Connectivity, intelligence and automation are three key areas for industrial companies to focus on when exploring digital opportunities for the value chain, according to this McKinsey & Co. analysis. The most successful pilot projects, the authors write, begin with tangible, easy-to-measure goals and a clear vision with a multistep road map.

Excellence is a priority at the Clorox Co., said Chief Product Supply Officer Andy Mowery, while explaining how the company's small size allows it to remain agile and respond to shifting demands. "Fundamentally, it's about executing, driving that continuous-improvement mindset and no matter where you are and what you're making, having that workforce that is super excited about what they do every day," Mowery says.

Cybercriminals are using data to target internet of things devices, generating fake data that can misinform a company's operations and lead to other casualties, Dan Swinhoe writes. Observers report that IoT security is lacking, but could be strengthened through regular patching and following best practices.

Big distribution networks that span large geographic areas and feature separate leadership teams can be a major financial drain for companies, Rob Ruffin, Meghan Shehorn and Debjit Banerjee of Bain & Co. write. To cut costs and streamline operations, develop a long-term strategy that incorporates digital and modeling to eliminate inefficiencies in the system.

Blockchain has the ability to transform supply chains, bringing a new level of transparency to operations that customers will appreciate, writes Sweetbridge CEO and Chairman Scott Nelson. "Perhaps the most effective route to adoption involves two things: clearly showing your suppliers how they will benefit from using blockchain, and providing them with easy and inexpensive means of participating," he writes.

Digital twins have to be accurate and highly functional to create smart systems of the future, writes Joe Sawicki of Mentor IC EDA. Sawicki explains the importance of integrated circuits in digital twin development.

Safety professionals shouldn't be deterred by the challenges associated with digital; new technologies are a huge opportunity that can deliver broad gains in workplace safety, say Pete Sullivan and Adam Cooper of Accenture. Don't leave digital to IT teams, Cooper adds, arguing safety leaders need to be involved in the process.

Manufacturers and two school districts in Cleveland County, N.C., hosted the annual Making It Work fair on Thursday to educate students about opportunities in the field. "The overall experience is pretty cool, learning about different careers and what you can do with manufacturing and engineering," said high school senior Peyton Humphries.

How can you capture and put to use real-time customer experience data? NAM is offering access to an exclusive keynote that explores how industry leaders are using IoT to predict customer needs and deliver personalized customer experiences. Watch to learn how you can create a connected customer experience. Watch video.

Amazon's announcement this week that two locations would split the $5B capital investment might seem to be a letdown on its face, but is actually a wise business decision. What can manufacturers take from this news? Read this timely blog to learn more about the data collected that led to this decision and how NAM can assist manufacturing members in similar complex decisions.