ASSEMBLY Audible

Episoder

• Why AI in Manufacturing Depends on Fixing Factory Data 02.07.2026 16min

  Manufacturers are investing heavily in AI and automation, but many still can’t access or organize the data needed to make those systems useful. Aron Semle, CTO of HighByte, explains how fragmented factory systems and proprietary data structures are limiting smart manufacturing—and why initiatives such as i3X are becoming critical to making industrial AI practical on the plant floor. 
• Why Manufacturers Are Choosing Flexibility Instead of Reshoring 24.06.2026 18min

  Tariffs have reduced direct imports from China, but that doesn't mean manufacturing is coming back to the United States. Patrick Van den Bossche of Kearney explains why companies are building supply chain flexibility instead of committing to reshoring — and why much of the production leaving China is simply moving somewhere else.
• Why AI Adoption in Manufacturing Is Stuck in Pilot Mode 17.06.2026 21min

  Manufacturers are rapidly adopting AI, but most deployments remain limited to small-scale pilots. In this episode, Mike Sabin, CEO of Revalize, explains why scaling AI across the enterprise is proving far more difficult than expected. The conversation explores the key barriers, including fragmented data, legacy systems and the need to shift from viewing AI as a technology project to treating it as an operational transformation.
• A New Chapter for the Advanced Manufacturing Expo 16.06.2026 19min

  Joe Teague discusses AME’s new independent chapter, including this year’s metalworking hall, humanoids and expanded manufacturing focus.Sponsored By:
• AI Vision on the Plant Floor: Where It Works and Where It Doesn’t 10.06.2026 19min

  AI is changing machine vision, but not in the way many manufacturers expect. Matt Moschner, CEO of Cognex, explains where AI vision systems outperform traditional tools, where they don’t and why most real-world applications rely on a hybrid approach.
• Could Trade Deal Uncertainty Slow America’s Manufacturing Comeback? 03.06.2026 21min

  Patrick Lozada, Senior Director of Global Policy at the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, explains how the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, supports manufacturing, regional supply chains, standards alignment and long-term investment certainty. The conversation covers tariffs, reshoring, AI data center demand, grid infrastructure, electrical codes, trade uncertainty and what manufacturers need before committing to new capacity in the United States.Sponsored By:
• Why OEM-Supplier Relationships Improved Despite Tariffs and EV Uncertainty 26.05.2026 21min

  Despite tariffs, EV disruption and supply chain pressure, supplier relationships improved across all six major North American OEMs for the first time in 26 years. Dr. Angela Johnson explains what changed — and why communication and trust are becoming critical competitive advantages.
• Rebuilding the Manufacturing Workforce from the Ground Up 19.05.2026 19min

  Manufacturers need skilled workers now—but traditional training pathways often fall short. In this episode, Justin Brooks explains how short-duration programs are helping people enter manufacturing faster, build confidence on the shop floor and connect directly with employers.
• Are Tariffs Helping or Hurting Manufacturers? 13.05.2026 23min

  Tariffs aren’t impacting every manufacturer the same way. Eddy Azad, founder and CEO of Parsec Automation, explains why some companies gain an advantage while others struggle—and why preparation ultimately determines the outcome.
• AI Is a Human Problem, Not a Technology One 07.05.2026 29min

  AI isn’t failing because of the technology—it’s failing because of how people use it. In this episode, Chris Draper, CEO and co-founder of morriganAI and author of Safe AI Basics and co-author of Governing Artificial Intelligence, challenges the way we think about AI and explains why the real risk—and opportunity—lies in human behavior. Sponsored By:
• What Happens When Your Best Technician Retires? 29.04.2026 21min

  Manufacturers aren’t just losing workers — they’re losing decades of institutional knowledge. Nick Haase, co-founder of MaintainX, explains how the “silver tsunami” is exposing gaps in maintenance data and why companies that fail to capture that knowledge now risk falling behind.
• How Manufacturers Stay Ready for What’s Next 28.04.2026 21min

  Disruptions are inevitable—but being unprepared isn’t. Eddy Azad, founder and CEO of Parsec Automation, explains how manufacturers can build resilience through continuous improvement, visibility and long-term thinking to stay competitive.
• Mark Woeppel on Rethinking Inventory and Breaking the Cycle of Shortages 22.04.2026 16min

