Microsoft Events hosts a panel examining the role of AI and digital twin technology in transforming manufacturing, highlighting insights from industry experts at Ignite 2025.

Reinventing Manufacturing with Digital Twin: AI-Powered Advances

Session: Microsoft Ignite 2025 | PBRK1770 Speakers: Gaurica Chacko, Aniket Deshpande, Jonathan Hobgood, Todd Mersch, Prasad Satyavolu

Overview

This session explores how digital twins and AI are driving transformation in manufacturing and supply chain operations. Leaders from across the technology ecosystem share practical insights on accelerating the design, planning, and build-out of modern facilities using data-driven approaches.

Key Topics & Chapters

• Introduction and Welcome (0:00)
• Industry Trends in Drug Discovery (10:56)
• Accelerated Computing, Generative AI, Omniverse Integration (11:03)
  • Generative AI and Microsoft's cloud services enable advanced analytics and planning
  • NVIDIA Omniverse provides platforms for simulation and employee training
• Training and Skill Development (20:20)
  • Simulation applications for real-world training
  • Startup acceleration using the Inception program and SDK models
• Manufacturing Challenges (21:55)
  • Workforce attrition and skill gap management
  • Strategies to mitigate operational risks using AI and digital twin insights
• Scaling Digital Twin Value (31:15)
  • Challenges in proving ROI and expanding solutions across multiple plants
  • Integration of product and operational data for accelerated launches
• Reshoring and Empowerment (41:40)
  • Digital empowerment strategies to scale manufacturing effectively

AI & Microsoft Technologies

• Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program featured
• Use of Microsoft Azure for secure data operations, collaboration, and integration of AI agents
• Real-world examples of generative AI enhancing productivity and efficiency
• Panel highlights practical tactics for maximizing value from Microsoft’s AI ecosystem

Challenges & Opportunities

• Proving value: Measuring impact of digital twin investments across plants
• Workforce: AI-driven training and upskilling initiatives to address attrition
• Operational scaling: Using Microsoft tools to consolidate data, improve launch cycles, and maintain efficiency

Further Learning

• Full session available on-demand at Microsoft Ignite
• Explore additional partner sessions for deeper dives into AI and cloud advances

By Microsoft Events at Ignite 2025.