# From Connectivity To AI: How Factories Finally Move Data And People with 4IR.UK's David Graham

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2026-02-03
- Length: 11m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-02-03-from-connectivity-to-ai-how-factories-finally-move-data-and-people-with-4ir-uks

## Summary

David Graham, Product Manager Director at 4IR.UK, discusses the evolution of Industry 4.0 and the current shift toward AI in electronics manufacturing. He explains how standards like Hermes and CFX are finally enabling reliable machine-to-machine data flow, moving beyond the siloed, bespoke solutions of the past. Graham highlights that the industry's progress was delayed by a lack of digital talent, but is now accelerating as new engineers bring AI expertise to shop-floor problems, enabling adjacent wins like SPI-to-printer feedback loops and broader agentic AI applications.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-02-03-from-connectivity-to-ai-how-factories-finally-move-data-and-people-with-4ir-uks#t=7) Introduction: David Graham and 4IR.UK
- [1:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-02-03-from-connectivity-to-ai-how-factories-finally-move-data-and-people-with-4ir-uks#t=90) The Siloed Industry and the Talent Gap
- [2:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-02-03-from-connectivity-to-ai-how-factories-finally-move-data-and-people-with-4ir-uks#t=136) Hermes, CFX, and Standardizing Connectivity
- [4:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-02-03-from-connectivity-to-ai-how-factories-finally-move-data-and-people-with-4ir-uks#t=262) The AI Inflection Point and Talent Influx
- [7:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-02-03-from-connectivity-to-ai-how-factories-finally-move-data-and-people-with-4ir-uks#t=475) Adjacent Wins: SPI-to-Printer Feedback Loops
- [8:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-02-03-from-connectivity-to-ai-how-factories-finally-move-data-and-people-with-4ir-uks#t=519) Agentic AI and Business Impact
- [10:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-02-03-from-connectivity-to-ai-how-factories-finally-move-data-and-people-with-4ir-uks#t=609) Marketing Success and Industry Collaboration

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- 4IR.UK (company)
- Hermes (other)
- CFX (other)
- SMEMA (other)
- Global Electronics Association (company)
- Koh Young (company)
- Productronica 2025 (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Innovations in AI: Transforming the Electronics Industry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-02-21-innovations-in-ai-transforming-the-electronics-industry) (OnTrack)
- [Starting Small With AI and Emerging Manufacturing Technology w/ Jarred Knecht](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-30-starting-small-with-ai-and-emerging-manufacturing-technology-w-jarred-knecht) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Industry 4.0 is now Industry 4.5 w/ Justin Goldston](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-01-05-industry-4-0-is-now-industry-4-5-w-justin-goldston) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Moving Past the Pilot Phase in IoT and AI | HiveMQ's Barry Libert | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2025-12-16-moving-past-the-pilot-phase-in-iot-and-ai-hivemqs-barry-libert-internet-of-thing) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Industrial DataOps and Rise of AI Agents w/ Aron Semle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-07-01-industrial-dataops-and-rise-of-ai-agents-w-aron-semle) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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