Key Takeaways:

• IT leaders must evolve into 'translators' who can strip away technical jargon to make information applicable and understandable for every department, from engineering to the factory floor.
• Successful digital transformation requires moving beyond 'tribal knowledge' to create a digital framework that makes the job easier for the next generation of workers.
• A mid-sized business requires a 'generalist' IT approach where the department is responsible for everything from hardware maintenance to high-level engineering software.
• While security is critical, IT directors must avoid excessive rigidity and learn to 'keep the gate open' by trusting their teams and empowering them with flexible technology.
• Vertical integration—owning the robots, the molding machines, and the software—requires a high degree of 'homegrown' expertise and continuous training rather than relying solely on outside vendors.
• AI is currently most effective as an individual tool; applying it at an organizational level requires a human subject matter expert with the authority to question the data and overcome sunk cost fallacy.
• The 'glue' of a successful organization is a culture where every department—quality, engineering, and shipping—speaks the same language and understands how their data impacts the entire system flow.