Manufacturing Happy Hour

Jaksot

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  302: Philly's Answer to the Talent Shortage (LIVE in King of Prussia, PA) 15.09.2026 56min

  You can count on Philly to bring the energy!Recorded live in King of Prussia at the final stop of the Northeast leg of the All-American Manufacturing Summer Tour, this episode features the loudest, most engaged crowd Chris has had on the show yet.Ashley, Brett, and Matt open the show with a look at what makes the Philadelphia manufacturing ecosystem tick, and why collaboration, not competition, might be the region's biggest advantage.Hannah and Greg then join Matt to talk workforce development, and some of the most creative approaches to the talent shortage you'll hear on the show all year.In this episode, find out:What inspired one shop owner to build a group where members share equipment, knowledge, and even trade secrets with people who'd traditionally be seen as competitorsWhy locating a machine shop in the heart of Philadelphia, despite the traffic, parking, and wage tax, turned out to be a competitive advantageHow a youth basketball nonprofit ended up building a skilled trades program for teenagers who don't want to go to collegeWhy the region's defense industry is driving serious demand for skilled manufacturing workersWhat convinced a group of manufacturing leaders that hiring from a more diverse talent pool is a genuine business advantage, not just the right thing to doWhat it really takes to change how an entire generation sees a career in the tradesEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"That's a competitive advantage for us when we're hiring from a diverse group. Our spindles are running more." - Matt Bruner, President & Co-Founder at American Precision Works"What makes Philadelphia great is that now we have that willingness to change. Philly is really spearheading that campaign to make manufacturing and the collaboration between all of us more open" - Ashley Watkins, Sales & Marketing Manager at JBM Technologies"I don't hide any of my prints when we do the group meetings. I'm not afraid of anyone coming in and stealing my work." - Brett Lister, Youth Basketball, Business Owner at B&B Dynamic MachiningLinks & mentions:Ashley Watkins - Sales & Marketing Manager at JBM TechnologiesMatt Bruner - President & Co-Founder at American Precision WorksGregory Thomson - Director of Skilled Building Trades at PhiladelphiaBrett Lister - Youth Basketball, Business Owner at B&B Dynamic MachiningHannah McGarry - Director at Workforce EngagementCliftonLarsonAllen, presenting partner for the All-American Manufacturing Summer Tour, offering industry-focused wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services.MaintainX, presenting partner for the tour, helping frontline teams streamline maintenance, standard operating procedures, and more from a mobile device.NTMA (New Jersey/Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Tooling and Machining Association), a local partner organization supporting manufacturers with resources, events, and a national network.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  IMTS After Hours: Your Unofficial Guide to IMTS 2026 featuring Jim Mayer and Emily Wilkins 11.09.2026 25min

  Where's the party at? While there’s a lot to see on the show floor at IMTS 2026, some of the best conversations, connections, and memories happen after the show floor closes each day.In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris is joined by returning guests Jim Mayer and Emily Wilkins for an "IMTS After Hours" conversation about how to make the most of manufacturing’s biggest week in Chicago.They share some of their favorite stories from IMTS events of the past - from spontaneous meetups and happy hours, to karaoke, to Chris’ infamous 90s Vs. Emo Night in 2024 - while previewing what’s on the agenda for IMTS 2026.You’ll hear why the after hours experience can be just as valuable as walking the show floor, how to pace yourself during a packed week of events, and where you can find Chris, Jim, Emily, and the rest of the manufacturing community once the trade show shuts down for the day.Whether this is your first IMTS or you’re a seasoned veteran, consider this your unofficial guide to making the most of IMTS afterparties all week long.See you in Chicago. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  301: NYC's Role in Reindustrialization and American Manufacturing (LIVE from Brooklyn) 08.09.2026 1t 2min

  "New York City is where dreams come to audition", and this goes for manufacturers too.Recorded live at New Lab in Brooklyn, this episode is split into three segments and features seven guests. Chris explores what manufacturing means in a city best known for 'wall street’.Andrew, James, and Stacey open the show by digging into New York's overlooked industrial past, including a 250-year stretch where the city was the largest manufacturing hub in the country. Jacob, Nikki, and Miquela then take the stage to talk about what's being built in the city today, from robotics to a single Brooklyn facility housing 17 different manufacturing verticals.Finally, Michelle of New York Embroidery Studio joins Chris one-on-one to share her insights after nearly 30 years of manufacturing experience, including how she pivoted her entire operation overnight to produce PPE during COVID.In this episode, find out:What the Brooklyn Navy Yard's 300-acre footprint looks like today, decades after its WWII peakWhy New York's robotics ecosystem might never look like Detroit or Pittsburgh and how that could be an advantageWhat 17 different manufacturing verticals look like inside a single Brooklyn facilityHow one manufacturer pivoted from designing gowns for the Met Gala to producing 3 million isolation gowns a monthWhy New York's built-in market of 8 million consumers gives local manufacturers an edge most cities can't offerWhat it took to solve a 20-year-old medical design flaw by giving a doctor direct access to a factory floorEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"All These inventions that came from here - the laser, the CCD, the ATM machine, the transistor, vulcanized rubber - all those things went somewhere else to build.” - James Williams, Chief Strategy Officer at Nanotronics"It's not that somebody is getting rid of the hand tools, it's that it's merging with additional technology." - Miquela Craytor, Founder & Principal, Craytor Strategies"Smart people that have problems need to have access to factories to create and build new things." - Michelle Feinberg, Owner of New York Embroidery Studio and NYES ProtectLinks & mentions:CliftonLarsonAllen, sponsor of the All-American Manufacturing Summer Tour, offering industry-focused wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services.MaintainX, sponsor of the tour, helping frontline teams streamline maintenance, standard operating procedures, and more from a mobile device.New Lab, an innovation hub based at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, hosting this episode and supporting startups working on advanced technology and manufacturing.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  300: Chris Luecke’s Friends from High School Interview Him on His Own Podcast, LIVE in St. Louis 01.09.2026 1t 10min

