MESA Knows Smart Manufacturing

We’ve spent decades in the OT space measuring return on assets, return on capital… But what about return on data?
For this MESA “Knows” Podcast, we sat down with Joanne Friedman to tackle a question most organizations still can’t answer: What are we actually getting from our data?
Every enterprise can tell you what they spend on data—platforms, lakes, AI initiatives…
Very few can quantify the value it returns.
Joanne who is a long-time contributor to MESA has championed ways to quantitatively measure Return on Data (RoD) and demonstrate why data reuse and time-to-decision are critical value drivers
If you’re investing in AI, analytics, or digital transformation… this is the metric that may determine whether it actually pays off.

What a wild ride in the past week for the software vendors of the S&P 500 and beyond!
In this episode, we sit down with Francisco Almada Lobo, CEO and co-founder of Critical Manufacturing, who used the term “SaaSpocolypse” to describe the growing tension between SaaS business models, AI "vibe-coding" and the operational realities of manufacturing software — particularly MES.
This conversation goes beyond hype. It challenges assumptions about deployment models, vendor lock-in, data ownership, and the future architecture of smart manufacturing systems.
If you care about the future of MES, interoperability, lifecycle thinking, and building resilient manufacturing systems — this episode is a must-listen.

A good maturity model doesn’t tell you how advanced you are—it tells you what risks you’re carrying and what you should do next. There maybe some skepticism out there on the value of maturity models and assessments; however, this is not just consultant-speak. A maturity model is a structured way to answer one of the hardest questions in digital transformation:
What are we ready for—and what are we not ready foryet?

As manufacturers accelerate their use of artificial intelligence to optimize production, improve quality, and predict maintenance, the cybersecurity stakes have never been higher. This episode explores how AI is reshaping the industrial control system (ICS) landscape — creating both powerful new defense tools and complex new vulnerabilities.
Our panel of experts dives into how standards like ISA/IEC 62443, NIST CSF 2.0, and MESA’s Smart Manufacturing Model are evolving to address AI-driven risk. We’ll discuss practical steps for securing connected plants, protecting data integrity, and maintaining trust in AI-assisted automation.
Listeners will learn:
How AI is expanding the ICS attack surface — and how it can also strengthen defenses

The role of governance, standards, and data integrity in an AI-enabled OT environment

Real-world insights on zero trust, digital twins for cybersecurity, and the convergence of IT/OT security

Join MESA’s host and subject-matter experts as they examine what it takes to build secure, intelligent, and resilient manufacturing systems in the age of AI.

As we gear up for the upcoming Smart Manufacturing Now 2025 event, I have had the privilege of moderating a special podcast with MESA members who have been at the forefront of applying AI in manufacturing.
This isn’t just about the hype — it’s about real stories from the plant floor:
Successes that show AI’s true impact on productivity and quality

Challenges that reveal what it really takes to deploy AI in operations
Surprising lessons about workforce adoption and culture
A look ahead at where the next breakthroughs may come from

This podcast is your sneak peek into the kinds of insights, stories, and forward-looking discussions you can expect at Smart Manufacturing Now.
Give us a listen and don’t miss the event — join the conversation shaping the future of manufacturing.
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