# DevSecOps in Manufacturing > Why DevSecOps matters for manufacturers, the challenges this shift brings, and how to roll it out step by step. Source: https://www.xalt.de/en/blog/devsecops-in-manufacturing/ TEAM XALT Atlassian Platinum Partner · 27 March 2023 · 7 min Industrial companies are increasingly under pressure to deliver high-quality products faster and more efficiently while ensuring operational security. DevSecOps, a set of principles and practices that bring development, security, and operations teams together, can help companies overcome these challenges and remain competitive in today's market. ## The manufacturing industry is changing - fast Manufacturing companies are increasingly transforming from traditional manufacturers into software companies, experiencing a shift in their processes and approaches. This transformation is driven by the growing importance of software in the manufacturing industry, as modern production processes cannot be changed without a transformation in IT. ### This transformation brings challenges for manufacturing companies One of the biggest challenges is the change in culture and mindset. Traditional manufacturing companies, for example, work in siloed departments and follow established processes and practices, while software development requires a collaborative and agile approach. Another challenge is investing in new tools and technologies to support the software development process. This can involve significant upfront costs and force companies to change their business models. According to a recent survey, 90% of manufacturing companies are investing in software development as part of their digital transformation. In addition, 71% of manufacturing companies state that software is critical to their products and services. This trend is expected to continue, with software spending in the manufacturing industry projected to rise to $13.5 billion by the end of 2023. ### The job market is changing The shift to software-driven manufacturing is also changing the job market. Demand for software developers in the manufacturing industry increased by 20% last year, and we expect it to continue rising in the coming years. This reflects the shift towards software development as a core competency for manufacturing companies. ## What is DevSecOps? DevSecOps is a way of working that promotes collaboration and integration between different departments and areas of responsibility. It aims to optimise the software development process by continuously integrating and deploying small code increments that are gradually tested and [secured](https://www.xalt.de/en/blog/the-essential-role-of-security-in-devsecops/). This enables faster software delivery and more regular updates, increasing the company's efficiency and agility. ### DevSecOps in the manufacturing industry The manufacturing industry can apply DevSecOps to various areas of the business, such as supply chain management, quality control, and customer service. By automating manual and error-prone processes, manufacturers can reduce the risk of errors and improve the overall quality of their products. DevSecOps also helps companies ensure the security of their processes by integrating security practices into the development process. ### There is hope Despite these challenges, the transformation into a software-enabled manufacturing company can bring significant benefits. By leveraging software development and DevSecOps principles, manufacturing companies can improve their efficiency, security, and flexibility, thereby remaining competitive in today's market. Moreover, by overcoming this transformation and its associated challenges, these companies can position themselves for long-term success in the digital age. ## Why is DevSecOps important in the manufacturing industry? Traditional companies have typically worked in isolated departments, where development, security, and operations teams operated separately and often in isolation from one another. This can lead to slow and inefficient processes and an increased risk of errors and security vulnerabilities. DevSecOps helps break down these silos and fosters collaboration and integration between departments. By continuously integrating and deploying small code snippets, manufacturers can reduce the risk of errors and improve the overall quality of their products. DevSecOps also helps remain competitive by enabling them to respond quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs. By delivering software faster and updating more frequently, companies can enhance their responsiveness and agility. ## How to implement DevSecOps in the manufacturing industry Implementing DevSecOps in manufacturing companies requires a cultural shift and a change in mindset. Teams must collaborate, integrate their processes, and commit to automation and continuous improvement. Here are some steps to introduce DevSecOps in the manufacturing industry: Start with a small, cross-functional team: Start with a small team that includes representatives from various departments and functions, including development, security, and operations. This team can serve as a pilot group to test and refine the DevSecOps process. ### Automate as much as possible: Automation can help reduce errors and increase efficiency. Consider automating manual and repetitive tasks, such as testing and software deployment, to free up time and resources for value-adding activities. ### Foster a culture of continuous improvement: Encourage teams to look for ways to continuously improve their processes and practices. This is achieved through regular retrospectives and incorporating feedback from various departments. ### Invest in tools and technologies that support DevSecOps: There are many tools and technologies that can help manufacturers implement DevSecOps, such as version control systems, continuous integration and deployment