  300 episodes of Chris asking all the questions, this week he is finally in the hot seat - and it’s his high school buddies doing all the grilling!Recorded live at Urban Chestnut Brewing, this episode is split into two parts. First, Chris sits down with a Missouri manufacturing panel - Michael Eaton, Joe Mazzola and Maria Berra to talk Apollo 13 battery cells, pepper spray, whiskey barrels, and keeping it in the family in St. Louis.In part 2, we are flipping the script. To celebrate this milestone episode, three of Chris's oldest friends, Pat, Rob and John take over, asking Chris about his 'magic drug' for keeping the show running for 300 episodes, reminiscing on his first experience of things taking a turn for the worst on stage, and a very exciting personal announcement.In this episode, find out:How Missouri became the birthplace of a surprising range of products that most wouldn't realizeHow a kid who dreamed of building rollercoasters ended up building a manufacturing podcast insteadWhy Chris's dad might be the most legendary guy in their entire high school networkWhy Chris wouldn't watch the Blues win the Stanley Cup live, despite being in BostonWhat Chris says helps you stand out when everyone in your industry is chasing the same trendWhere Chris would send you for the best food and drink in St. LouisEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"I don't know if being an engineer is exactly what I wanted to be, but I was certainly going to take that problem-solving skill set and bring it wherever I go." - Chris Luecke, Podcast Host & Community Builder at Manufacturing Happy Hour"The more you can take that ‘all ships rise with the tide’ approach, those are the regions I see really being successful in manufacturing." - Chris Luecke, Podcast Host & Community Builder at Manufacturing Happy Hour”What are the things that you can talk about that are timeless, that highlight who you are, that highlight your expertise, that can allow you to stand out from the pack?” - Chris Luecke, Podcast Host & Community Builder at Manufacturing Happy HourLinks & mentions:AssetWatch and MaintainX, our partners for this leg of the All-American Manufacturing Summer Tour.The Missouri Association of Manufacturers, supporting manufacturers and driving turnout for this special St. Louis event.IMTS, hosted by AMT (the Association for Manufacturing Technology) - the country's largest manufacturing trade show.Urban Chestnut Brewing Company is an unconventional-minded yet tradition-oriented brewer of craft beer with authentic heritage and proven quality.Make sure to visit https://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.Mentioned in this episode:Get a free LEGO at IMTS 2026!If you're heading to IMTS 2026, make sure Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence is part of your game plan. Hexagon is the architect of innovation in manufacturing and a global leader in measurement technologies. Make sure to visit Hexagon in the East Building at Booth 134102 and tell them Chris from Manufacturing Happy Hour sent you to claim your LEGO MAESTRO CMM via the link below.Visit Hexagon and get a free LEGO at IMTS 2026
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  BONUS: Predictive Maintenance: The Key to Replacing Unplanned Downtime with Personal Downtime (Sponsored by AssetWatch) 25.08.2026 33min

  Some of the best manufacturing advice comes down to one simple idea - buy back your weekends.In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris is joined by Patrick Carmitchel, VP of Product Management and Dustin Moore, Condition Monitoring Engineer Manager at AssetWatch, to break down what condition monitoring and predictive maintenance looks like in practice, no jargon required.They get into the differences between preventative and predictive maintenance, why the biggest ROI often comes from just doing one thing well, and how AssetWatch's own founding story led them from wireless power research into one of the fastest-growing names in industrial monitoring. Along the way, Dustin shares a personal philosophy that gives this episode its name.In this episode, find out:Why doing one thing well with your most critical assets can catch the majority of issues before you need to expand into other monitoring methodsHow a maintenance technician went from feeling threatened by AssetWatch to calling it the best thing that ever happened to his jobWhat criteria actually determine whether an asset is "critical" - and why size has nothing to do with itHow AssetWatch went from researching wireless phone charging to building one of the fastest-growing platforms in industrial monitoringEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"The proof is in the pudding... once they start seeing the results on their end - that bearing running a lot cooler, a lot smoother - that's when they come around." - Dustin Moore, Condition Monitoring Engineer Manager at AssetWatch"You've got to start somewhere. Meet maintenance teams where they're at - they're all in different parts of their journey." - Dustin Moore, Condition Monitoring Engineer Manager at AssetWatch"Predictive maintenance means you're looking at early warning signs... it's about your ability to be able to plan so that you do not have unplanned downtime." - Patrick Carmitchel, VP of Product Management at AssetWatchLinks & mentions:AssetWatch combines vibration, temperature, and oil analysis in one platform for a holistic asset health view, detecting issues that a single technique might miss.Make sure to visit https://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  299: Inside Connecticut's Manufacturing Ecosystem: Innovation, Workforce Development, and Industrial Leadership, Live from Hartford, CT 18.08.2026 46min

