The Power of Clean Data in Smart Manufacturing
“Step one, know how to collect the data. You need the historical data in order to analyze it.”
Shelly Johnson
Window Technology Manager, Sierra Pacific Industries
Clean data is the new fuel for smart manufacturing. When John Wheeler sat down with Shelly Johnson of Sierra Pacific Industries, the message was clear: in an industry built on craftsmanship, the next competitive edge comes from how well you capture, connect, and act on information.
From Seed to Window: An Engineered Ecosystem
Sierra Pacific is a fourth-generation, family-owned company that literally grows its products from the ground up. From planting trees to cutting logs, building windows, and generating clean energy from sawdust, it’s a vertically integrated operation where nothing goes to waste.
That stewardship mindset permeates every decision: utilize what you have, optimize every process, and build smarter each time.
From Data to Decisions
Shelly’s philosophy: you cannot optimize what you did not capture. Before AI or analytics can drive insights, data must be clean, consistent, and complete.
Her framework for operational data:
- Capture: Build systems that record real events.
- Store: Keep history to uncover trends and seasonality.
- Refine: Fill gaps and standardize formats.
- Analyze: Turn raw inputs into decisions.
- Repeat: Each decision reveals new questions to measure next.
“You identify the challenge, then refine your data,” John said. “Step one is capturing it.”
Delivering Insight Before It’s Asked For
Shelly’s team doesn’t wait for leadership to ask for a report. They anticipate the question before it’s spoken.
“You’re always chasing what data needs to get in front of the individuals who make decisions,” she said. “You have to know what they’ll need before they know it themselves.”
That forward-looking approach is reshaping how Sierra Pacific hires and structures its teams. The company recently added a dedicated data professional to expand AI use, refine collection systems, and turn information into insight faster.
Choosing the Right Partners, Embracing Cloud Adoption
True to its culture, Sierra Pacific builds from the inside out. But being homegrown doesn’t mean going it alone.
When it came time to modernize, the company doubled down on its partnership with Paradigm, moving its window operations to the cloud for speed, scalability, and simplicity.
The goal: be the easiest company to do business with, from dealer to retailer to homeowner.
Leading with a Growth Mindset
“Replace I can’t with I can’t yet. That one word changes everything.”
Shelly believes great leaders see potential before their teams do. When someone feels stuck, she helps them reframe it. “They haven’t figured it out yet,” she says. “But they will.”
That mindset builds confidence and autonomy. It’s how teams learn to trust their instincts and their data. “You have to let people learn by fire,” Shelly said. “That’s where growth happens.”
Keep Running
Her leadership philosophy extends beyond data. “If you’re running from a bear and you stop, you die,” Shelly said with a laugh. It’s a fitting metaphor for the speed of change in manufacturing and tech.
The companies that keep iterating, even while under pressure, are the ones that survive and lead.
Music, Teams, and Timing
Outside of work, Shelly is a musician. She says the same principles apply on stage and at Sierra Pacific: precision, timing, and chemistry.
Every project is a performance; when everyone plays their part, listens for the changes, and delivers on cue, the result is harmony. “I’m the baton leader,” she said. “I just want the group to keep rocking.”
Why This Conversation Matters
Sierra Pacific proves that sustainability, innovation, and data discipline can coexist and thrive. Clean data is not just a technical goal. It’s a cultural one.
Key takeaways for industry leaders:
- Capture before you analyze. Build the foundation first.
- Anticipate what decisions will need to be made tomorrow.
- Simplify systems to move faster and scale smarter.
- Lead with a growth mindset, not yet is still progress.
The companies that win will move like Sierra Pacific: rooted in tradition, driven by data, and always running toward what’s next.
Listen to Episode 8
Hear the full conversation with Shelly Johnson, Window Technology Manager at Sierra Pacific Industries, on the Paradigm Industry Insiders Podcast, hosted by John Wheeler.
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