The Ayna Insights podcast features prominent leaders and influencers shaping the industrial and industrial technology sectors, discussing topics that are critical for executives, boards, and investors. Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, providing transformation and consulting services to its clients.
To learn more about Ayna, please visit our website at www.ayna.ai.
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The Ayna Insights podcast features prominent leaders and influencers shaping the industrial and industrial technology sectors, discussing topics that are critical for executives, boards, and investors. Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, providing transformation and consulting services to its clients.
To learn more about Ayna, please visit our website at www.ayna.ai.
The views, information, and opinions presented in this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Ayna.AI or its affiliates. This podcast should not be considered financial or investment advice. Ayna.AI or its affiliates do not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in this podcast.
Gerald Kafer: Moving AI Beyond Pilot Purgatory in Manufacturing
Ayna Insights
35 minutes 25 seconds
4 weeks ago
Gerald Kafer: Moving AI Beyond Pilot Purgatory in Manufacturing
In this episode, host Vineet Gupta speaks with Gerald Kafer, Solutions Manager and Technical Fellow at Siemens, on the practical realities of scaling AI in industrial operations. Kafer stresses the importance of pairing quick proof-of-value projects with enterprise-level infrastructure investments. He highlights that successful AI deployment hinges on strong OT-IT integration, continuous model management, and federated data governance. Viewing AI as a competitive advantage, Kafer believes empowered teams using AI tools will outperform those resisting change. His advice: start small with real use cases but build the standardized data foundations needed for long-term scale.
Gerald Kafer, Solutions Manager and Technical Fellow at Siemens, has over two decades of leadership in industrial digital transformation. From early research in neural networks and autonomic computing to pioneering Siemens’ corporate cloud journey with Microsoft Azure, Kafer has consistently bridged advanced technology and industrial applications. He helped establish Siemens’ edge computing frameworks within the Digital Industries CTO Office and now leads U.S. initiatives in AI deployment, edge infrastructure, advanced scheduling, and virtual commissioning for global manufacturing clients.
Discussion Points
(00:00) Gerald’s Journey at Siemens: Kafer reflects on his 20-year career at Siemens, evolving from early neural network research to cloud computing and now AI-driven industrial transformation.
(06:45) Implementing AI in Industrial Operations: He shares lessons on OT-IT convergence, continuous model management, and the need for strong data and cybersecurity foundations to scale AI effectively.
(12:11) Adoption Patterns and Post-COVID Shifts: Manufacturing adoption varies by equipment age and regulation; COVID-19 accelerated digitalization and refocused priorities on supply chain resilience.
(15:16) ROI and Emerging AI Applications: Predictive maintenance cuts unplanned downtime by 20% and maintenance costs by 25%. New frontiers include additive manufacturing, agentic systems, and production copilots.
(21:09) Scaling Beyond Pilots: Proof-of-value pilots using real data drive faster adoption. Sustainable success pairs quick wins with enterprise-wide infrastructure investment.
Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode Vineet Gupta is a President at Ayna.
For More Information
Gerald Kafer LinkedIn
Vineet Gupta LinkedIn
Ayna.AI Website
Ayna Insights
The Ayna Insights podcast features prominent leaders and influencers shaping the industrial and industrial technology sectors, discussing topics that are critical for executives, boards, and investors. Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, providing transformation and consulting services to its clients.
To learn more about Ayna, please visit our website at www.ayna.ai.
The views, information, and opinions presented in this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Ayna.AI or its affiliates. This podcast should not be considered financial or investment advice. Ayna.AI or its affiliates do not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in this podcast.