  We're not beating the drum this week… we're ringing Cici's bell.Filmed live at Trinity College's Innovation Hub - our first time in Connecticut, and our first ever 9:30am taping. Not quite our usual ‘happy hour’, but our guests and the “small-but-mighty" state of Connecticut brought the energy all the same.Chris sits down with Cici Bevin, sixth-generation President of Bevin Brothers Manufacturing and leader of the only remaining bell maker in the U.S, Andrew Gibson, CEO of AlphaQ, who came out of retirement to run a precision aerospace supplier for names like Sikorsky and Rolls-Royce, and Dustin Nord, Foundation Director at CBIA, tracking the trends shaping Connecticut's manufacturing future.Together, they get into what keeps a 200-year-old manufacturer relevant, how a turnaround can make you a top global supplier almost overnight, and why one of the priciest states to manufacture in has built such a strong industrial cluster. Expect a state role you've probably never heard of, a centuries-old invention with surprising staying power, and what it takes to grow tomorrow's manufacturing workforce.In this episode, find out:How Andrew Gibson turned a failing aerospace supplier with 0% on-time delivery into Rolls-Royce's #1 global supplierWhat surprising products are actually made in Connecticut, from Wiffle balls to Black Hawk helicoptersWhy Connecticut created a Chief Manufacturing Officer role, and why other states might want one tooHow a vicar from Wethersfield, Connecticut ended up inventing the first machine mill, and why that still matters todayHow Connecticut manufacturers collaborate with neighboring states like Massachusetts and Rhode IslandWhy Dustin believes no state has fully figured out manufacturing competitiveness, and what that means for the industryEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"I don't think any state has the answer. That's what I learn the most when I look up what other states are doing. Everybody's experimenting." - Dustin Nord, Foundation Director at CBIA“When you make a change, you have to follow through. You've got to keep your word, even if it's adding a water cooler." - Andrew Gibson, CEO at AlphaQ"You have to have a vision. You've got to throw a rock out there tied to a string, and every day you want to make sure you can see that string." - Andrew Gibson, CEO at AlphaQLinks & mentions:CLA exists to create opportunities for clients, people, and communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, outsourcing, audit, tax, and consulting services.MaintainX is one platform for maintenance, repair, and operations keeping the physical world running.Make sure to visit https://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.Mentioned in this episode:Get a free LEGO at IMTS 2026!If you're heading to IMTS 2026, make sure Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence is part of your game plan. Hexagon is the architect of innovation in manufacturing and a global leader in measurement technologies. Make sure to visit Hexagon in the East Building at Booth 134102 and tell them Chris from Manufacturing Happy Hour sent you to claim your LEGO MAESTRO CMM via the link below.Visit Hexagon and get a free LEGO at IMTS 2026
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  BONUS: What Is Servitization? How OEMs Can Turn Their Installed Base Into Long-Term Revenue with PTC's Sam Neva 14.08.2026 57min

  Selling the equipment is the easy part. The real revenue shows up after the sale.Sam Neva, Vice President of Sales for Service Lifecycle Management at PTC, joined the show to talk servitization - what it means, and why it's becoming the difference between OEMs who scrape by on hardware margins and ones who build real recurring revenue. Chris caught up with him live at PTC's headquarters.Manufacturing folks, we didn't forget about you! This episode is geared squarely toward people building equipment. If you want to tighten up your sales process and make your customer relationships stickier, this one is for you.Sam and Chris get into what's holding most OEMs back from servitization, how AI is starting to change what proactive service looks like, and the math behind why the money shows up years after the original sale.In this episode, find out:Why the smartest OEMs are lowering the price of the original sale, and what they're betting on insteadThe three levels standing between a traditional OEM and a full servitization modelWhy ‘tribal knowledge’ is the hidden gap between engineering and service teamsHow AI is helping teams triage service issues before they need a technicianThe Harvard Business Review stat that shows just how much revenue gets left on the table post-saleWhat Schneider Electric did to grow revenue, win rates, and improve customer satisfaction at the same timeThe first question every OEM should ask before attempting servitizationEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“You're reacting to a problem, instead of doing your best to extend and plan that time horizon to prepare for that problem." - Sam Neva, Vice President of Sales for Service Lifecycle Management at PTC“Step 1 is what do customers expect from us, why do they expect that, and how can we give them that?" - Sam Neva, Vice President of Sales for Service Lifecycle Management at PTC“The goal is how do I make money as the OEM, not just by selling you that box, but selling you the outcome of what that box provides.” - Sam Neva, Vice President of Sales for Service Lifecycle Management at PTCLinks & mentions:Benchmark your servitization strategy, a complimentary assessment where ServiceMax experts will evaluate your current service organization and identify opportunities to improve performance, profitability, and customer outcomes.ServiceMax, a PTC Technology, is on a mission to help customers keep the world running with asset-centric field service management software. As a recognized leader in this space, our cloud-based software and mobile apps provide a complete view of assets to field service teams.Make sure to visit https://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  BONUS: The Future of Intralogistics featuring Siemens' Joel Thomas and Markus Thiel 04.08.2026 30min

