Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation Vision in the Machinery Industry

Gökhan Çetinkaya, Chairman of the Board of GNC Makina, one of the key players in the machining industry, discussed digital transformation, the sector’s transformation processes, artificial intelligence, and SMEs’ approach to this transformation.

Gökhan Çetinkaya Discussed Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation in the Machinery Industry, and SMEs’ Approach to These Developments

Gökhan Çetinkaya stated that digital transformation is not only the leading trend in industry but across all sectors, emphasizing that the foundation of this transformation is increasing efficiency in production. He noted that as efficiency reaches higher levels, competitiveness and, accordingly, exports will also increase, adding that all of this will be achieved through machinery and technology.

Çetinkaya described the current state and developments of digital transformation in the sector as follows:

“First of all, it is critically important for machines to integrate into this transformation and for businesses to adapt to it. Once machines entered our lives, production accelerated, precision and production quality improved significantly. All of these developments increased our competitiveness as a country. With mechanization, human errors moved into the background, and naturally, costs were reduced as well.”

“Artificial Intelligence Makes Human Work Easier”

Stating that artificial intelligence is now present in every aspect of life, Çetinkaya underlined that integrating AI into production and industry is no longer optional but essential. He emphasized that efficiency and competitiveness are at the core of this transformation and added that Türkiye is not the only manufacturing country, but rather competing with many global rivals.

Çetinkaya also pointed out that artificial intelligence should not be viewed as something separate from humans, describing AI as:“Systems that make human work easier, optimize processes, and accelerate operations.”

“Digital Transformation is a Must!”

Gökhan Çetinkaya also addressed SMEs’ digital transformation journey, summarizing the process as follows:

“SMEs are also working on this area. They have to. Because they are aware of the necessity of digital transformation. This change is not something that happens overnight. It is a process for SMEs, and at the same time a cultural transformation. It means leaving old habits behind and implementing what is required within the digital transformation process. Training your teams and employees, abandoning old habits, and getting everyone to adopt this change is not easy. But the reality is that companies that fail to adapt to transformation will shrink and eventually disappear.”

“Understanding the Customer and Developing Need-Oriented Production is Critical”

Çetinkaya emphasized that artificial intelligence does not only improve efficiency and speed, but also enables companies to produce tailored solutions for customers.He stated:“The most important aspect is the ability to produce customized solutions. Understanding the customer is extremely important. Artificial intelligence is very active in this area—defining the customer, analyzing their past behavior, building data around it, and optimizing production accordingly. The better processes are optimized, the faster production becomes. Our era demands speed, flexibility, and rapid response. By meeting all these conditions, companies can respond to customers faster. As efficiency increases, costs decrease, and competitiveness in the global market strengthens.”