Today, forward-looking manufacturers are more than simply producers of physical goods. They’re also data and technology experts who harness cloud computing, AI, and big data to optimize processes and power highly digitized production facilities. The future of manufacturing is digital and data-driven. Unfortunately, legacy technology is holding many manufacturers back from achieving this vision. As global competitors pressure companies to work with an increasingly diverse and dispersed network of suppliers and partners, some find they simply don’t have the infrastructure to deliver the system access needed — nor the security controls to protect it. The problem is disconnected systems and data siloes, which create friction, delay access to vital applications, hinder collaboration, and slow down productivity. With the average cost of an hour of manufacturing downtime totaling $260,000, swift, seamless connection is vital for effective collaboration and essential to your bottom line. A fragmented approach to technology also creates.