  Digital, real, real, digital. It sounds simple, but it's rewriting how a warehouse gets designed.Joel Thomas has spent over a decade in the Intralogistics space and now leads OEM Sales Data Center and Life Sciences at Siemens. Markus Thiel just crossed the six month mark as Head of Intralogistics, after years on the manufacturing operations and supply chain side of the business.Chris caught up with both of them live in Atlanta during MODEX, over a Weiss beer and a pilsner at Halfway Crooks. They talk about what Intralogistics is, and how it's changed since the days of pallet jacks and conveyor belts.From there the conversation covers the industry engineer shortage, robotics, AGVs versus AMRs, why standardization is becoming such a hot topic among vendors, and what a warehouse looks like when it's designed digitally.In this episode, find out:How the day-to-day work of moving goods within a warehouse has changed over the past decadeThe shift to robotics, AGVs, and AMRs, and why orchestrating all of it is now the hard partWhy standardization is gaining ground even though flexibility with vendors used to be the priorityHow AI is being used to spot bottlenecks and predict maintenanceWhat edge computing means for a warehouseWhat it takes to build a digital twin, and why Siemens tests new technology in its own factory firstWhether a conveyor-less warehouse is realistic, and who's already exploring itWhy e-commerce has been the single biggest driver of growth in the industryWhat's next for the space, software-defined automation and the IT/OT layerEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"We want more individualized goods, and we want it faster and sooner, so that thing will not stop. It will further accelerate. It's great to see all the technology which is helping that development.” - Markus Thiel, Head of Intralogistics at Siemens“It was always about taking off your professional hat, and just being a person. Go out and talk to people and just introduce yourself. The one great thing that you can do in this industry is say, ‘Can I help?’” - Joel Thomas, Director of OEM Sales Data Center and Life Sciences at Siemens”If you asked me 7 years ago, I would say that Europe was way ahead when it came to automation technology. Now, I think the US has caught up, if not maybe surpassed it.” - Joel Thomas, Director of OEM Sales Data Center and Life Sciences at SiemensLinks & mentions:Siemens Intralogistics provides intelligent material handling tech that empowers intralogistics to meet demands and overcome challenges via AI-enhanced automation and sustainable design.MHI the nation's largest material handling, logistics and supply chain association - active since 1945.Halfway Crooks Beer is the Atlanta brewery where this episode was recorded, known for traditionally brewed lagers in the Summerhill neighborhood.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  297: Defense Spending, Contract Manufacturing, and Navigating Regulated Industries with Fathom CEO Rush LaSelle 28.07.2026 50min

