This article is based on a keynote presentation given by Srinath Jonnalagadda, VP of Industry Strategy for Design & Manufacturing at Autodesk at Autodeks University 2024. Watch the full panel here. 

We’re living in an incredible time for design and manufacturing. Today, the global industry is worth over $10 trillion—and it’s not slowing down. By 2028, that number is projected to skyrocket to $16 trillion. And that’s all thanks to the pragmatists and innovators in manufacturing who are driving this growth and making the future with every design, every innovation, and every breakthrough. But here’s where it gets interesting.  

The pace of product design, development, and manufacturing is accelerating like never before. Just think—only a few years ago, a coffee maker simply brewed coffee. But today? That same consumer product is a smart device, equipped with touchscreens, customizable settings, sensors for that perfect brew, and even smartphone connectivity. This rapid evolution demonstrates the broader challenges and opportunities manufacturers face today, where design, mechanical engineering, electronics, and software all converge.   

The power of data

So, how do we lead the way in this rapidly shifting landscape? The answer is clear: Data. Data is now our most valuable resource and is the driving force to our success. But the real question is: How do we use data to break down barriers and change the way we collaborate? How can we tap into data to help you speed up the design and manufacture of complex, innovative products? And how do we unlock the full potential of AI through this data? First, we’re ramping up efficiency by focusing on interoperability. That means smarter workflows, lower costs, and your trusted tools working together effortlessly. It doesn’t even matter if your tools are ours or someone else’s.  

AI-driven innovation: A new era

Next, it’s about sparking innovation with AI. Think creating more complex, more personalized products that truly resonate with your customers. Take Kia Motors. They’re not just experimenting with AI—they’re using it to revolutionize car design. By feeding new on-trend designs into generative AI, they’ve cut design time from weeks to minutes. Yes, you heard that right. What once took weeks can now be done in minutes. This isn’t just efficiency—it’s next-level creativity.  

The future of connected design and manufacturing

Data isn’t just something you collect, it’s the lifeblood that connects everything in your business. It doesn’t matter what you make. Your tools and data must work together. That’s why Autodesk Fusion is more than just CAD, CAM, and CAE.     

It’s an end-to-end cloud platform that’s ready for anything—PLM, MES, you name it. And we’re expanding Fusion to meet every need across the entire product development lifecycle. We’re building a future where your tools and data aren’t just compatible—they’re unstoppable, all powered by Fusion. Fusion has grown to handle even the most complex project teams, making collaboration easier and more scalable.  

Interoperability: Making your tools work together

So, whether you’re managing complex assemblies in Inventor, keeping data secure with Vault, or pushing the boundaries in Alias, these tools are getting stronger, more flexible, and ready for whatever comes next. Today, you’ll hear more about the investments we’re making to strengthen our core products. And make your data work for a new era of collaboration. One that’s flexible, connecting desktop to cloud to any other apps your teams need. This shift is opening new possibilities across the industry.    

Take Kennametal, for example. They make the industrial tools that build the world’s most complex machines. Their tools are packed with data, but until now, that data has been stuck in silos. Kennametal is changing the game by integrating its machining data directly into Fusion. This allows them to simulate machining processes with precision and get each part right the first time. And it’s not just Kennametal. This connection opens doors for more manufacturers to create better products, faster. It’s the convergence of design and manufacturing data, helping everyone make more of anything, and it’s happening right now.  

Unlocking a new level of agility

But what if we could push this even further? What if connected data could break down even more barriers expanding beyond industry silos? Imagine your designs, machines, factories, and people all part of a single, seamless digital thread. This would give you complete visibility from design to production to construction. Only Autodesk can enable this data thread with our portfolio.   

This is the kind of new territory that companies like Bridgestone are exploring—investing in 3D scanning to create detailed building models for factory retrofits and showing how connected data can revolutionize even the most established industries. Bridgestone is bringing together design, manufacturing, factory, and construction data through the Autodesk Platform. So, when they spotted a new market trend in large rim diameter production, they had the data and tools to quickly pivot their factories. This agility allowed them to capture market share ahead of competitors. That’s the power of connected data in driving real business outcomes. This is the power of Fusion. 

Harness the power of transformation

The power to drive transformation is in your hands. It’s not some far-off goal—it’s a journey that happens with every decision you make and every small step you take. Our platform is designed to help you connect all your tools. So, if you’re on a desktop or using third-party tools, Fusion is here to help you get more out of your data. 

Companies like Kennametal, Kia, and Bridgestone are just like yours, using technology to push their industries forward. They’re not trying to make massive leaps overnight. They’re taking steady steps to become more connected, more creative, and more competitive—and so can you. It’s about becoming a change agent and making progress that sticks.  

And finally, AI is reimagining the way we design and make. It’s no longer a nice-to-have—it’s essential. By leveraging AI and data, you’re not just keeping up—you’re staying ahead. You’re making smarter decisions, predicting what’s coming next, and opening new opportunities.   

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