In a recent fireside chat hosted by Copia Automation, Gerry Abbey, Director of Product Marketing at Copia, had an insightful conversation with Nathan Harvey, DORA Lead and Developer Advocate at Google Cloud. Their discussion delved into the evolution of DevOps and its transformative impact on the industrial landscape, highlighting key lessons learned and future trends.
Key Takeaways:
- The Rise of Industrial DevOps: DevOps, initially conceived to streamline IT operations, has evolved into a philosophy that fuses development, operations, and business into a cohesive unit. This approach is now making its way into industrial sectors, revolutionizing how manufacturers and distributors manage their operational technology (OT).
- The Importance of Culture: Both Abbey and Harvey emphasized the crucial role of culture in successful DevOps adoption. A culture of collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement is essential for achieving high software delivery performance, enhanced security, and employee well-being.
- Learning from Manufacturing: DevOps has drawn inspiration from lean manufacturing principles, such as the Toyota Production System, to optimize processes and eliminate waste. Now, the industrial sector is learning from the software world, adopting DevOps practices to enhance agility, efficiency, and innovation.
- The Power of Experimentation and Fast Feedback: The ability to experiment, learn from failures, and get fast feedback is crucial in both software development and industrial automation. By embracing an experimental mindset and leveraging technologies like digital twins, organizations can reduce risks, accelerate innovation, and improve decision-making.
- AI and the Future of DevOps: The rise of AI is poised to reshape the DevOps landscape. AI-driven tools will automate routine tasks, optimize code, and enable more autonomous operations. However, it's crucial to approach AI implementation with caution, ensuring data quality and addressing potential security and safety implications.
Additional Insights:
- Bridging the IT/OT Gap: Industrial DevOps serves as a bridge between IT and OT, fostering collaboration and enabling seamless integration of new technologies.
- Empowering the Workforce: By automating routine tasks and promoting knowledge sharing, Industrial DevOps empowers employees and helps address the skills gap in the industrial sector.
- The Importance of Metrics and Visibility: Measuring software delivery performance and making work visible are essential for continuous improvement and achieving organizational goals.
- The Role of Community: Both Abbey and Harvey highlighted the importance of community and collaboration in driving innovation and sharing knowledge in the DevOps field.
Conclusion:
The fireside chat offered a glimpse into the exciting future of Industrial DevOps. By embracing its principles and leveraging its tools, organizations can unlock their full potential, drive innovation, and thrive in the digital age. As Harvey aptly put it, "We're on a journey of continuous learning and continuous improvement." And with Industrial DevOps, the journey is just beginning.
Call to Action:
Join the Dora Community and continue the conversation about DevOps to better understand how and where Industrial DevOps can integrate and scale in your organization. Explore Copia's resources and learn how their platform can help you embrace the future of industrial operations.