  Fine tuning manufacturing like a guitar - that's the kind of parallel you can expect from this episode.This week Chris sits down with Rush LaSelle, CEO at Fathom, recorded on site at their Hartland, Wisconsin facility over a Spotted Cow beer. Rush's path into manufacturing started at Fanuc, moved through the early and unproven days of mobile robotics, and later took him into the highly regulated world of healthcare automation.They get into digital manufacturing today, how the Kiva and Amazon story changed the way people think about robotics and logistics, and why more defense spending doesn't automatically mean more manufacturing capacity. Rush also breaks down what this week's news around CMMC Phase 2 means for manufacturers who have already put in months of work preparing for it.Along the way, Rush makes one of the more memorable comparisons we've heard on the show, describing the people on his shop floor as creatives, and manufacturing itself as something closer to art than you might expect.In this episode, find out:How an early mobile robotics deal turned out to be worth $775 million, and what it taught the industryHow digital manufacturing evolved from CAD drawings to full supply chain integrationWhy additive manufacturing has moved way past its prototyping only reputationWhat manufacturers need before they can scale up to meet rising defense demandWhy the pause on CMMC Phase 2 has left some manufacturers in a tricky spotHow Rush sees manufacturing as a form of art, and why he calls his machinists creativesWhat's driving the ongoing talent war in manufacturing, and why skilled machinists take years to developWhy Rush believes physical AI is the most exciting shift happening in the industry right nowEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“There is a talent war going on where everybody's trying to get the right level of folks on the floor. Despite all the automation and the augmentation, you still need talented people out there. The curve to get to a level three machinist is about seven years on the job.” - Rush LaSelle, CEO at Fathom“You take all the data that's available in these monstrous data farms and you start applying them to physical AI. Physical AI, in our case, could be getting better control over our machines, instead of 80% of our programming done on CNCs, making it 98%.” - Rush LaSelle, CEO at Fathom“We've had an erosion of our industrial base. You need to have 20, 30, 50 years' worth of visibility to revenue to put hundreds of millions of dollars in place. And the government doesn't always give you that level of visibility.” - Rush LaSelle, CEO at FathomLinks & mentions:Fathom Manufacturing helps companies simplify part sourcing with 25+ advanced manufacturing technologies and support services, all built around the way real programs actually move. Core capabilities include additive manufacturing, injection molding, CNC machining and sheet metal fabrication, with support across engineering, finishing, inspection, assembly and production.New Glarus Brewing Company philosophy is based on individuality, cooperation, and the employment of 100% natural ingredients to produce world-class, handcrafted beers like Spotted Cow, for our friends in Wisconsin.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.Mentioned in this episode:Get a free LEGO at IMTS 2026!If you're heading to IMTS 2026, make sure Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence is part of your game plan. Hexagon is the architect of innovation in manufacturing and a global leader in measurement technologies. Make sure to visit Hexagon in the East Building at Booth 134102 and tell them Chris from Manufacturing Happy Hour sent you to claim your LEGO MAESTRO CMM via the link below.Visit Hexagon and get a free LEGO at IMTS 2026
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  BONUS: Software-Defined Automation: The Future of Industrial Control (sponsored by Siemens) 21.07.2026 29min

  Two worlds that have never previously spoken the same language are now building the same machine.This week Chris sits down with David Nichols, CEO, Co-Founder and Engineer at Loupe, an alum of the show making his return. We are also joined by Kristen Quasey, Architecture & Portfolio Sales Manager, and Jan Bajorat, Senior Director of Software-Defined Automation, both at Siemens, for this special bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, live from Automate 2026.Together they get into software-defined automation, what that looks like on the shop floor, and why it's picking up momentum right now.David shares the story behind SASE, the Society of Automation Software Engineers, and what it felt like building a community around an idea before most of the industry had caught on. Kristen and Jan bring the perspective of a company adapting to a new generation of engineers and a shifting global workforce.In this episode, find out:What David means when he compares software-defined automation to a "chocolate and peanut butter" combination.Why David describes SASE as starting from a place of desperation rather than strategy.How Kristen and Jan see a new generation of engineers changing what companies need from automation.How building the software of a machine before its mechanics has changed what David's team was able to deliver.How a distributed team can fix a production issue without setting foot on the plant floor.Why Jan believes software-defined automation is what makes industrial AI possible at scale.Why global workforce shortages are pushing manufacturers toward a software-defined approach.Why software-defined automation is not the same thing as software automation.Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“If we can make it through this phase where we're kind of out in the wilderness, it's great. We're excited about what the next 10 years are going to look like, and I hope a lot of it looks like this.” - David Nichols, CEO, Co-Founder and Engineer at Loupe “When you have certain devices that are typically on the hardware side and you have a software-defined approach, you can now scale much quicker and be a lot more flexible.” - Kristen Quasey, Architecture & Portfolio Sales Manager at Siemens“With so many unfilled jobs that you need, you need a huge step. You need to drastically change, and this is what SCA is about. It's a big step up. It's not a small incremental thing.” - Jan Bajorat, Senior Director of Software-Defined Automation at SiemensLinks & mentions:Loupe is an engineering organization serving machine builders by providing control systems and developing software for automated equipment.Siemens is a leading technology company focused on industry, infrastructure, mobility, and healthcare. The company’s purpose is to create technology to transform the everyday, for everyone.SASE is a community of engineers who are converging and completely revolutionizing software practices and automation.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  296: The Art of Building in the Age of AI with Baukunst Co-Founder Tyler Mincey 17.07.2026 48min

