This week we welcome Keiran Stokes, Director and Head of Technology at Thred, all the way from New Zealand. Keiran shares his unique journey from being an industrial electrician to a control systems engineer and then co-founding Thred. Throughout this insightful discussion, you will gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of industrial data engineering, the role of digital twins, and the importance of context in data analytics.

Keiran sheds light on the challenges of integrating industrial systems, the shortage of data engineers in the sector, and Thred’s revolutionary approach to bridging the gap between Industry 4.0 promises and current technology. This episode is perfect for anyone interested in the forefront of IIoT innovations and looking to understand the real-world applications and obstacles in the industry.

About:

Keiran Stokes is a leader in IT/OT integration and data strategy, renowned for his expertise in converging operational and information technologies to drive digital transformation. With a strong focus on supporting New Zealand’s industrial sector, Keiran specialises in enterprise and data architecture, helping businesses unlock productivity through digital solutions. His passion for bridging the gap between the factory floor and the cloud has positioned him as a thought leader in operational data, as well as in the engineering and operations that transform that data into insights and actionable improvements.

00:00 Introduction to Unplugged: An IIoT Podcast 00:35 Introduction to Guest: Keiran Stokes 01:45 Keiran Stokes' Journey: From Electrician to IIoT Expert 05:12 Transition into Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Development 08:23 Founding of Thred: Mission and Goals 11:03 Differences Between Industrial and IT Systems 14:17 Challenges of Industrial Data Sharing 17:02 Importance of Domain Knowledge in Industrial Data Engineering 20:50 The Role of Knowledge Graphs in Data Contextualization 25:11 Insights on Large Language Models (LLMs) 28:44 Overview of Thred's New Tool: 3 Cloud 32:30 Concepts of Digital Twins and Real-time Cobot Replication 36:15 Industry Challenges and Solutions for Small Manufacturers 39:42 Data Engineering and DataOps in the Industrial Sector 42:15 Open Source Software in Industrial Applications 45:50 Final Thoughts: Closing Gaps in Industrial Data 48:37 Listener Takeaways on IIoT Innovations and Challenges 52:10 Episode Wrap-Up and Future Discussions

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Connect with Keiran on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/keiran-stokes/

Connect with Phil on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-seboa/

Connect with Ed on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ed-fuentes-2046121a/

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