Artificial Intelligence is changing manufacturing—but the organizations seeing the greatest value aren't replacing their Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES). They're building on them.

In our latest MESA podcast, MES and AI: Better Together, we explore why MES remains one of the most valuable foundations for industrial AI. AI needs more than data—it needs trusted, contextualized, governed operational information. MES provides the manufacturing context that transforms raw signals into meaningful insights.

Our discussion covers:
• Why MES gives manufacturers a head start on AI adoption
• How to prepare operational data for AI-driven applications
• Common pitfalls organizations encounter when combining AI with manufacturing operations
• Emerging best practices for governance, context, and implementation
• Real-world examples demonstrating where AI is already delivering measurable value

One of the recurring themes is that successful AI initiatives begin long before selecting a large language model. They start with disciplined operational data, consistent business processes, and a manufacturing architecture capable of delivering trusted context—not simply more data.

Thank you to Julie Fraser and Tech-Clarity for leading this important research, along with the panel of MES and manufacturing technology experts who shared their perspectives. It's an excellent discussion for anyone evaluating how AI can create practical value on the plant floor.

If you're involved in manufacturing operations, digital transformation, or industrial AI, I encourage you to listen to the podcast and participate in the Tech-Clarity research survey. The more perspectives we gather from manufacturers, the stronger our industry's understanding of where AI is delivering real business outcomes.

Smart manufacturing initiatives often fail for reasons that have little to do with technology. The real challenge is organizational: bringing together IT, OT, engineering, operations, cybersecurity, data, and business teams into a cohesive digital transformation force.

In this episode of MESA Knows Smart Manufacturing, we explore what it takes to build the modern IT/OT “dream team.” As manufacturers pursue AI, industrial data platforms, cloud integration, cybersecurity modernization, and digital transformation at scale, the traditional boundaries between enterprise IT and operational technology are rapidly disappearing.

Our discussion examines the organizational models, leadership strategies, technical skill sets, and cultural changes required to create high-performing cross-functional teams capable of delivering measurable business outcomes. We’ll discuss how leading organizations are balancing governance with agility, integrating operational expertise with modern data and AI capabilities, and redefining the future roles of engineers, architects, and manufacturing leaders.

Whether you are just beginning your convergence journey or already scaling smart manufacturing initiatives globally, this conversation will provide practical insights into how people, process, and technology must evolve together to succeed in the next era of industrial transformation.

In this episode of MESA Knows Smart Manufacturing, ChrisMonchinski sits down with Julie Fraser of Tech-Clarity and key sponsors to discuss an important new industry initiative: the 2026 Business Value and Evolution of Manufacturing Operations Software (MOS) Study. 

The conversation explores how the definition of manufacturing operations software has expanded beyond traditional MES to include a broader Level 3 ecosystem—encompassingquality, scheduling, inventory and warehouse management, EHS, maintenance (CMMS), connected worker technologies, and increasingly, AI-driven capabilities.

Julie, Glynn, Ryan and Rick share the origins of the research and explains why now is a pivotal moment for manufacturers to reassess their investments. With rapid advances indigital transformation and AI, companies are no longer just implementing MES—they are building integrated, plant-wide operational platforms designed to deliver measurable business value.  

A central theme of the discussion is value realization. The episode dives into:

• What is driving current investments in MOS
• The top business benefits manufacturers are seeing, from operational efficiency to improved decision-making
• What organizations must do to ensure successful implementations, including alignment, planning, and realistic expectations
• How long it typically takes to start seeing measurable returns

The conversation also tackles one of the most pressing topics in the industry today: the role of AI in manufacturing operations. Julie outlines how AI is not a replacement for core systems like MES, but rather a complementary layer that enhances analytics,optimization, and decision support across the Level 3 stack.  Importantly, the episode addresses common misconceptions in the market, helping listeners separate hype from practicalapplication—especially as vendors position AI-enabled solutions.

We conclude with a preview of what’s next:

• A global survey launching in spring 2026
• A comprehensive research report, infographic, and webinar to follow in the fall

This initiative, led by MESA International and Tech-Clarity, aims to provide the industry with a much-needed, data-driven perspective on how manufacturers can truly capturebusiness value from their digital investments.

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.

#SmartManufacturingNow #MESA #SmartManufacturing #AI

A special MESA Knows podcast episode previewing what’s coming at Smart Manufacturing Now! Our third year conducting this important virtual event, Hear what to expect from the event, who’s speaking, and why this is the gathering for manufacturing leaders driving digital transformation. Don’t miss the insights, energy, and opportunities coming your way. https://mesa.org/smart-manufacturing-now/

In this episode, we dive into the critical role of data integrity by design in enabling the future of smart manufacturing in the life sciences industry. As Pharma 4.0 initiatives gain traction, leading organizations are shifting from reactive compliance to proactive data governance strategies that embed quality, traceability, and trust directly into their digital systems.

Our expert guests will explore how companies are operationalizing ALCOA+ principles—ensuring data is Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, and more—and aligning with the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) to future-proof their digital infrastructure. We'll discuss real-world strategiesfor building data integrity into system design, enabling seamless regulatory readiness and supporting the ethical, effective deployment of AI in regulated environments.

Whether you're a digital transformation leader, a quality professional, or an AI innovator in life sciences, this episode will offer insights into how your organization can design for trust—right from the start.