Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast Connectivity is the Missing Piece to Drive Manufacturing Performance with AI
Mar 10, 2026
Samuel Pasquier, head of product management for Cisco’s Industrial IoT Connectivity Portfolio, leads Cisco’s industrial networking and security efforts. He explains why computing power and network bandwidth are blocking AI progress. He covers wireless reliability, ultra‑reliable Wi‑Fi 7 backhaul for AMRs/AGVs, IT‑OT collaboration, security priorities, and a start‑small scaling approach.
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Widespread AI Pilots But Few Are Mature
- Many manufacturers report AI deployments (68%) but only 19% call them mature, showing a gap between pilots and scaled systems.
- Samuel Pasquier links this gap to infrastructure limits like bandwidth, compute, and data storage needed for factory-wide AI correlation.
Infrastructure Security And Skills Are The Real Bottlenecks
- Scaling AI is limited by infrastructure, security, and a skills gap rather than lack of interest.
- Pasquier emphasizes bandwidth, storage, and security-conscious staff who understand both OT and networking as bottlenecks.
Use Ultra Reliable Wireless For Mobile Robots
- Improve wireless reliability for mobile robots by using advanced handoff and reliable backhaul tech beyond standard Wi‑Fi.
- Pasquier recommends Cisco's ultra-reliable wireless backhaul integrated with Wi‑Fi 7 to keep AGVs and AMRs connected while moving.