OPEX

The Age of Collaborative Platforms

And the return of human-only skills

Since 2005 Operational Excellence Day has been a day of sharing and learning across hundreds of local and global companies who hold a passion for excellence.

This year Operational Excellence Day, hosting professionals and companies from different sectors, will take place on September 22, 2017.

Digitalization adds a new dimension to automation through connecting systems via networks and collaborative platforms. With the help of big data, digitalization also paves the way tothe “internet of things” (IoT) and smart systems which lead us to a new industrial era; called Industry 4.0. Developments in previously disjointed fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, robotics, nanotechnology, 3D printing and genetics and biotechnology are all building on and amplifying one another.

To simplify, the future of manufacturing with its collaborative platforms enable connected systems to interact with each other in every phase of manufacturing, from the first design phase to final delivery to customers. With the help of collaborative platforms, all key players (designers, manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, service providers) will be able to interact at the same level. This will have an absolute impact on future jobs and company operations through leveraging human only skills such as subjective reasoning, negotiation, imagination, storytelling, creativity and many more.

In essence, technical skills will need to be supplemented with strong social and collaboration skills. This year’s Operational Excellence Day aims to lead a discussion of professionals and companies from different sectors in a collaborative and inspirational platform in order to put a spotlight on this new era.