Thank you to our amazing sponsor Inductive Automation (https://inductiveautomation.com/)
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Industrial automation doesn’t need more hype. It needs tools that solve real plant problems, survive real uptime demands, and still play nicely with modern IT. We sit down with Colby Clegg, CEO of Inductive Automation, to unpack how Ignition grew out of a systems integrator’s breaking point: the cost and pain of getting PLC data into SQL databases and into the hands of people who could actually use it.
From there, we zoom out on OT IT convergence and why the divide persists. We talk about OPC UA, open platforms, and the very different risk tolerances that shape engineering decisions on the plant floor versus the enterprise. Colby shares how Inductive hires a lot of software and computer science talent, then teaches the industrial context, and why that approach can challenge the “this is how we’ve always done it” mindset without ignoring the reality of downtime, compliance, and safety.
Finally, we get specific about what’s new: the arc from Ignition 8.3 toward Ignition 2027, the push for infrastructure independence with containerization, orchestration, and source control friendly configuration, and how that openness intersects with AI in manufacturing. We’re candid about the distance between impressive generative AI output and a production ready control system, why guardrails matter, and why legacy upgrades are becoming a cybersecurity issue, not just a maintenance task. If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend in OT or IT, and leave a review so more automation folks can find the show.
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Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2053051/support)
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🎙 About Automation Ladies
Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.
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🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/
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👩🏭 Connect with the Hosts
Nikki Gonzales (https://linkedin.com/in/nikki-gonzales)
Courtney Fernandez (https://linkedin.com/in/courtneydfernandez)
Ali G (https://linkedin.com/in/alicia-gilpin-ali-g-process-controls-engineering)
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🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com
Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.
🎬 Credits
Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes
P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ... (https://www.podpage.com/automation-ladies/reviews/new/)
