Regis Ataides brings a unique perspective to industrial digital transformation, combining mechanical engineering expertise with business acumen developed over decades at companies like Embraer, Siemens, and now as Vice President of Metris, ANDRITZ. 

In his conversation with ZJ on this episode of Industrial Visionaries, Regis shares why performance-based contracts have become the most effective way to drive digital adoption in manufacturing environments, and why companies must start small but think big to achieve meaningful transformation. His insights on aligning stakeholder interests across organizations provide a practical blueprint for anyone navigating the complex world of industrial technology implementations.

Topics discussed:

• Implementing shared-risk agreements where payment is tied directly to achieving specific, measurable KPIs like energy reduction, or productivity improvements — creating true alignment with customer goals.
• Why successful digital transformation requires convincing many different people across an organization, each requiring different messaging, from ROI discussions with CFOs to ESG initiatives with CEOs and workflow improvements for shop floor personnel.
• Implementing focused digital initiatives with quick, measurable wins that generate ROI for reinvestment, rather than attempting comprehensive transformation all at once, while maintaining a larger vision.
• How artificial intelligence solutions like Metris Copilot are breaking down barriers by enabling natural language interaction with shop floor data, allowing operators to query complex information without technical expertise.
• Tactical strategies for introducing digital solutions into existing manufacturing environments versus designing new digital-native facilities, with practical considerations for each scenario.
• When to implement cloud computing versus on-premise solutions based on internet connectivity, data processing requirements, and latency sensitivity, with real-world implementation considerations.
• Methods for creating measurable, short-term KPIs that distribute risk appropriately between technology providers and manufacturers while ensuring meaningful progress toward transformation goals.
• Why people considerations must come first in digital transformation initiatives, especially when replacing legacy systems that employees have invested decades in developing and maintaining.

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