  What does it take to build something well, on purpose, in a world that keeps pushing you to move faster?This week Chris sits down with Tyler Mincey, Co-Founder and General Partner at Baukunst, a San Francisco and Boston based collective of creative technologists that also runs an early-stage venture fund. Tyler opens up about where the name Baukunst comes from and what building with intention means to him, drawing on a path that started with the touchscreen on the original iPhone at Apple.Tyler breaks down research Baukunst has been running on AI adoption on the factory floor, talking through the different stages companies move through as they bring it into their operations. He gets into where the hype lines up with what he's seeing and where it doesn't, and challenges the idea that manufacturing is behind on technology.The chat also turns to what AI could mean for the people doing the work day to day, not just the businesses putting it in place.In this episode, find out:How Tyler's work on the original iPhone influenced his approach to building physical products.The meaning behind the name Baukunst and what "artful building" means to Tyler.What it took to build deep, trusted manufacturing partnerships during his time at Apple.Tyler's non-linear career path from engineering into digital design and venture capital.Why Baukunst formed research organizations/study groups to research AI and manufacturing.The stages companies move through as they bring AI into their operations.Where AI is already delivering results on the factory floor, and where the hype outpaces reality.Why the human side of AI adoption matters, and what the shift from bank tellers to ATMs can teach us.Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“Part of the reason I'm hungry for artful building is that there’s a whole lot of coulda but not a lot of shoulda in how we develop technology these days, where we feel like we're just rushing and accelerating towards an inevitable future that feels dystopian.” - Tyler Mincey, Co-Founder and General Partner at Baukunst“I love people talking about how much of a will gap versus a skill gap we have in manufacturing these days. It's really an attractive place to work for the future and its inspiring for the next generation of engineers, of industrial labor and of operations professionals.” - Tyler Mincey, Co-Founder and General Partner at Baukunst“Getting back to the human face, I think it's within our power to build different things too. And I think really holding our feet to the fire, asking ‘do we want to live in a world where things work this way’ is another gut check that I'm very passionate about.” - Tyler Mincey, Co-Founder and General Partner at BaukunstLinks & mentions:Baukunst is a collective of creative technologists advancing the art of building. Our inaugural $100M venture fund is dedicated to leading pre-seed investments in companies at the frontiers of technology and design.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.Mentioned in this episode:Get a free LEGO at IMTS 2026!If you're heading to IMTS 2026, make sure Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence is part of your game plan. Hexagon is the architect of innovation in manufacturing and a global leader in measurement technologies. Make sure to visit Hexagon in the East Building at Booth 134102 and tell them Chris from Manufacturing Happy Hour sent you to claim your LEGO MAESTRO CMM via the link below.Visit Hexagon and get a free LEGO at IMTS 2026
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  295: Reindustrialization, AI Agents, and the Future of Manufacturing with First Resonance CEO Karan Talati 14.07.2026 47min

  What happens when a former SpaceX engineer decides manufacturing software needs to be completely reimagined?In this special live episode of the podcast, recorded at Arts District Brewing in Los Angeles as the final stop on the Golden State Takeover Tour, Chris sits down with Karan Talati, CEO and Co-Founder of First Resonance, to explore one of manufacturing's biggest transformations: the convergence of AI, software, and reindustrialization.Karan shares the story of growing up around manufacturing in Chicago, his experience during SpaceX's explosive growth, why he founded First Resonance, and how AI agents are poised to automate some of manufacturing's most tedious work while enabling the next generation of advanced manufacturing companies.Along the way, they discuss why Southern California has quietly become one of the world's most exciting manufacturing startup ecosystems, and why we're only at the beginning of manufacturing's next chapter.
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  BONUS: AI in Manufacturing: What’s Broken, What’s Working, and How Manufacturers Can Succeed with AI featuring PTC's Joseph June 10.07.2026 23min

  What if your AI strategy doesn't need more agents, just a better plan?This week Chris sits down with Joseph June, who leads AI strategy at PTC to talk about what companies are getting wrong with AI - going too broad too fast.Joseph goes into why picking one problem and really solving it is the way to go when onboarding AI. He shares a great example of what a strong AI use case looks like on the shop floor and unpacks the concept of ‘production data foundation’.The conversation turns to where agents are headed. There's also some good, grounded discussion here on building trust with AI and how the process mirrors onboarding any new employee.In this episode, find out:How AI experience helped Joseph make the leap from ServiceMax into leading AI strategy at PTCThe most common mistake manufacturers make when rolling out AIWhat separates companies making AI progress from those stuck in pilot purgatoryWhat ‘production data foundation’ means, and why simply having more data shouldn’t be the goalHow AI agents are being used in manufacturing today, and where that's headed nextWhy the plan behind your agents matters more than the agents themselvesHow to build trust in AI gradually, using the advise, assist and automate frameworkEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“A lot of the hesitation and a lot of the concerns people have about AI are probably real, but a lot of them are sentiment, and it takes time to be able to build that trust.” - Joseph June, Head of AI Strategy at PTC“What's unique about AI that is different from a person - it is capable of processing a very large amount of data in a faithful and ruthless way to be able to accomplish a particular outcome.” - Joseph June, Head of AI Strategy at PTC“The type of data matters. Data that represents individual decisions that people or groups of people have made in efforts to accomplish a specific goal. That's really valuable data.” - Joseph June, Head of AI Strategy at PTCLinks & mentions:PTC enables companies to differentiate their products and services, improve operational excellence, and increase workforce productivity. Manufacturers can capitalize on the promise of today’s new technology to drive digital transformation.ServiceMax helps customers keep the world running with asset-centric field service management software. Their cloud-based software and mobile apps provide a complete view of assets to field service teams.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  BONUS: From a Sabbatical to Building the First Full-Stack Industrial AI Company with Andres Naranjo, CEO of Software Toolbox 07.07.2026 1t 6min

