From Pilot to Plant-Wide Deployment
The journey from pilot to plant-wide deployment in industrial AI involves structured phases: Foundation, Proof of Concept, Pilot Production, Use Case Expansion, and Plant-Wide Optimization. Each phase builds on the previous, ensuring scalability, trust, and operational success. Key metrics like ROI, downtime reduction, and operator trust guide the process. XenonStack's platform approach enables rapid expansion, with clear steps for integrating AI agents, improving decision-making, and achieving plant-wide optimization with built-in governance and compliance.
The XenonStack Value Proposition
"We don't just deploy AI agents.
We build the decision infrastructure that makes them trustworthy."
Why Is Moving From Pilot to Full-Scale Deployment is #5 Priority for Manufacturing AI?
-
Converts interest into action
- Clear, achievable path forward
- Platform approach enables rapid expansion
- XenonStack provides end-to-end partnership
What Are the Key Phases in Industrial AI Deployment?
Industrial AI solutions are deployed in phases to ensure smooth scaling and minimize risk. These phases range from initial assessments and proof of concept to full-scale deployment and optimization.
Implementation Phases
Phase 0: Foundation (4-6 weeks)
- Assessment & Design: Data readiness, SCADA connectivity, use case prioritization, operational ownership definition, escalation paths.
- ElixirData: Initial context model design , governance ownership and promotion boundaries.
- NexaStack: Integration adapter selection, execution scope definition (read-only/advisory).
Phase 1: Proof of Concept (8-12 weeks)
- ElixirData: Context Graph (single line), Decision Plane (one use case), basic lineage, safety bounds , model validation criteria.
- NexaStack: Agent Runtime (Advisory Mode), historian connection, initial ML model, operator dashboard , approval workflows and feedback capture.
- Success: Model accuracy > 85%, operator acceptance > 70%, ROI validated , operator trust established.
Phase 2: Pilot Production (3-6 months)
- ElixirData: Expanded Context Graph, Supervisory mode, full compliance logging, governance, rollback and exception handling.
- NexaStack: 24/7 operation, real-time OPC-UA, production MLOps, controlled write-back , execution monitoring and verification.
Phase 3: Use Case Expansion (6-12 months)
- ElixirData as Enterprise Platform: Plant-wide context, multi-agent coordination, enterprise policies , periodic model and policy reviews.
- NexaStack Multi-Agent: Quality + Energy + Maintenance agents, cross-agent orchestration , conflict resolution workflows.
Phase 4: Plant-Wide Optimization (12-24 months)
- ElixirData Enterprise: Multi-plant federation, holistic optimization, corporate compliance , continuous improvement using decision lineage.
- NexaStack at Scale: Full agent ecosystem, market-based coordination, conditional autonomy , operational KPIs and autonomy tuning.
What is the goal of the Plant-Wide Optimization phase?
The Plant-Wide Optimization phase maximizes operational efficiency through multi-plant federation, holistic optimization, and continuous improvement via decision lineage.
How Do You Measure Success Beyond ROI?
Measuring Success beyond ROI
Success is measured not only in cost savings, but in operational reliability. Key indicators include reduction in unplanned downtime, faster incident resolution, fewer compliance findings, and operator trust in AI recommendations. These metrics ensure that industrial AI delivers sustained, measurable value.
Investment & Platform Licensing
|
Phase |
Duration |
Services Investment |
Platform License |
|
Foundation |
4-6 weeks |
$50-100K |
Assessment |
|
POC |
8-12 weeks |
$150-300K |
Development |
|
Pilot |
3-6 months |
$200-400K |
Production (limited) |
|
Expansion |
6-12 months |
$300-600K |
Production (plant) |
|
Plant-Wide |
12-24 months |
$500K-1M |
Enterprise |
Platform Differentiation Summary
Why ElixirData + NexaStack vs. Alternatives
|
Capability |
ElixirData + NexaStack |
Generic AI Platforms |
Point Solutions |
|
Manufacturing Context |
Purpose-built context graph |
Generic data models |
No unified context |
|
Decision Governance |
Built-in FDA, ISO, OSHA compliance |
Add-on or missing |
Limited or none |
|
Decision Lineage |
Every decision traced to factors |
Audit logs only |
Basic logging |
|
Promotion Logic |
Advisory → Autonomous progression |
Manual workflows |
No progression |
|
Industrial Integration |
Pre-built SCADA, MES, ERP adapters |
Custom development |
Narrow scope |
|
Multi-Agent Orchestration |
Native coordination, conflict resolution |
Multiple separate tools |
Single function |
|
Edge Deployment |
Process-grade edge runtime |
Cloud-only or limited |
Varies |
Platform Synergy
Context OS (ElixirData) = The system of logic that gives AI agents the context they needAgent.
Platform (NexaStack) = The execution infrastructure that runs AI agents reliably.
Together = The complete stack for the Agentic Manufacturing Enterprise
Platform Technical Specifications
ElixirData Technical Overview
|
Component |
Technology |
Capability |
|
Context Graph |
Graph database (Neo4j/Custom) |
10M+ nodes, sub-second queries |
|
Decision Plane |
Rule engine + ML integration |
Deterministic + probabilistic reasoning |
|
Lineage Engine |
Immutable log (append-only) |
Cryptographic integrity, time-series |
|
Constraint Engine |
Declarative constraints |
Hard/soft limits, complex rules |
|
API Layer |
REST + GraphQL + gRPC |
Integration flexibility |
NexaStack Technical Overview
|
Component |
Technology |
Capability |
|
Agent Runtime |
Container-based (K8s) |
Horizontal scaling, HA |
|
Workflow Engine |
DAG-based orchestration |
Complex multi-step workflows |
|
Model Serving |
MLflow + custom serving |
Multi-model, A/B testing |
|
Integration Adapters |
OPC-UA, MQTT, REST, etc. |
Pre-built industrial connectors |
|
Edge Runtime |
Lightweight containers |
ARM/x86, air-gapped capable |
Conclusion Summary:
Scaling industrial AI from pilot to plant-wide deployment is a structured, phased journey that ensures measurable success and operational reliability. XenonStack’s approach leverages a powerful combination of ElixirData's Context OS and NexaStack's execution infrastructure to provide a clear, achievable path from proof of concept to full-scale optimization. With built-in decision governance, compliance, and continuous improvement, XenonStack ensures that AI agents are not only efficient but also trustworthy. Success is measured not just in cost savings, but in enhanced operational metrics such as reduced downtime, faster incident resolution, and increased operator trust. By following this roadmap, manufacturers can seamlessly scale their AI solutions and unlock sustainable value across their operations.
Complete Series
Blog 1: The Missing Layer in Manufacturing AI: Context Graph
Blog 2: The Core AI Agents Powering Smart Manufacturing