Digital Transformation Viewpoints

Industrial Systems Engineering in the Era of AI: Kicking Off a Conversation with Rick Bullotta

ARC Advisory Group

For those who may not know him, Rick is a true titan in the industrial technology landscape. As a co-founder of Lighthammer (which evolved into SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence) and ThingWorx (later acquired by PTC), Rick has consistently been at the forefront of innovation. His pivotal work has shaped connected systems, driven digital transformation, and advanced intelligent automation. I consider Rick a serial entrepreneur, a valued advisor to startups and investors, and a leading expert in industrial AI, particularly in advanced manufacturing and the crucial intersection of data-driven insights with industrial operations.

In our first discussion, we laid the groundwork by exploring the foundational data challenges Rick has encountered and tackled over his decades of experience – from the early days of connecting disparate systems on the factory floor to the rise of Industrial IoT and the evolving nature of industrial data.