platforms, and security testing tools. Investing in the right tools can help streamline the development process and enhance security. ### Training and upskilling teams on DevSecOps principles and practices: It is important that all team members are familiar with and understand the DevSecOps process. Training and upskilling can help teams adopt and apply DevSecOps principles and practices. ## Are there proven DevSecOps strategies for manufacturing companies? Implementing DevSecOps in a manufacturing company requires a combination of the right strategies and tools to ensure success. Some proven strategies for manufacturing companies are: ### Start small and scale incrementally Starting with a small, cross-functional team to test the process before scaling it up is a more effective way to introduce DevSecOps than rolling it out across the entire company simultaneously. This approach allows companies to test and refine their strategy before extending it to the whole organisation, thereby reducing the risk of failure. A global automotive supplier, for example, began its DevSecOps journey with a small team focused on automating manual and repetitive tasks. The result of this pilot project was a 20% reduction in the error rate and a 25% increase in efficiency. ### Automate manual and repetitive tasks Automation can significantly boost efficiency by reducing the need for manual, error-prone tasks. Furthermore, manufacturers can free up time and resources for more value-adding activities by automating processes such as testing and deployment. A leading medical device manufacturer introduced automated testing and deployment processes as part of its DevSecOps strategy. This led to a 50% reduction in testing time and a 30% improvement in delivery speed. [Here you can find out](https://www.xalt.de/en/blog/how-to-deploy-to-production-100-times-a-day-ci-cd/) how companies manage to regularly release code (e.g., software updates and improvements) into the production environment. ### Foster a culture of continuous improvement The key to successfully implementing DevSecOps is encouraging teams to continuously improve their processes and practices. This can be achieved through regular retrospectives and by incorporating feedback from various departments. By holding weekly retrospectives and regularly seeking feedback from its teams, an industrial plant manufacturer fostered a culture of continuous improvement that led to a 15% reduction in the error rate. ### Invest in the right tools and technologies There are many tools and technologies that can help manufacturers implement DevSecOps, such as version control systems, continuous integration and deployment platforms, and security testing tools. Investing in the right tools can help streamline the development process and enhance security. #### Common tools and technologies Common tools used in DevSecOps include configuration management tools such as Ansible and Chef, containerisation tools such as [Docker](https://www.docker.com/) and [Kubernetes](https://kubernetes.io/de/), Continuous Integration and Delivery (CI/CD) tools such as [Jenkins](https://www.jenkins.io/) and [Travis CI](https://www.travis-ci.com/), infrastructure-as-code tools such as [Terraform](https://www.terraform.io/), security testing tools such as OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite, and logging and monitoring tools such as [Splunk](https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwjO4sHTzfH9AhWVgFAGHQJaDc8YABAAGgJkZw&sig=AOD64_2PkT_itdkeyJtoWsOAaEBkoh2q5g&q&adurl&ved=2ahUKEwipxrvTzfH9AhUGSkEAHd0QD_EQ0Qx6BAgFEAE) and the ELK Stack. These tools help companies automate tasks, optimise processes, and integrate security into the software development lifecycle. ## Conclusion DevSecOps can help manufacturing companies improve efficiency, security, and agility in today's fast-paced and highly competitive market. Manufacturers can streamline their development process by breaking down silos, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and continuously delivering high-quality products. Implementing DevSecOps requires a cultural shift, the adoption of automation and continuous improvement practices, and investment in tools and technologies that support these principles. As manufacturing companies continue to adopt DevSecOps, we can expect more efficient and secure workflows in the manufacturing industry. DevSecOps is new to your company? In our DevSecOps glossary, you can learn everything about the key terms and technologies. Go to the [Glossary](https://www.xalt.de/en/blog/devsecops-glossary/). ## Ready for DevSecOps on your shop floor? We help you bring development, security, and operations together at your manufacturing company. [Talk to us](https://www.xalt.de/en/contact/) ## More articles ### [The Agent Harness: The Real Foundation of Enterprise AI](https://www.xalt.de/en/blog/agent-harness-foundation-enterprise-ai/) Why the agent harness – not the AI model or the generated code – determines the success of enterprise AI initiatives, and how to build one in five steps. *DevOps* ### [Governing Agentic AI Safely: Zero Trust and Compliance for AI Agents](https://www.xalt.de/en/blog/governing-agentic-ai-zero-trust-compliance/) AI agents are transforming the enterprise at speed – and the risk is growing just as fast. How the "in dubio pro securitate" principle, formal verification, and zero trust keep agentic AI safe and compliant. *DevOps* ### [Shift Left: Catching Bugs Earlier in Your Development Cycle](https://www.xalt.de/en/blog/shift-left/) Bugs found late cost time, money, and trust. The shift-left approach moves testing and quality assurance as early as possible into the development cycle. *DevOps* --- *This version is for AI agents. Every page of this site is available as Markdown: append `index.md` to its path. Index of all pages: [llms.txt](https://www.xalt.de/llms.txt)*