In the race toward smart manufacturing, IT and OT data convergence has become a cornerstone for digital transformation. As industry leaders strive to contextualize industrial data to unlock predictive and prescriptive insights, the foundational work of data management frameworks, such as those detailed by Gartner**, cannot be overstated. These frameworks offer a structured approach to gathering, tagging, and contextualizing machine and process data, creating a data backbone for advanced analytics.
Yet, as we see in practice across manufacturing environments worldwide, these frameworks often overlook a critical dimension: the human element. At Webalo, we believe that to truly optimize manufacturing outcomes, data strategies must evolve beyond IT and OT, incorporating the rich, real-world insights of the workforce itself.
Why Workforce Data Matters
Operational data from machinery and systems tells us what’s happening, through vibration monitoring, telemetry, and asset performance metrics. But it rarely explains why issues arise, how they were dealt with and, therefore, how best to adapt to bring about optimized changes. Frontline workers’ actions, observations, and interventions provide the context, the “why” and “how” that unlocks these mysteries.
This workforce data includes:
- Task execution rates and deviations
- Observations and feedback from operators
- Human adjustments to processes
- Insights on training gaps and best practices
Organizations can transform reactive, fragmented decisions into proactive, predictive, and prescriptive actions by integrating these human insights with IT and OT data.
The Holistic View: Workforce Data + IT/OT Data
Our experience at Webalo shows that integrating workforce data bridges the gap between what the machines are doing and how people on the frontlines are making decisions. This synergy reveals root causes of issues faster and empowers continuous improvement across teams and processes.
We’ve seen this integration in action:
Toward Predictive and Prescriptive Decision-Making
Combining workforce, IT, and OT data creates a foundation for advanced analytics—enabling AI and ML to not just predict what might happen, but to recommend precise actions in real time. This is the future of truly smart manufacturing: holistic data strategies that blend people, processes, and machines seamlessly.
Where to Start
For manufacturing leaders, the message is clear:
And, of course,
At Webalo, we’re proud to help manufacturers integrate workforce data into their digital transformation strategies—turning data points into decisions, and decisions into operational excellence.
References & Additional Reading:
ARC Advisory Group, Integrating Operator Insights for Predictive and Prescriptive Maintenance