Tag Archives: technology

Operational Integrity: The Operating Model Heavy Manufacturing Needs

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Chet Brandon

Heavy manufacturing does not fail all at once. It usually fails in layers.

A workaround becomes normal. A critical control weakens. A maintenance backlog grows. A near miss is explained away because no one was hurt. Over time, the operation drifts from discipline into exposure.

That is why I believe Operational Integrity needs to be treated as an overarching operating model, not just another safety, reliability, or compliance initiative.

In this article, I outline a practical framework for Operational Integrity built around five elements:

Operating Envelope | Strong Systems | Reliable Equipment | Leadership Cadence | Disciplined Operations

The goal is simple: help manufacturing organizations run with greater control, consistency, resilience, and accountability — for the benefit of employees, customers, communities, owners, and all stakeholders who depend on the enterprise. Continue reading →

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Cyber-Physical Risk in the Age of AI: How Safety Professionals Help Directors Make Better Operational Technology Investment Decisions – Part 4

Posted on May 6, 2026 by Chet Brandon

As the final article in this four-part series, Fay Feeney and I bring the conversation into the boardroom. Operational technology is no longer just an engineering concern—it is a governance test. As AI-enabled assets reshape industrial operations, directors are approving new risk profiles, resilience assumptions, and value-creation models. Continue reading →

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Cyber-Physical Risk in the Age of AI: How Safety Professionals Identify and Manage OT Cyber Risk – Part 3

Posted on April 22, 2026 by Chet Brandon

Part 3 moves from understanding the risk to executing against it. As cyber threats increasingly intersect with physical operations, organizations need a practical, structured approach to manage these risks at the system level. This section outlines how safety professionals—working with cybersecurity and engineering teams—can apply proven process safety methods to identify vulnerabilities, prioritize risk, protect critical systems, and strengthen operational resilience in the face of cyber-physical threats. Continue reading →

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Automated Reasoning for Human Error Detection in Industrial Operations

Posted on April 11, 2026 by Chet Brandon

Most incidents aren’t caused by a single mistake—they result from conditions that made failure likely long before it happened.

In this article, I explore how automated reasoning can help EHS and operational leaders detect those conditions earlier, connect weak signals, and make more consistent, defensible decisions in real time. Just as important, I outline where technology stops—and where human leadership, trust, and judgment still determine outcomes.
The future of safety isn’t human or AI—it’s the integration of both to anticipate risk and act before it becomes reality. Continue reading →

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Cyber-Physical Risk in the Age of AI: How Safety Leaders and Boards Can Protect Operational Technology – A Four Part Series

Posted on April 7, 2026 by Chet Brandon

AI is changing the rules of cyber risk—and in OT environments, the consequences are no longer just digital.

From process instability to SIF potential, cyber threats are now operational threats. The real question isn’t if this risk exists—it’s whether we’re integrating safety, cyber, and operations fast enough to manage it.

Part 2 explores how AI is both accelerating the threat—and becoming a critical part of the defense. Continue reading →

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Cyber-Physical Risk in the Age of AI: How Safety Leaders and Boards Can Protect Operational Technology

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Chet Brandon

Artificial intelligence is reshaping cyber risk — and for industrial organizations, the stakes are no longer just digital.

Cyber attacks on operational technology (OT) can now disrupt physical processes, threaten worker safety, and create significant economic impact. Managing this evolving risk requires new thinking that connects plant-level realities with boardroom oversight.

I’m excited to share a new four-part thought leadership series I’ve co-authored with Fay Feeney, bringing together perspectives from industrial safety leadership and enterprise governance.

Together we explore how organizations can strengthen operational resilience, cyber-physical risk management, and strategic oversight in the age of AI.

Part 1 is now available — more to follow soon.

#OperationalTechnology #CyberSecurity #AI #IndustrialSafety #RiskManagement #BoardGovernance #Resilience Continue reading →

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Seeing Risk Before It Hurts: An Example of How Predictive Analytics Are Redefining Safety

Posted on January 11, 2026 by Chet Brandon

Most safety systems are designed to explain injuries after they happen—not to prevent them while risk is forming. What if EHS leaders could see danger emerging in real time, understand why it’s happening, and intervene before someone gets hurt? This article outlines a bold predictive safety concept that uses AI, computer vision, and causal analytics to challenge traditional thinking about leading indicators and redefine what proactive risk management in manufacturing could look like. Continue reading →

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A Discussion About the Future of OSH with AI+Humans

Posted on November 25, 2025 by Chet Brandon

AI is rapidly transforming the EHS profession, accelerating how we learn, make decisions, and uncover insights that were previously out of reach. This podcast conversation explores what happens when human expertise and machine intelligence converge to shape the future of safety and work. Continue reading →

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AI as a Strategic Partner: Building a Digital Twin to Advance Safety and Sustainability

Posted on August 3, 2025 by Chet Brandon

Introduction The challenges of leading Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) efforts across global, high-risk operations have never been more intense. Executive leaders today are asked to navigate volatile regulations, emerging technologies, ESG mandates, cultural transformation, and shifting workforce expectations—all while … Continue reading →

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Safe to Fail: How Digital Twins Can Rewire Workplace Trust

Posted on July 11, 2025 by Chet Brandon

Digital twin technology—virtual representations of physical systems or processes—can significantly enhance psychological safety in the workplace by providing environments where employees feel secure to speak up, experiment, and make mistakes without fear of negative consequences. These virtual environments enable organizations … Continue reading →

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