  Andres Naranjo sailed a race around the world, wrote Japan's digital agenda, and spent his sabbatical teaching himself AI from scratch.This week Chris sits down with Andres, CEO of Software Toolbox, to hear some incredible life stories and dig into what bringing AI into the industrial world looks like right now.Andres has lived a lot of lives as a consultant, entrepreneur, ocean racer and AI builder. He's pretty direct about why he walked away from consulting to pursue his current endeavors - the AI wave was moving far too fast to be on the side-lines of it.There's also practical conversation here for anyone thinking about how to deploy AI on the plant floor, and Andres' breakdown of how to effectively train an agent.In this episode, find out:Why Andres left one of the most prestigious consulting firms in the world to go build things himselfWhat sailing a race around the world taught him about data, analytics and machine learningWhat the industrial tech stack of the future actually looks like and why it's simpler than anyone is making it soundThe difference between machine learning, generative AI and agentic AI and why confusing them is holding the industry backWhy the era of the dashboard is over and what should replace itWhat an AI agent actually is, how you train one, and where on the plant floor you should be deploying it firstWhy Andres bought Software Toolbox instead of building from scratch and the simple framework behind that decisionWhy Andres moved back to Silicon Valley after Japan and what he saw happening in AI that made him think it was time to stop advising and start buildingEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“AI is a salad bowl of technologies and almost always people conflate one with the other in really strange ways.” - Andres Naranjo, CEO of Software Toolbox“ It is a wonderful time to build. It's probably the best time ever. I want it to be in it. I didn't want to be on the side-lines for it.” - Andres Naranjo, CEO of Software Toolbox“There are many ways to lean in, and it's okay if there is some failure. Everything is a normal distribution. You’ve got to blow up rockets to land rockets on the moon.” - Andres Naranjo, CEO of Software ToolboxLinks & mentions:Software Toolbox is a full-stack industrial AI company, delivering industrial connectivity software, data platforms, and AI agents that augment the people working in manufacturing and process industries.Allie integrates intelligence into factory operations: learning from machines, sensors and systems to detect problems, recommend actions and coordinate responses in real time.Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  293: Manufacturing Leadership That Works with Author and Geislinger CEO Jason Woodard 23.06.2026 36min

  Your frontline team can only perform as well as the processes they're handed. So why are so many leaders still blaming the wrong people instead of listening to the ones closest to the problem? In this weeks’ episode Chris sits down with Jason Woodard, a 35-year manufacturing veteran, CEO of Geislinger Corporation, and author of Manufacturing Leadership That Works. Jason gets pretty candid about what he's seen over the course of his career. We're talking a plant manager leaving nasty notes on dry-erase boards for exhausted frontline workers, and Jason himself rolling up his sleeves and coming in on a holiday weekend when the rest of the leadership team had plans. Getting into the valuable stuff, Jason talks about what it takes to build trust with your team, holding the right people accountable, and why leading yourself should come before leading anyone else. In this episode, find out: Why blame culture in manufacturing is almost always directed at the wrong people What Jason witnessed early in his career that shaped everything about how he leads today What Jason's time as a journeyman maintenance mechanic on the night shift taught him about leadership that no management role ever could What Geislinger Corporation actually makes and why it matters to critical infrastructure in the US Why the higher you climb, the less you actually know about what's happening on your floor How to build genuine trust with frontline workers without it feeling forced What to do when an employee raises a problem you can't immediately fix Why being great at the job you have today is the only path to the job you want tomorrow Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “The higher I grow in my career, the more I realize that what I'm hearing as a leader is a little bit of the truth. And it's not because you're being lied to, it's just that it's being filtered up to you.” - Jason Woodard, Author and Geislinger CEO I think most people understand that every single thing they want to be changed or fixed isn't going to be. But if they feel like they were at least heard and listened to, I think that's the most important part.” - Jason Woodard, Author and Geislinger CEO ”Rarely does politics come up, rarely does any of the divisive stuff come up. We're just showing up every day to solve problems together. In a good culture, the collaboration, no matter the background of the people, is there. - Jason Woodard, Author and Geislinger CEO Links & mentions: Geislinger Corporation develops and produces torsional vibration dampers, torsional elastic high damping couplings, composite couplings, composite shaftlines, and torsional vibration monitoring systems for engines and wind turbines Manufacturing Leadership That Works: Proven Principles for Building Engaged Teams, Improving Performance, and Driving Results by Jason Woodard Handmap Brewing, Battle Creek-based brewery, perfectly named for the state of Michigan Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  292: What Manufacturers Can Learn from Silicon Valley: Mechatronics, Startups, and More (LIVE from San Jose, CA) 16.06.2026 56min

