The Future Is Now: Eddy Azad of Parsec Automation Corp On How Their Technological Innovation Will Shake Up The Tech Scene

Success is elusive — you must adjust, retry, and persist. You do things expecting a certain outcome. If it doesn’t happen — after all, setbacks are part of the process — you have to regroup and try again. Improve your process but stick with it.

As a part of our series about cutting-edge technological breakthroughs, I had the pleasure of interviewing Eddy Azad.

Over the last thirty years, Eddy has closely worked with Parsec’s global clients and partners to develop practical strategies for managing the complexities inherent in most manufacturing operations. As Parsec Founder and CEO, Eddy is directly involved in steering the deployment of Parsec’s manufacturing execution system (MES) platform, TrakSYS, with an emphasis on delivering measurable business value for the users. Through the promotion of creative thinking, innovation, and continuous learning, Eddy has played an integral part in the successful deployment of hundreds of solutions in more than 140 countries around the world.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I’ve always been curious about how things are made. On a broader scale, let’s call it manufacturing. And more specifically, I’ve been curious about how technology could make a major impact on the way products are designed and produced. This intrigue both influenced my field of study and shaped my career. My first job showed me how outdated many aspects of product design and manufacturing could be, and I was convinced there was a better way. Most manufacturing operations are complex and dependent on many factors, including raw goods, people, business systems, procedures, equipment, production, regulations, and more. Very early on, I decided I wanted to start a business aimed at managing these complexities using smart solutions and technologies.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began your career?

A few short years after I’d started Parsec, we’d been awarded a significant contract at one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world. The project was exciting and very challenging. Once the work was completed and the solution was successfully delivered, I had a chance to speak with a group of company executives about the project. I was disappointed to learn they didn’t quite understand the value of what was achieved; they did, however, understand the cost. That was the turning point. We couldn’t just deliver solutions; we had to be able to measure and quantify outcomes. That’s where the idea for TrakSYS, Parsec’s manufacturing execution system, was born, and our path as a company altered.

Can you tell us about the cutting-edge technological breakthroughs that you are working on? How do you think that will help people?

As I’ve previously mentioned, most manufacturing operations are quite complex. Parsec’s goal is to make managing these complex operations as simple as possible. We deal with hugely variant infrastructures and technologies, including very large sets of disparate data sources and collection approaches; significantly different types of operations, systems, and products; and varying expectations. Because of this, we’ve been working on technologies and best practices to tame these real challenges for our customers. Our software is accessible, secure, scalable, extensible, supportable, and affordable. Using our technology, manufacturers can deliver high-quality products at reasonable prices, reduce waste, lower energy consumption, and shorten their time to market. We’ve proven the effectiveness of our technology and will continue pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation to set the bar even higher.

How do you think this might change the world?

TrakSYS makes it possible for manufacturers to be closer to the needs and demands of their customers. It significantly reduces the environmental impacts of manufacturing and transportation. TrakSYS makes our customers leading competitors in their markets, allows them to keep their plants going, and helps keep their workers gainfully employed.

Keeping “Black Mirror” in mind, can you see any potential drawbacks of this technology that people should think more deeply about?

With any technology, you must take responsibility for its purpose and provide guidance for its intended use. As digital technologies evolve, capabilities such as machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) will become more prevalent in manufacturing operations. We’re still in the early stages of having applied, practical, and consistently useful ML and AI within manufacturing operations. This will evolve and become more and more commonplace. It’s a matter of properly governing how these technologies are to be used.

Was there a “tipping point” that led you to this breakthrough? Can you tell us that story?

In reality, no one has an overabundance of time, resources, or funds. It became very clear early on that it was not a question of whether we could create one-off, custom solutions to solve inherently complex problems for one customer, but rather, could we solve these same problems consistently, effectively, and economically for most, if not all, customers. So, we charted our company’s journey to focus on building a new solutioning platform that could be widely applicable across a diverse set of industries with their own challenges to overcome. This clearly had many advantages ranging from ease of use, avoidance of obsolescence, a robust technology roadmap, and a significant economy. We believe our technology has successfully delivered the advantages as you look at the large scale of deployments across the world in various industries.

What do you need to lead this technology to widespread adoption?

