The World Economic Forum’s Kiva Allgood on Avoiding "Pilot Purgatory" for Successful Tech Scaling

Meet Kiva Allgood, Head of Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains

In the latest episode of the Manufacturing the Future podcast, Kiva Allgood, Head of the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains at the World Economic Forum, shared some profound insights on the future of manufacturing and supply chain management. "People have to be part of the journey. We've learned that scaling technology and avoiding 'pilot purgatory' is 100% dependent on classical change management," Kiva says. 

One of the critical issues Kiva is addressing is the challenge of integrating new technologies like AI into existing supply chains effectively. Many companies struggle with identifying the right problems to solve and end up in that "pilot purgatory," where pilot projects never scale into full-blown solutions. Kiva stresses the importance of involving people in this journey, ensuring that technological advancements are aligned with the workforce's needs and capabilities. By focusing on key pain points and facilitating dialogue around them, Kiva helps organizations navigate these complexities and achieve meaningful transformations.

The World Economic Forum, where Kiva leads the Center for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains, has a storied history of fostering global collaboration to tackle some of the world's most pressing issues. Founded in 1971 by Professor Klaus Schwab, the Forum has grown into a pivotal platform for leaders from various sectors to collaborate on solutions that improve the state of the world. Kiva’s journey with the Forum began after a 30-year career in industry, when she decided to go back to academia to gain new insights and perspectives, ultimately leading her to this influential role.

In This Episode

In this episode, Kiva explores the nuances of digital transformation in manufacturing. She discusses the importance of integrating AI to enhance decision-making processes and create more adaptive supply chains. Kiva shares valuable strategies for identifying the right problems to solve and highlights the significance of involving the workforce to avoid common pitfalls. Whether you're a business leader looking to modernize your operations or an entrepreneur entering the manufacturing sector, this episode offers invaluable insights into navigating the digital landscape.

Topics

• The role of AI in enhancing decision-making and creating more adaptive and resilient supply chains.
• The importance of scaling pilot projects and ensuring they evolve into full-blown solutions, avoiding stagnant phases in digital transformation.
• The necessity of involving people in the digital transformation journey to align technological advancements with workforce needs.
• Strategies for creating supply chains that can withstand disruptions and adapt quickly to changing circumstances.
• How the World Economic Forum facilitates dialogue and collaboration to address key pain points in manufacturing and supply chains.
• Common obstacles companies face when integrating new technologies and how to overcome them.
• The value of questioning and learning in new roles to drive innovation and effective leadership.
• The significance of including academic perspectives and policy considerations in discussions about manufacturing and supply chain advancements.
• Kiva's approach to mentoring and her initiatives to uplift and upskill women in the tech industry.

• The Resiliency Compass whitepaper