  Mark Woeppel explains why many plants fall into a cycle of expediting and reactive decision-making. Drawing on decades of experience, he shares examples of assembly operations overwhelmed by incomplete builds, conflicting priorities and systems that cannot keep pace with real-world conditions.He also introduces the Theory of Constraints as a way to restore stability. By identifying the true constraint and aligning production around it, manufacturers can improve throughput, reduce chaos and regain control of delivery performance.To learn more, join Woeppel for a live webinar on May 20 at 2 p.m. ET, where he will discuss how to right-size inventory levels and prevent assembly line stoppages in modern manufacturing environments.
• Tamer Kadous on How Physical AI Is Driving the Next Shift in Factory Connectivity 14.04.2026 14min

  As manufacturers push deeper into artificial intelligence, a new challenge is emerging: most factory networks weren’t built to support the speed, scale and reliability that modern AI systems require. From robotics to real-time analytics, connectivity is becoming a critical constraint on how far manufacturers can take automation.One of the biggest forces behind that shift is the rise of physical AI: systems that interact with the real world, continuously learning from sensors and feeding data back into models. These applications depend on constant, high-performance communication between machines and centralized systems, placing new demands on factory infrastructure.In this episode, Tamer Kadous explains how evolving connectivity requirements are reshaping private 5G, what manufacturers are learning from early automation deployments and why physical AI could redefine how data, robotics and production systems operate on the plant floor.
• Dawn Fichter on Recruiting Basics, Better Onboarding and Hiring Skilled Manufacturing Workers 09.04.2026 27min

  Dawn Fichter, owner of Tools 4 Hiring, discusses why so many manufacturing roles remain open for months and what hiring managers are often getting wrong. Drawing on more than 15 years of recruiting experience, Fichter explains why the challenge is often not a shortage of people, but a breakdown in process, alignment and expectations. She shares practical advice on how manufacturers can move faster, simplify job requirements and focus less on the perfect resume and more on trainability, mindset and soft skills.
• Greg Dyer on Manufacturing Hiring, Workforce Flexibility and the Future of Factory Talent 01.04.2026 19min

  Greg Dyer, chief commercial officer at Randstad USA, discusses the challenges manufacturers face as they work to recruit, develop and retain the workforce needed to keep production running. With reshoring efforts accelerating and experienced workers retiring in large numbers, manufacturers must rethink how they attract talent and build sustainable workforce pipelines. Dyer explains how the labor market for manufacturing remains strong but increasingly competitive, with companies needing the right mix of skills, location and recruiting strategies to succeed. He also discusses how automation, AI and digital tools are reshaping frontline manufacturing jobs, enabling workers to move beyond repetitive tasks and take on more data-driven and technology-enabled roles.
• Blake Maurer on AI Inspection, Structured Data and Modern Quality Management 23.03.2026 16min

  Blake Maurer of Loopr AI discusses how manufacturers can improve quality inspection by combining human expertise with AI-enabled visual inspection systems. He explains how platforms like Loopr are designed to reduce variability in inspections, digitize quality records and structure manufacturing data so companies can successfully scale AI across their operations. Maurer also explores the challenges manufacturers face when balancing speed with accuracy on the factory floor, why structured and well-labeled data is essential before AI can deliver meaningful results and where human inspectors still outperform machines.
• Downtime Solutions: Power Strategies for Automotive Plants 23.03.2026 11min

  Downtime Solutions: Power Strategies for Automotive Plants explores the role power distribution plays in facilitating efficiency on the factory floor. Tune in to learn how smarter power strategies have helped leading automakers reduce downtime and improve operational flexibility to support rapid production changes.Sponsored By: Starline
• Bill Good on Automation, Digitization and Building the No. 1 U.S. Appliance Manufacturer 18.03.2026 17min

  Bill Good, Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain at GE Appliances, discusses how the company rose to the number one spot in U.S. appliance manufacturing — not simply through scale, but through a deliberate strategy centered on automation, digitization and reshoring. Good explains how GE Appliances is investing in advanced robotics, virtual production planning and real-time data visibility to modernize its plants and strengthen domestic production. From piloting new processes in digital factory environments to launching its first in-house water filter manufacturing line at Appliance Park in Louisville, Kentucky, the company’s approach demonstrates how smart automation and a highly skilled workforce can reduce reliance on overseas supply chains while maintaining world-class output.
• Bill Good on Using AI to Transform U.S. Manufacturing and Workforce Productivity 12.03.2026 20min

  Bill Good, Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain at GE Appliances, shares how artificial intelligence is transforming U.S. manufacturing in this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible. From AI tools that help operators diagnose equipment in real time to automating complex processes, Good explains how technology is being integrated with workforce development and plant modernization to drive productivity, resilience and competitiveness.