Technology (specifically our MES/MOM platform, TrakSYS) can and does play a huge part in making processes more efficient, eliminating waste, and eventually contributing to new innovations that can revolutionize industries (faster innovation, new products, lower carbon footprint, recycling, reclamation, new energy sources/techniques, etc.). It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. The manufacturing industry is, at this point, getting more steeped in its digital transformation. It is becoming increasingly clear — across all industries and sectors — that adopting systems like TrakSYS is not only paramount to remaining competitive and lucrative. These tools are essential to ensuring brand integrity, meeting new, increasingly stringent regulations and green initiatives, and (ultimately) keeping a facility’s lights on, so to speak.

What have you been doing to publicize this idea? Have you been using any innovative marketing strategies?

Apart from the usual advertising and marketing activities, we really focus on connecting with our customers and channel partners. With advanced technology like ours, there’s quite a bit of education and knowledge-sharing that must take place to achieve the desired result. The more people know about our mission, focus, and platform’s capabilities — the faster they can get started on the path of achieving results that will keep moving their business forward. We’re trying to connect with business leaders, system integrators, and thought leaders around the world to spread awareness of how manufacturers can benefit from our technologies for effective digital transformation.

Is there a particular person whom you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My very first job out of school was at an aerospace company. Interestingly enough, advanced technologies were not widely in use. This company designed and manufactured complex systems for military aircraft, but they were still operating like it was the 1930s and ’40s. During this time, I wanted to demonstrate what the company could do with computer-based technology, but I’d been met with intense resistance. I found an ally in the head of sales; he had come from tech, and I knew he’d be receptive to my ideas. This guy went out of his way to help me and get me all the materials and supplies I needed to showcase what we could accomplish with better technology. Afterward, when I thanked him for going out on a limb to help me, he simply encouraged me to continue paying it forward to others who may need my help down the road. That made an indelible impression on me and became a philosophy for conducting my personal and business lives. Help others whenever you can, and don’t expect a payback when you do someone a favor.

How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?

To the extent practicable, we do our best to avoid using singular pronouns like “I” and “me,” instead opting for words like “we” and “ours” — words that more accurately reflect the combined efforts that equate to our success. So, from the company perspective, we’ve been focused on being fair and good to our team members. Our typically long tenures attest to this fact. We work hard to be good to our customers — going out of our way to deliver value to them. Our technology is designed to provide better outcomes for our customers, which in turn benefits their employees and customers. By using our technology, manufacturers make positive environmental and social impacts. Personally, I have stayed with the philosophy of helping others when I’m able to. This is not for receiving recognition but more a matter of how I wish to live.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? Please share a story or example for each.

There is value in experience. The concept of experience and an understanding of its immense value was missing when I first started, which is normal. Ironically, even if someone had told me this, it wouldn’t have made a difference. You have to build experience before you understand its deep value.

Building a company is not an individual sport. You have to be able to work with others in order to get things done. You don’t need to know and do everything on your own.

Put your best effort in and when you need help, set aside your pride and ask for it. You simply must have (or find) people who can actually help you.

Success is elusive — you must adjust, retry, and persist. You do things expecting a certain outcome. If it doesn’t happen — after all, setbacks are part of the process — you have to regroup and try again. Improve your process but stick with it.

Learn about finance. Building a business requires financial savvy. Make sure you have the best advice you can get. If you don’t know how to do this, get help.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

I really don’t have an earth-shatteringly new concept to share with you beyond what we’ve already discussed. As a company, we’re committed to being good and fair with our team members and our customers. We’ve focused on building a product that has positive environmental and social outcomes. As an individual, I’ve consciously focused on making an additive and responsible impact — at work and in my personal life. This is a non-trivial pursuit and needs constant assessment and recalibration. If I were to provide advice, I’d say be a responsible global citizen. There’s no single definition for this responsibility. You must find yours.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

My wife always reminds me that “Life is messy.” I’ve finally learned to accept this, or at the very least, understand it. Sometimes, you work really hard at something, and things don’t go your way … get up, dust yourself off, and do better the next time. You have to be determined and focused, but you also have to be prepared that things might not go your way, or your idea might not succeed. Do your best to get over it and move forward.

How can our readers follow you on social media?

You can find Parsec on LinkedIn.

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational.