In today’s globalized manufacturing landscape, technology plays a crucial role in driving efficiency and innovation. Robert Pawlicki, VP of Business Systems and Cyber Security at Master Fluid Solutions, shares how his organization is embracing change, from ERP consolidation to cloud adoption, while balancing the complexities of international operations.
Q1: Can you share a brief overview of your role and how technology shapes your organization's strategy?
Robert Pawlicki: My role at Master Fluid Solutions began four years ago when I was brought in to modernize our IT approach. Our IT department had primarily been focused on support, but the company needed to adopt a more strategic, innovation-driven approach. We’ve since transitioned towards implementing cloud-based solutions and consolidating our ERP systems globally, allowing us to scale efficiently and remain competitive in a rapidly changing market.
Q2: What is one significant challenge you're currently facing in technology, and how are you addressing it?
Robert Pawlicki: A key challenge is driving change across a company that was traditionally in "support mode." Moving to cloud-based systems like Microsoft 365 and consolidating multiple ERP systems globally has been critical. Additionally, we face challenges related to China’s data laws, requiring us to maintain separate systems for compliance while still driving global data strategy. Keeping teams motivated during this cultural shift has been vital to maintaining progress.
Q3: Can you highlight a recent tech initiative or project that you're excited about? What impact do you anticipate it will have?
Robert Pawlicki: I’m particularly excited about our ERP and cloud integration across our manufacturing sites. We’ve been modernizing not only our ERP systems but also introducing cloud-based laboratory and safety management systems. We're also building a data mesh architecture that will unify data from various departments, enhancing our decision-making capabilities by providing real-time, actionable insights. This will allow us to answer business questions before they’re even asked, driving better outcomes for our teams and customers.
Q4: How do you foster a culture of innovation within your team or organization?
Robert Pawlicki: Innovation within my team starts with encouraging action and not fearing mistakes. If my team isn’t making mistakes, they’re not pushing the boundaries. We’ve been transitioning from a waterfall to an agile methodology, particularly in project management, to support a faster, more adaptive innovation culture. Hiring a business intelligence manager and introducing agile methodologies have allowed us to be more flexible and responsive to business needs.
Q5: Looking forward, what technology trend do you think will have the most significant impact on your industry in the next few years?
Robert Pawlicki: AI and machine learning are undoubtedly important, but data governance and data understanding are equally critical. As businesses embrace automation and generative AI, ensuring the integrity and usability of data will be paramount. I believe that over the next five to ten years, the most significant changes in manufacturing will be driven by better data analysis and more streamlined automation processes.
Conclusion
Robert Pawlicki’s insights reflect the growing importance of data and cloud technologies in global manufacturing. As Master Fluid Solutions continues its digital transformation, Pawlicki’s focus on agile methodologies and data integration will undoubtedly position the company for continued success in a highly competitive industry.
With over two decades at Master Fluid Solutions, Robert has played a pivotal role in transforming the company’s IT strategy. His leadership in ERP consolidation, data governance, and cloud integration has helped modernize operations while driving innovation. Passionate about fostering a culture of experimentation and change, Robert is committed to ensuring that Master Fluid Solutions remains at the forefront of technological advancements in manufacturing.
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