Walt Swenton of Eaton Aerospace Group.Walt Swenton, senior manager for advanced manufacturing/Industry 4.0 at Eaton Aerospace Group, discusses his strategy to scale smart technologies across multiple manufacturing facilities nationwide and offers four lessons for manufacturing leaders looking to do the same. “You can’t go all in. You can’t think you’re going to transform 42 plants at once,” Swenton says. “You have to pick somewhere, prove it works, and build from there.” Instead of attempting a company-wide rollout, Swenton launched a pilot program at one facility, focusing on collecting real-time data from 45 critical CNC machines to improve visibility, reduce downtime, and show measurable ROI before expanding further. The effort led to $1 million in annual savings by optimizing fixtures, improving part loading, and increasing spindle runtime and output. According to Swenton, there are four factors that manufacturing leaders should consider when deciding to implement smart technologies across their facilities. Download Now1. Leverage AI To Improve Overall Process FlowSwenton recommends using AI to collect real-time data for operators and leaders, which reduces machine downtime and enables responsive decision-making on the shop floor. Because AI solutions provide immediate results on downtime, overall process flow improves. “The more you leverage data, the more you can ultimately keep the spindle running and make money,” he says. 2. Maintain Cybersecurity Compliance Across PlantsHe emphasizes the importance of being cyber-compliant when many data streams across multiple plants are connected. Aligning IT and OT operations is critical to reducing overall downtime and delays, as well as to preparing for network segmentation. Swenton recommends launching a pilot program first, working with your IT team to assess challenges and turn them into measurable results.3. Include Shop Floor Workers in Process AdoptionAdditionally, Swenton stresses the value of engaging manufacturing engineers and operators throughout the process to improve adoption. “People matter as much as technology. You’ve got to retain your talent and bring them along. Many people want to be experts in this. They want to be hands-on,” he says. When explaining the importance of working with operators to get their feedback, he says, "A system will only generate one perspective, but it’s imperative to understand the needs of those working on the shop floor.” 4. Ask the Right Questions To Capture DataAt Eaton, teams are continuing to implement smart technologies across plants, but in phases. Each site provides different insights regarding the benefits of this process. Swenton mentions that it’s important to ask engineers questions such as “What are they getting from it? What are their eye-opening experiences?” This insight varies across plants but provides a wealth of data that only drives improvement. A Blueprint for Smart Factory Success Swenton’s four key considerations highlight the importance of a phased approach to implement Industry 4.0. Eaton Aerospace Group’s first facility rollout offers a prime example of how deliberate initiatives to implement smart technologies can lead to maximum efficiency on shop floors and increased annual savings for manufacturing companies. Looking To Scale With Confidence? Whether you're launching a pilot program or expanding Industry 4.0 initiatives across multiple facilities, IMTS 2026 offers the technologies and expertise to help you move forward. Explore more than 1,800 exhibitors and discover solutions that drive measurable results. Register at IMTS.com/Register today. Use the IMTS Show Planner to efficiently plan your days on the show floor. Do you have input about this article? Tell us about it. Further Reading: 79 Automation Solutions at IMTS 2026Automation is a Foundational TechnologyAutomation Is About ReadinessExploring Automation at IMTS 2026Weird Parts, Smart Process: Inside a High-Mix Machine Shop12 Lessons from Hirsh Precision on Implementing New Technology
Walt Swenton, senior manager for advanced manufacturing/Industry 4.0 at Eaton Aerospace Group, explains his strategy to scale smart technologies across multiple manufacturing facilities nationwide in these four lessons.
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