10 Industrial Technology Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

When Asutosh Padhi and his coauthors set out to write this book, they aimed to challenge the common narrative that American manufacturing is a declining relic. Drawing on their experience at McKinsey working with leading industrial firms, they reveal how a modern industrial technology sector, which they term the "titanium economy," is quietly driving innovation, creating high-paying jobs, and bolstering key industries like aerospace and sustainable materials. You’ll gain insight into the strategic transformations companies are making, including supply chain redesign and technology adoption, which offer a roadmap for revitalizing American industry. This book is especially useful if you want a grounded understanding of how industrial technology underpins economic resilience and growth today.

After analyzing numerous industrial sectors, the authors developed a clear framework for integrating digital technologies with business processes in manufacturing environments. The book guides you through understanding digital transformation’s essentials, from building strong business cases to leveraging AI, IoT, and cloud computing. It offers specific insights on concepts like Digital Twin and Digital Thread, backed by case studies spanning private and public sectors. This is a pragmatic guide for IT and digital leaders aiming to harness Industry 4.0 tools to optimize operations and generate new digital revenue streams.

This tailored book explores the multifaceted world of industrial technology by focusing on your unique background and goals. It covers core principles such as manufacturing automation, cybersecurity essentials, and advanced machinery while delving into specialized areas like lean processes and digital transformation. By synthesizing vast expert knowledge into a format that aligns with your interests, it reveals the interconnected aspects of industry 4.0 innovations and traditional practices. The personalized content matches your skill level and desired learning outcomes, creating an engaging experience that bridges foundational concepts with your specific needs. This approach ensures you gain practical understanding and mastery over the complex landscape of industrial technology.

Ian Glenday brings a unique perspective to Lean manufacturing, combining his scientific background with hands-on experience leading Lean transformations at Reckitt & Colman and collaborating with Lean experts like Dan Jones. This book dives into the challenging balance of achieving both repetition and flexibility in supply chains, presenting real-world examples such as Kimberly-Clark’s journey to illustrate key concepts like heijunka and the pitfalls of traditional planning systems. You'll gain a clear understanding of why frequent plan changes cause constant firefighting and how Lean RFS principles can stabilize operations. If you're involved in supply chain management or manufacturing process improvement, this book offers insightful frameworks to rethink your approach, though it assumes some familiarity with Lean thinking.

Pascal Ackerman's decades of hands-on experience in industrial network security shines through in this second edition, which dives deep into monitoring and defending Industrial Control Systems (ICS). You get practical insights into designing secure ICS architectures, performing thorough risk assessments, and employing threat hunting techniques using tools like the ELK stack. Particularly useful are the detailed scenarios on malware detection and incident response tailored to ICS environments. Whether you're an ICS security professional or venturing into OT cybersecurity, this book equips you with precise methods to strengthen and validate your cybersecurity posture.

John Campbell's decades of hands-on experience in casting technology culminate in this extensive guide, blending metallurgy and manufacturing insights with a unique focus on biofilm content and casting defects. You gain detailed understanding of phenomena like crack initiation and vortex gates, reinforced by Campbell’s own research, including his ‘10 Rules’ for successful casting manufacture. The book’s dual structure—covering both metallurgy principles and practical casting techniques—caters to engineers seeking to improve casting quality and profitability. While technically dense, it’s a resource for professionals aiming to master metal casting processes and design nuances.

This tailored book explores the step-by-step actions required to successfully implement digital transformation in industrial environments. It covers essential concepts of Industry 4.0, focusing on practical pathways that match your background and industry needs. By examining core technologies like IoT, automation, and data analytics, it reveals how to integrate these into existing processes efficiently. The personalized content is designed to address your specific goals and challenges, making complex transformations accessible and actionable. This approach ensures you gain relevant knowledge quickly, empowering you to accelerate your digital journey with confidence and clarity.

Eric D. Knapp brings decades of specialized experience in industrial control systems cybersecurity to this detailed guide, crafted to meet the pressing needs of securing critical infrastructure networks. You’ll dive into the vulnerabilities unique to supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems, alongside practical insights into protocols that underpin smart grids and industrial operations. The book updates its coverage with recent cyber-attack case studies like Trisis and Industroyer, as well as new approaches to risk management and incident response tailored for operational technology environments. Whether you manage industrial networks or research cybersecurity, you gain a solid understanding of both the technical challenges and effective mitigations within this evolving landscape.

Unlike most books on manufacturing, Dennis Kuzmenko challenges the conventional wisdom that innovation is just about adopting new tools. Drawing on over twenty years of direct experience across North America, he guides you through the complex transformation underway in manufacturing, focusing on leadership strategies that harness emerging technologies like AI. You'll explore historical industrial milestones alongside cutting-edge developments, gaining concrete insights into how to navigate and lead in an era defined by rapid technological shifts. This book suits manufacturing executives and innovators eager to reshape their organizations, though it may be dense for casual readers without industry background.

Drawing from his extensive expertise in industrial automation, John Soldatos, with co-authors Oscar Lazaro and Franco Cavadini, explores how digital technologies reshape manufacturing in the Industry 4.0 era. You’ll find detailed analyses of cloud and edge computing applications, alongside standards-based automation solutions that optimize shopfloor performance. The book delves into digital simulation techniques tied to the H2020 MAYA project, offering concrete examples of how combining these solutions can amplify operational benefits. If your work involves integrating advanced automation within manufacturing, this book provides a grounded view of both technologies and deployment strategies, though it assumes some familiarity with industrial systems.

Erik Oberg and Franklin D. Jones crafted this handbook with deep roots in mechanical engineering, drawing from decades of industry expertise. You’ll find detailed tables, formulas, and standards essential for manufacturing processes, from metal casting to additive manufacturing. The book digs into specifics like ASME and ANSI standards updates, CAD/CAM operations, and nontraditional cutting methods, equipping you to handle complex machining and design challenges. If you’re working directly in manufacturing or mechanical engineering, this guide serves as a thorough reference to navigate practical problems and technical calculations.

Drawing from extensive expertise in IT architecture and neuroscience, Giacomo Veneri developed this book to bridge the gap between Industrial IoT theory and practical implementation. You’ll learn to design and deploy robust Industrial IoT networks, integrate cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, and apply streaming and batch machine learning techniques to industrial data. The book dives deep into protocols, edge computing, and workforce analytics, illustrating these concepts through hands-on examples using Node-Red, Kafka, and Python. If you work on industrial automation or IoT infrastructure, this book equips you with the technical know-how to build scalable, secure systems tailored to Industry 4.0 demands.