For the past five years, Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center (MMTC) has had the privilege of performing onsite Technology Opportunity Assessments at the small-to-medium manufacturers (SMMs) across the state. To date, we have sampled over 10% of all manufacturers in Michigan. The first question on the 45-question survey is:
“What is the company strategy for technology adoption?”
and a typical quick follow-up question is:
“Who is in charge of your technology implementation?”
A common finding: Few manufacturers have a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) or equivalent role to lead their tech strategy. It's worth noting that broader research suggests that Industry 4.0 has failed to deliver strong, economy-wide productivity growth in Europe and the United States [1], and that 70% of digital transformations fall short [2], indicating that strategic alignment may be a critical missing piece. The responsibility for sourcing, implementing, and maintaining new technology often falls to whomever is closest to the problem. This approach results in avoidable challenges:
- The selected technology doesn’t fully address the real problem.
- Tools and systems go underused or aren’t integrated effectively.
- Decisions are delayed or sidelined due to uncertainty.
- Projects lose momentum, stall, or require significant rework.
- Resources are spent without clear returns, and opportunities are missed.
- Teams may feel frustrated or overburdened.
Hiring a full-time CTO may be out of reach for many manufacturers, but there are other options. You can bring in a third-party consultant or a fractional (part-time) technology specialist to guide your efforts. Another strong option is partnering with your local Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Center—MMTC—which can provide education, support, and a roadmap for successful digital transformation.
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