EP 3 - Henkel's Dr. Michael Honné on Building Smart, Self-Monitoring Industrial Adhesives

From traditional industrial adhesives to smart materials that detect their own failures — that's the journey Dr. Michael Honné, Head of MRO 4.0/Industry 4.0 at Henkel is leading at Henkel's LOCTITE Pulse division. Michael discusses how Henkel leverages its deep chemical expertise to create innovative digital maintenance solutions. 

He also tells ZJ about their transition from product-focused to solution-driven business models, practical approaches to scaling digital implementations, and their strategic vision for combining chemical knowledge with digital capabilities. 

Topics discussed:

• Development of predictive maintenance solutions combining chemical expertise with digital technologies for enhanced industrial operations.
• Strategic approach to scaling digital solutions across multiple sites while maintaining ROI and customer value proposition.
• Implementation of subscription-based business models and the transition from product-focused to solution-driven operations.
• Integration of chemical expertise with digital capabilities to create innovative monitoring and maintenance solutions.
• Practical considerations for successful digital transformation, including build vs. buy decisions and partnership strategies.
• Future trends in industrial digitalization, including the application of generative AI and smart chemical compounds.
• Development of self-monitoring adhesives and coatings that function as their own sensors without additional hardware.
• Strategic balance between chemical knowledge and digital innovation in creating sustainable competitive advantages.
• Best practices for manufacturing companies seeking to implement digital transformation initiatives effectively.

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