Bridging IT and OT: Closing the skill Gap w/ The IT/OT Insider | EP10 - The Connected Factory podcast

Guest: David Ariens, Author & Founder of The IT/OT Insider

In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, David Ariens joins hosts Alexander Krüger and Jeremy to unpack what it really takes to bring IT and OT together. Drawing on his journey from mathematics to chemical-plant digitalisation, David explains why open learning, shared language, and trust drive success on the shop floor. They discuss:

• Why an interdisciplinary background accelerates digitalisation initiatives
• How paywalled, uneven education slows IT/OT teamwork
• What “infrastructure convergence” means and why factories need it now
• Why cybersecurity must be a joint mission, not a turf war
• How building trust and a common language turns siloed teams into partners
• A practical playbook: clear business cases, visible leadership, and community support

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