Process Improvement for Enterprise OT Asset Intelligence & Lifecycle Management

Abstract

This design project aims to improve the Operational Technology (OT) asset management process by implementing a centralized infrastructure for managing and monitoring industrial automation assets across manufacturing facilities. The initiative focuses on optimizing OT asset inventory and lifecycle management processes to reduce inefficiencies, improve data accuracy, strengthen cybersecurity risk management, and drive standardization across the enterprise. The improvement initiative was conducted following the DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) methodology, ensuring a systematic and data-driven approach. Currently, OT asset inventory is maintained through offline lists that require manual updates whenever systems are upgraded or newly introduced to the manufacturing sites. This approach often leads to data inaccuracies, limited visibility, and delayed updates. By implementing a centralized system with automated network discovery, asset information will be continuously updated and validated in real time. This ensures greater data accuracy, improved lifecycle management, and enables faster, more effective responses to identified vulnerabilities, helping improve system reliability and overall cybersecurity.