# 162: How Data and Automation are Shaping the Future of the Bourbon Industry with Opus Integration Co-Founders Don Ault and Scott Feldmeier

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2023-11-21
- Length: 39m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Don Ault, CEO, and Scott Feldmeier, COO of Opus Integration, discuss how data and automation are transforming the bourbon industry, specifically highlighting their work with Heaven Hill Distillery. They explain the convergence of IT and OT, the critical role of smart devices and Rockwell Automation's PlantPAx platform in enabling proactive maintenance, and the importance of educating floor teams to embrace digital transformation. The co-founders also detail their complementary partnership dynamics and predict that tracking individual barrels through rick houses using RFID and environmental data will be the next major innovation for distillers.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=0) Introduction: Don Ault and Scott Feldmeier of Opus Integration
- [4:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=246) Opus Integration's Entry into the Bourbon Industry
- [6:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=378) Kentucky's History and Economic Impact of Bourbon
- [9:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=578) Heaven Hill Distillery Tour and Sustainability
- [11:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=692) Evolution from Manual Processes to Automation
- [14:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=885) Bridging IT and OT Infrastructure Gaps
- [17:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=1069) Building Intelligence into Greenfield Distilleries
- [20:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=1244) Educating Floor Teams and Executives on Automation
- [24:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=1492) The Game-Changing Impact of PlantPAx Libraries
- [27:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=1625) Louisville's Broader Manufacturing Landscape
- [30:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-11-21-162-how-data-and-automation-are-shaping-the-future-of-the-bourbon-industry-with#t=1859) Co-Founder Dynamics and Future Barrel Tracking

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Opus Integration (company)
- Heaven Hill Distillery (company)
- Watch Hill Proper (other)
- Rockwell Automation (company)
- Vantage Point (product)
- PlantPAx (product)
- Logix (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From Paper and Spreadsheets to Connected Data: Making the Digital Leap w/ Ian Burns](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-03-10-from-paper-and-spreadsheets-to-connected-data-making-the-digital-leap-w-ian-burn) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [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)
- [Innovating Sustainable, Reliable, and Productive Technologies with David Vasko](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-04-27-innovating-sustainable-reliable-and-productive-technologies-with-david-vasko) (Over the Air)
- [Get Started w/ Data Collection & Robotics Today w/ Aaron Prather](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-08-17-get-started-w-data-collection-robotics-today-w-aaron-prather) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [How software-defined manufacturing fits into real factory operation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-08-21-how-software-defined-manufacturing-fits-into-real-factory-operation) (The Robot Report Podcast)

## Citing this page

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