Margins are under pressure.
Significant savings are already in your building.
Most mid-market manufacturers are sitting on six-figure recoverable value inside systems they already own. We help you find it, capture it, and build the data foundation that makes the next decade of automation actually work.
10%
Raw material cost increase over two years.
75%+
Named cost & trade uncertainty their #1 concern.
60%
Of AI projects abandoned without AI-ready data.
Based on the SDS Data Intelligence Framework™
10%
Raw material cost increase over two years — while margins stay flat.
75%+
Of manufacturers named cost & trade uncertainty their #1 concern every quarter of 2025.
60%
Of AI projects abandoned without AI-ready data infrastructure, per Gartner.
What's driving the conversation
Three pressures. One foundation.
Cost Pressure
31% of manufacturers are in questionably bankable territory.
Raw material costs up ~10% over two years. Trade uncertainty at record highs. The companies that navigate this aren't doing it on instinct — they're doing it on data.
See the cost-pressure analysis →Workforce Pressure
42% of any employee's knowledge exists only in their head.
1 in 3 workers over 55. When institutional knowledge walks out the door, it doesn't come back — unless you've built a system to capture it.
See the staffing analysis →AI Pressure
Only 6% of companies have data infrastructure that's fully AI-ready.
Your board is asking about AI. The honest answer is that AI only works when the data underneath it is clean, connected, and governed.
See the AI readiness analysis →Our methodology
The SDS Data Intelligence Framework™
Close the data gap. Drive AI outcomes. Capture measurable ROI.
A proven five-step methodology for mid-tier manufacturers ready to connect their systems, modernize their workflows, and turn data into decisions. Built from 25 years of operational leadership — not from a slide deck.
See the full framework →Strategic Clarity
Align data goals with business outcomes. Define what measurable ROI looks like.
Data Foundation
Audit, clean, and govern your data so it's trustworthy and AI-ready.
Systems Integration
Connect ERP, MES, CRM, and other siloed systems into a unified data layer.
Operational Insight
Real-time dashboards and reporting your operations team will actually use.
Automation & AI Readiness
Targeted automation and ML where the ROI is clear — not where it's fashionable.
Our Engagement Ladder
Discovery, Strategic Plan, and Roadmap
A focused 4–6 week engagement that maps your current data infrastructure, identifies your highest-ROI opportunities, and produces a prioritized roadmap your team can act on.
Learn more →Data Transformation
Implementation of the foundational data layer: connecting systems, cleaning data, deploying dashboards your operations team will actually use, and putting governance in place.
Learn more →Custom Software & AI
Custom applications, ML models, and AI-driven automation for manufacturers who have the foundation in place and are ready to extract measurable ROI from it.
Learn more →Results in the real world
Tier-2 Auto Parts Manufacturer
Phase 1
Inspection moved off the floor
Manual quality inspection was consuming inspector time directly on the production floor — one line, one inspector, no leverage. We redesigned the process and built the tooling to move inspection into a centralized office environment, where a single inspector can monitor and manage multiple lines simultaneously.
Phase 2
Foundation laid for up to 95% reduction in manual inspection
With the new process in place, we built structured data collection across the line — capturing the production variables, defect patterns, and inspection outcomes needed to train an ML model. The model is designed to flag high-risk components before manual review, with a projected reduction in manual inspection volume of up to 95%.
Phase 3 · In Development
Self-directed model training for new parts
The next phase replaces the manual model-building process entirely. Inspectors will begin feeding data using the software — and the system will use that unstructured input to auto-configure and train a new detection model, no data scientist required.
Free tools for manufacturers
Built by someone who gets it.
I love people, business, and data, in that order. I spent 25 years in operational leadership — managing P&Ls, leading teams, and solving the exact problems I now help manufacturers solve. That's the difference between a data consultant and a data-enabled operating partner.
More about Erik and Simplified Data Solutions →Let's spend 30 minutes looking at your operation.
No deck. No pitch. A real conversation about where the data gaps are and what fixing them is worth — in plain numbers.
Schedule a 20-Minute Conversation