have harnessed technology since the 1970s, reshaping their business processes. In the last decade, they have embarked on a profound digital transformation journey, driven by external factors such as supply chain challenges, deglobalization, and energy constraints, as well as opportunities like connected products and emerging markets.

Manufacturers across various sectors are now confronting challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left enduring effects on supply chains, economic stability, labour markets, and social dynamics. These challenges have steered manufacturers to adapt their digital transformation strategies towards resilience and cost optimization while upholding their sustainability commitments.

In this document, we will explore the key drivers, benefits, and examples of digital transformation in manufacturing, enabled by AI and cloud technologies.

 

“Digital transformation in manufacturing isn't an option; it's the path to sustained competitiveness and innovation in an industry historically reliant on manual processes. - Farhana Haque

Key Drivers of Digital Transformation

Digital transformation in manufacturing represents a fundamental shift, involving the integration of digital technologies throughout operations, from supply chains to production lines. It goes beyond merely replacing analog systems with digital counterparts; it encompasses several crucial aspects:

·       Innovation and New Products: Digital transformation is central to fostering innovation and accelerating the development of new products, all at a reduced cost. Major OEMs are now embracing the industrial metaverse, providing 3D environments for designing and simulating entire product lifecycles. Predictions suggest that within the next few years, 30% of G2000 manufacturers will incorporate the industrial metaverse into their digital transformation strategies.

·       Resilient Supply Chains: The pandemic has underscored the importance of establishing visibility, sustainability, business continuity, and security in supply chains. Firms are leveraging cloud computing, AI, and advanced analytics to enhance supply chain efficiency and resilience. This entails optimizing inventory management, enhancing logistics, and delivering real-time insights into supply chain operations.

·       Smart Factories: Agility is paramount in manufacturing, and businesses are utilizing IoT, OT, and IT data for real-time monitoring and control of factory operations. This integration results in increased productivity and reduced downtime. Moreover, IoT technologies, including worker safety solutions, provide alerts and support to workers in their preferred language.

·       Engagement: Manufacturers are reimagining customer experiences with AI-based solutions that create delightful digital and physical interactions, proactively addressing customer needs based on Customer360 solutions. Recent surveys indicate that 72% of manufacturing companies have observed enhanced customer satisfaction and loyalty due to the implementation of AI-based solutions.

·       Productivity and Safety: AI, particularly Generative AI, is being deployed to reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks and elevate worker productivity. Research shows that organizations adopting AI, including Generative AI, to automate repetitive tasks and enhance worker productivity have experienced significant average productivity gains.

·       AI systems handling routine and time-consuming tasks allow human workers to concentrate on more intricate and creative aspects of their roles.

 

"As technology continues to advance, the manufacturing landscape must evolve to remain agile and relevant in the modern world."

Case Studies

Here are some examples of how leading manufacturers have leveraged AI and cloud technologies to transform their operations and outcomes:

·       Reebok & its Liquid Factories: Reebok's innovative "Liquid Factory" concept, which employs 3D printing technology, has substantially reduced the time and resources required for shoe production, enhancing efficiency and customization options for customers.

·       GE's Brilliant Factory: General Electric's integration of digital twins and IoT into its Brilliant Factory initiative has resulted in predictive maintenance, improved energy efficiency, and higher production quality.

·       Siemens' MindSphere: Siemens' cloud-based platform, MindSphere, enables manufacturers to connect and analyze machine data, optimizing operations and fostering innovation.

·       Toyota's Production System: Toyota's utilization of automation and AI in manufacturing showcases how a data-centric approach can drive efficiency and quality in traditional manufacturing.

Conclusion

Technological revolutions generally unfold in two phases: the introduction of new tools followed by the acquisition of the necessary expertise to wield them effectively. Physical boundaries disappear as companies leverage advanced technologies such as AI, Large Language Models, Conversational AI, and the Industrial Metaverse with Hololens, transforming the way they collaborate, conduct business, and engage with customers and partners.

The time to act is now, the next six months are critical for companies to re-define their digital journey in the AI era.

 

The Journey into Industry

Farhana Haque is a distinguished leader with a wealth of experience in various roles. Her purview spans the three fundamental clouds of data, analytics, infrastructure, applications, modern work, security, and business applications.

 

Farhana joined Microsoft as Senior Director and Country Head (Devices)-Devices Partner Solution Sales (March 2019 to August 2022), then moved to a key position in Microsoft as Senior Director and Sales Head for Modern Work (August 2022 to July 2023). In her current role at Microsoft, she is the Senior Director and Cloud Leader for Manufacturing and Conglomerates, a position she assumed in July 2023, wherein her role extends to partnering with customers in the manufacturing, telco, industrial, pharma, and conglomerates sectors in their digital transformation journey across various cloud solutions, including data, analytics, infrastructure, applications, modern work, security, and business applications.

 

Before joining Microsoft, she held the esteemed position of Vice President and Business Head for IoT at Vodafone Business Services, where she was responsible for managing the profit and loss for the IoT sector and played a pivotal role in establishing the IoT practice for Vodafone in India.

 

Farhana Haque boasts over 17 years of rich experience in business consultation and P&L management. Her proficiency has seen her traverse various domains at Infosys, covering technology, marketing, and sales. Her areas of expertise span an impressive array, including manufacturing, industrial sectors, automotive, retail, consumer packaged goods, and e-commerce industries. She is a recognised authority in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Digital Transformation. Her proficiency extends to the intricacies of organisation design and restructuring, operations strategy, customer loyalty, business analytics and optimisation, and the nuanced domains of omnichannel retailing and digital marketing.