A lot of people think you need a perfect plan to get into industrial automation. Mia Skurdic proves the opposite. She started college unsure of her direction, discovered programming for the first time in an intro engineering rotation, and later landed in the Ignition ecosystem almost by accident, then never looked back.
We dig into what it’s really like to grow inside the manufacturing world as a computer science major: building MES solutions as a systems integrator, connecting Ignition to ERP systems, and learning why the database layer often carries the “real” business logic. Mia also gives a clear, practical breakdown of Perspective vs Vision and MES vs SCADA, including how OEE, traceability, and process orchestration change the conversation beyond simple real-time machine visibility.
Then we zoom out to the skills that make automation engineers dangerous in the best way: reading the manual, using the forums, learning by doing, and leaning on a community that actually shows up. We also talk AI as a lightweight troubleshooting partner, why vibe coding can make debugging harder, and the future trend Mia wants to see everywhere in OT: better software engineering practices like Git version control and repeatable deployments. We wrap with a reminder that you don’t have to be “a math genius” to build a great career, plus why Ignition Maker Edition is a legit way to learn through personal projects.
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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
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