Matt Doubell

The Hidden Costs of Automation As operations move faster and automation scales, many manufacturers learn the hard way that they’ve lost control. Changeovers become harder to manage, abnormal workflows create bottlenecks, and adapting operations often requires hiring specialized labor to keep systems running. It’s like trying to drive or order food in a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. You can get by, but everything is slower, more rigid, and dependent on someone else to interpret what’s happening around you. In this session, explore the hidden operational costs of modern automation and how unified platforms help restore visibility, flexibility, and control across complex operations.