Why Workforce Data Must Be Part of Industrial Data Management for Smart Manufacturing

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.

Industrial organizations have invested heavily in automation, analytics, and digital transformation. Yet one of the most critical data streams—the actions and decisions of frontline workers—has remained largely invisible. That changes today.

In an era where industries must adapt or fall behind, digital transformation is no longer optional—it’s essential. Confronted with persistent inefficiencies, costly downtime, and unpredictable supply chain disruptions, organizations must harness AI, predictive analytics, and workforce empowerment to drive sustainable growth and operational excellence.