Digitizing the Industrial Base – From the Shop Floor Up

The Industrial Reboot

Reading Rebooting the American Industrial Base: Software and the Future of Manufacturing struck a chord with me. It shows that full digitization is no longer a distant goal—it’s happening now, and it’s within reach for businesses of every size.

Beyond the Boardroom

For too long, software was seen as something reserved for executives and management—accounting, finance, and back-office functions. But the real breakthrough comes when operators on the shop floor have access to digital tools that help them make decisions in real time. Companies like Palantir have demonstrated the power of this model at scale.

Equipping, Not Replacing

Digitization isn’t about replacing workers—it’s about equipping them. When a blue-collar worker can access actionable data and applications, efficiency multiplies. Decisions become faster, smarter, and better aligned with the realities of production.

From Concept to Practice – Our Work with Cidrines

This is more than theory—I’ve seen it firsthand. At Cidrines, we built solutions that put software, data, and analytics directly into the hands of operators. Instead of waiting on reports or relying on instinct, production staff could see exactly what was needed, shape schedules, and react quickly to changes.

The result? Productivity and accountability increased across the board. Operators became active decision-makers, not just executors of instructions. And leadership gained confidence that the plant was running on real-time intelligence.

Democratizing Data

When software is accessible across the organization, highly skilled staff are freed from wrangling spreadsheets. Their time shifts to strategy and growth. Meanwhile, frontline workers gain tools that make them participants in driving performance. That democratization is the true industrial reboot.

Why It Matters to Me

This is why I build practical, scalable solutions. The future of industry won’t be driven by moonshots—it will be built by businesses, large and small, that digitize their operations and empower their people. That’s the arsenal of efficiency and resilience we need, and it’s what inspires me every day.