The IT/OT Handbook

“Ariens and van Lammeren have written the book the industry has needed for a decade, because writing it well requires having genuinely lived on both sides of the divide. These authors have. It shows on every page. The next generation of practitioners—whether from IT or from operations—has more capable technology at their disposal than any before them. What they need is what this book provides: a shared language for the organizational problem, a framework for cooperation that compounds rather than collapses, and the discipline to build foundations before chasing horizons. The goals haven’t changed. What’s now possible in service of those goals has.”

 

“Ariens and van Lammeren have written the book the industry has needed for a decade, because writing it well requires having genuinely lived on both sides of the divide. These authors have. It shows on every page. The next generation of practitioners—whether from IT or from operations—has more capable technology at their disposal than any before them. What they need is what this book provides: a shared language for the organizational problem, a framework for cooperation that compounds rather than collapses, and the discipline to build foundations before chasing horizons. The goals haven’t changed. What’s now possible in service of those goals has.”

 

“This book is a wonderful and overdue handbook for all Industry 4.0 practitioners who have been trying to access the value that we all know remains to be unlocked.”

“The IT/OT Handbook promises to be everything and more than the authors’ blog and podcast are. Based on hands-on experience, thorough analysis, and critical evaluation, it points to a world where, after many years of stagnation, we can finally move forward, making industrial production better, safer, and more efficient.”

“For anyone in manufacturing, energy, or other industries undergoing digital transformation, this is the guide you need to bridge the divide and unlock the full potential of your teams by aligning people and technology.”

“David and Willem have put together a ‘must read’ for anyone who works at or near the intersection of IT and OT. This book provides helpful, practical, and actionable insights that you’ll be able to apply to your own efforts right away.”

“David and Willem have written a practical guide to one of the hardest problems in industry today: getting IT and OT to actually work together….This book stands out because it connects this organizational shift to the technical foundation required to make it real. It’s a clear, actionable path to building systems that scale and turning data into action.”

“David and Willem always bring a grounded and pragmatic view on the realities around manufacturing digitalization and transformation.”

“As physical systems become increasingly software-defined, the line between IT and OT is disappearing. This handbook is a masterclass in industrial convergence, providing a timely and practical guide for navigating that shift. By cutting through the noise to provide a blueprint for breaking down silos, it helps organizations move from fragmented infrastructure to unified, intelligent operations. It is a must-have resource for anyone serious about the future of industrial automation and data-driven decision-making.”

“I spent over thirty years in steam crackers, and I learned early that the people who want to understand your world—not just sell you solutions—are rare. David was one of those people. When we worked together on digitalisation at the Antwerp cracker, he grasped quickly what it means to operate a facility where a single day of downtime costs a million dollars. That shared understanding is exactly what this book delivers: not theory, but the hard-won logic of making digital initiatives work in environments where failure has real consequences."

“Ariens and van Lammeren have written the book the industry has needed for a decade, because writing it well requires having genuinely lived on both sides of the divide. These authors have. It shows on every page. The next generation of practitioners—whether from IT or from operations—has more capable technology at their disposal than any before them. What they need is what this book provides: a shared language for the organizational problem, a framework for cooperation that compounds rather than collapses, and the discipline to build foundations before chasing horizons. The goals haven’t changed. What’s now possible in service of those goals has.”