Plant efficiency has been an obsession of mine for 30 years. In 1991, during my first assignment as a process engineer, I implemented my very first predictive model to optimize uptime on a complex $400mm paper machine. That single model took many months of consulting and development time, well over $200k in investment, and over $100k / year expense to maintain. It was ultimately not sustainable, but what we learned from the effort was priceless.
Today, TwinThread can do more to optimize a $400 asset than I ever thought was possible - implemented in hours - and for only a few dollars per year. You cannot overestimate the impact this can have on the thousands of plants that previously could not afford what only the highest margin, most proprietary, and most capital intensive manufacturers could justify just a short time ago.
At the same time, the urgency to adopt this technology has reached a critical high. Manufacturers are dealing with a crisis of volatility combined with an accelerating technical “brain drain” and an increasingly competitive global playing field. If you can’t build a new plant what can you do to stay competitive?
We don’t have all the answers but we do have one: proactively driving plant efficiency is critically important to competitiveness. We will continue innovating and will not rest until every plant - old and new - is as efficient as it possibly can be. So, let’s roll our sleeves up today and get to work bringing your plant to the next level.
Beyond his professional achievements, Erik has left an indelible mark on academic communities. During his time in Charlottesville, VA, Erik established a mentorship with the University of Virginia Darden School of Business student startup incubator, iLab, and the Virginia Tech Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. To this day, he continues his dedication to evolving the next generation of tech trailblazers.
Erik is also a RedHawk, receiving his undergraduate degree from Miami University in Ohio. He and his family currently call Bozeman, MT home.
