In an industry projected to reach $4.07 trillion by 2033, Rajeev Saxena stands at the forefront of manufacturing’s digital revolution. “Moving into the digital age is less about technology and more about understanding how businesses think, operate, and grow,” says Saxena, whose leadership has yielded measurable successes including a 30 percent productivity boost in oil and gas operations and a 25 percent increase in e-learning platform adoption.
The Manufacturing Sector’s Digital Shift
The manufacturing industry, traditionally slow to adapt to technological change, is now undergoing a sweeping change. In 2022, the global digital transformation market in manufacturing was valued at $491 billion, with projections suggesting it will soar to $4.07 trillion by 2033, driven by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.2 percent. This unprecedented growth is powered by revolutionary technologies—IoT devices, robotics, and AI—reshaping production processes and enabling manufacturers to achieve new levels of efficiency, cost reduction, and quality enhancement.
As Program delivery director and Business relationship manager at an esteemed multinational technology company, Saxena has emerged as a key architect of this transformation. His most notable achievement was managing delivery of a massive divestiture program for a chemical manufacturing giant, overseeing the merger and subsequent division. This complex project demanded more than technical expertise—it required strategic vision to create autonomous digital ecosystems while maintaining operational agility.
“More than just splitting systems, the project called for out-of-the-box focused on creating a foundation for future growth,” Saxena explains. “We built digital ecosystems that allowed each entity to operate independently while maintaining as much agility as possible.”
A Career Built on Strategic Leadership
Saxena’s journey to digital leadership began with a powerful combination of technical and business education—a Master’s in Computer Applications and a Management degree from XLRI Jamshedpur. Though he started by coding in C++ and UNIX for networking giants, his unique blend of technical expertise and business acumen quickly propelled him into leadership roles where he could drive larger-scale transformations.
Saxena’s portfolio showcases the breadth of his impact across industries. Beyond his successes in manufacturing, he drove the development of an e-learning platform that achieved a 25 percent increase in adoption, and leveraged advanced system programming to improve an oil and gas major’s land seismic platform productivity by 30 percent.
His achievements are underpinned by an impressive array of certifications, including PMP certification from PMI.org and Professional Scrum Master I (PSM1) from Scrum.org. His additional training in design thinking has proven particularly valuable as manufacturers transition toward individualized production models.
The Challenges of Transformation
Despite the digital revolution’s promise, manufacturing faces significant hurdles in its transformation journey. Legacy systems create technological barriers, while implementation costs deter smaller firms. Perhaps most critically, a widening skills gap leaves many manufacturers struggling to find talent capable of managing advanced digital tools.
Saxena’s approach to these challenges combines pragmatic solution-finding with innovative thinking. As an Agile Coach, he pioneered release train models that revolutionized cross-partner collaboration across multiple geographies. “New changes are never easy,” Saxena admits. “But the alternative—stagnation—is far worse.”
The Road Ahead
As manufacturing approaches 2030, emerging technologies like generative AI and digital twins are poised to revolutionize traditional production processes. This evolution is further driven by an increasing focus on sustainability, as manufacturers seek green technologies to meet both regulatory requirements and evolving consumer expectations.
Saxena’s current initiatives exemplify this forward-thinking approach, with his team developing AI-driven analytics solutions to optimize supply chains and reduce waste—critical innovations for manufacturers facing rising costs and global competition.
When questioned on the trajectory of his career and its place in the future, Saxena offers a measured perspective: “Every project I’ve worked on has been part of a larger puzzle—one where technology serves as both the tool and final product. The future will belong to those who can see beyond immediate challenges and build systems that endure.”
