Ctrl+Alt+Mfg Ep. 6: Digital Transformation - Hype, Reality & What’s Next With Mike Ouellette, Engineering.com

As 2025 winds down, Ctrl+Alt+Mfg is taking stock of what actually mattered in manufacturing this year.

In this year-end special, hosts Gary Cohen and Stephanie Neil are joined by Mike Ouellette, senior editor at Engineering.com, to unpack the real state of digital transformation on the plant floor—beyond the buzzwords.

They dig into:

• Why digital transformation isn’t new, and how today’s wave differs from past eras of automation.

• Where AI is already delivering value in manufacturing (and why AI agents trained on your own data are such a big deal).

• How digital twins, robotics, cloud ERP/MES/PLM and edge devices are changing everyday operations.

• The skills engineers and operators need now that roles are shifting from “do the task” to “interpret the insights.”

• Why so many initiatives get stuck in “pilot purgatory” and how small wins can fund the next project.

• Underrated cybersecurity risks in smart factories, especially around legacy equipment and the IT/OT divide.

• The technologies Mike believes will really move the needle in the next 3–5 years.

If you’re trying to separate digital transformation hype from what’s actually working—and know where to focus in 2026—this episode is your year-end reality check.

More from us:
Control Engineering: ControlEng.com
Engineering.com: Engineering.com

CHAPTERS

00:00 Reflecting on Manufacturing Trends of 2025
06:37 Understanding Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
10:40 The Evolution of Technology in Manufacturing
15:08 Identifying Value in Digital Transformation
18:38 Skills for the Future of Manufacturing
22:01 AI's Role in Augmenting Human Work
24:50 Challenges in Digital Integration and ROI
25:07 Navigating Pilot Purgatory in Manufacturing
29:34 The Importance of Data in Digital Transformation
30:30 Capturing Tribal Knowledge for Future Success
31:57 Cybersecurity Challenges in Smart Factories
35:05 Emerging Technologies Shaping the Future
42:05 Evaluating the Promise of Digital Transformation

Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Reflecting on Manufacturing Trends of 2025
• (00:06:37) - Understanding Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
• (00:10:40) - The Evolution of Technology in Manufacturing
• (00:15:08) - Identifying Value in Digital Transformation
• (00:18:38) - Skills for the Future of Manufacturing
• (00:22:01) - AI's Role in Augmenting Human Work
• (00:24:50) - Challenges in Digital Integration and ROI
• (00:25:07) - Navigating Pilot Purgatory in Manufacturing
• (00:29:34) - The Importance of Data in Digital Transformation
• (00:30:30) - Capturing Tribal Knowledge for Future Success
• (00:31:57) - Cybersecurity Challenges in Smart Factories
• (00:35:05) - Emerging Technologies Shaping the Future
• (00:42:05) - Evaluating the Promise of Digital Transformation