We’re excited to share the latest episode of Stellix Beyond Boundaries with a wider audience for the first time. This thought leadership video series explores challenges and innovations shaping the future of operations in critical industries.
In this episode, guest host Sam Szatek joins contributors Matt Daniels, Mike Cody, and Chris Vigliotte to tackle a critical question: What does it take to design and deliver truly "digital first" facilities for optimal performance beyond the launch date?
Key Insights
The conversation goes beyond short-term milestones to uncover why success hinges on early decisions that prioritize operational readiness, quality assurance, and human factors--not just technology. The team shares practical strategies for breaking down silos, embedding cybersecurity into operations, and aligning design with real-world workflows to avoid costly inefficiencies down the road.
Highlights
- The primary driver in capital projects—meeting a fixed deadline—can lead critical industry organizations to sacrifice long-term operational efficiency. (4:50)
- Organizational silos between the teams building the facilities and the teams running them are often the root cause of design flaws and operational failures. ( 8:19)
- Protecting manufacturing environments (OT) from cyber threats requires specialized approaches distinct from traditional IT security. (10:07)
- Involving end-users like plant operators early and consistently throughout the design phase is critical for identifying practical, ergonomic, and safety-related issues engineers might overlook. (14:20)
- All too often, deploying "digital tools" without redesigning the underlying human processes and ways of working results in failed technology initiatives. (25:07)
Practical recommendations the team shared:
- Plan for the Last Mile: Address device connectivity and IDF/MDF layout before drawings are finalized to avoid costly delays.
- Cybersecurity Beyond IT: Apply OT-specific cybersecurity measures and cross-functional training to ensure operational resilience.
- Break Down Silos: Align people, processes, and technology to create a unified approach that drives adoption.
The Takeaway
Start with the why. Design for adoption. Build operational readiness alongside construction. These steps help ensure digital-first facilities deliver sustained throughput, compliance, and capacity--not just a successful launch.
Watch the full episode above to learn how to overcome common pitfalls and accelerate your path to operational excellence.
