The challenge is to find a manufacturing operations management system which does not repeat the failures of its predecessors in an over complicated, super flexible implementation. A system with proven structure, because all manufacturing falls into certain categories and processes, and the adaptive flexibility to mimic your process without limiting the ability to further adapt. Yet it also must be designed to scale, adapt, and evolve, without a huge direct development penalty.

There is no argument that Digital manufacturing, Data-Driven Manufacturing, MTConnect, Industry 4.0 and IIoT are here to stay and is mature enough to be considered beyond the early adopter phase, yet companies of all sizes are still treating the adoption of these technologies as the wild west. Due diligence in assessing an approach to employing and applying disruptive technologies is essential before committing a company to a direction.