 Hypertherm’s culture of continuous improvement means we’re always looking for ways to get better. This includes not only examining what we are doing today, but also what we should be doing in the future.
One thing I think companies like Hypertherm will need to do for the future is increasingly focus on deep customer engagement as trusted advisors. We will need to go beyond the equipment or system performance itself and increasingly look at the total value stream and product lifecycle for the customer. We need to gain an understanding of what each customer is trying to accomplish in their applications and integrated operations and become a partner in problem solving beyond individual product performance.
All of the pieces of the steel fabrication value stream today are simply more connected and smarter than ever before with the rapid evolution of sensors, software, and networks. They’re increasingly self-monitoring, self-optimizing, and even self-teaching, helping to address the shortage of skilled workers and the forces of global competition.
Cutting systems produced by companies like Hypertherm need to follow suit. They will be smarter, more connected and more application optimized. Broader application capabilities will extend the reach of our cutting technologies, but even more importantly, more connected systems will place a premium on powerful integration into today’s and tomorrow’s digital factory, along with advisory services, providing actionable information and real-time adaptation for total factory management systems and processes.
Hypertherm is already moving in this direction with our Built for Business Integrated Cutting Solutions and increasingly intelligent and connected cutting systems, software, and controls, including remote connectivity and system performance monitoring. But I expect a real revolution in this area in the coming decade, and you can expect Hypertherm to be at the forefront of it.
Sincerely,
Evan Smith, President
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