  Growing your own machinists and orchestrating robots across four continents, is this what the future of manufacturing looks like? This live episode from Hapa's Brewing in the Bay Area features two panels of people who have built careers at the intersection of mechatronics, automation, and industrial innovation. First up, Vinod, Kevin, and Adam get into what it takes to build a skilled workforce from the ground up, talking about apprenticeships, college partnerships, and growing your own talent in-house. Then we get into the bigger picture with our founder panel Kim, Glenn, Nick, and Florian on what Silicon Valley gets wrong about manufacturing, and what manufacturers are missing by not paying closer attention to what's being built there. In this episode, find out: How Vinod bootstrapped an automation company in the Bay Area while raising a family and why his wife had something to do with it What Kevin learned from a 3-year German apprenticeship that he thinks more US manufacturers should be paying attention to How Adam solved his machinist shortage by bringing the training programme in-house and partnering with a local college How Kim thinks about leading companies through inflection points when there are no guardrails or safety nets Why Glenn believes manufacturers who aren't paying attention to what's being built around them won't even know when it's too late How Nick's B2C background completely changed the way he thinks about building software for frontline manufacturing workers Why Florian ignored his investors and opened a public-facing robotics storefront on the main street of Mountain View Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “You don't have that mechanical job anymore that's done by one person. You need support, whether it's software support or you need a robot at your side.” – Kevin Toomer, Product Manager at Sumitomo Drive Technologies “In automation, you don't need a master's or a PhD to be successful. Just getting creative and having that experience in mechanical engineering really helped me in my career.” – Vinod Anandarajah, Co-Founder and CEO at Kanavu Automation ”In Silicon Valley, we tend to love disruption because to us it represents something new and something better. But when you get on a manufacturing floor, they tend to want predictability.” - Kim Losey, Founder and CEO at NextLine Group Links & mentions: Kanavu Automation, bringing value to manufacturing clients via a strategic focus on machine automation and robotics MaintainX, empowering maintenance professionals to reduce unplanned equipment downtime and boost production capacity NextLine Group, architecting what is next in robotics engineering Sumitomo Drive Technologies, providing engineered solutions to industrial power transmission customers Beluga Navigation Systems, building deep tech navigation solutions for vehicle and vessel navigation InOrbit.AI, leading AI-powered robot orchestration platform, driving software-defined operations at scale Hapa’s Brewing Company, craft brewery and taproom located in San Jose, CA Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  BONUS: Factory Orchestration: The Next Frontier of Manufacturing Operations with Harmoni Co-Founder David Caputo 12.06.2026 1t

  What if the biggest efficiency problem in your factory isn't your machines, it's the dead time you waste before you even get to one.Workers queuing at ADP and ERP terminals every morning. A wing rib scrapped at the cost of $18,000 because the wrong work instruction was on screen. A program gone forever when the machinist who maintained it quietly for a decade retired to Poland. David witnessed all of these problems within his manufacturing acquisitions despite them having advanced tech for the time period.Chris sits down with David Caputo, Co-Founder of Harmoni, to get into how his intelligent factory orchestration system connects machines, people, and data for true control across the shop floor.Harmoni fills the gap in the renowned ISA-95 stack that most manufacturers never knew they were missing, supplementing human-intensive operations that make up 99% of the market.Harmoni operates within three buckets with the aim of wasting less time and making less mistakes. The system is designed to cover all bases without interfering with the essential human input needed to fulfil complex tasks. David talks to Chris about the labor automation, process control, and observability that Harmoni brings to the factory floor.In this episode, find out:What factory orchestration is and why David sees it as a distinct category from existing toolsHow David's experience acquiring and running four aerospace and defense manufacturers drove the creation of HarmoniWhy Harmoni's three pillars (labor automation, process control, and observability) address the ISA-95 gap that leaves most human-intensive factories underservedHow the no-titles, pods-based structure at Harmoni works and why David recommends it for companies under around 200 employeesWhat the Harmoni AI Lieutenant (HAL) does on the shop floor versus in the office, and why shop floor AI requires both context and a delivery mechanism to be usefulWhere David sees the 297,000 US manufacturers under 500 employees needing to compete in a world of autonomous factories and vertically integrated supply chainsWhy David advises manufacturers to ask one question before any software investment: how will this tool change what happens on my shop floorEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"What Harmoni's built is a new category of technology. We call this factory orchestration, and there's a very simple goal: waste less time and make fewer mistakes." - David Caputo“Simply having indicator lights to say whether a machine's running is not telling you the full picture. A machine could be running but running very inefficiently. We're giving you the information you need and allowing you to manage your factory in real time.” - David Caputo“Somehow you have to produce more with less, all in the face of autonomous competition and vertically integrated supply chains. Pretty tough position for the 300,000 manufacturers in this country.” - David CaputoLinks & mentions:Harmoni.io, bringing together data from operators, machines, and your shop floor software, all in real-time, to help managers make decisions and spot trends quicklyGreenwich Street Tavern, a different tavern experience that takes a traditional American pub fare menu to the next level located in Tribeca in NYCMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  BONUS: What Manufacturers Can Learn from Central Wisconsin's Workforce Strategy (LIVE from Wausau, WI) 05.06.2026 43min

  What happens when manufacturers stop competing for talent and start working together to develop it?In this special LIVE episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris travels to Wausau, Wisconsin for a collaboration with the Central Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (CWIMA) to explore how manufacturers across the region are working together to strengthen workforce development, accelerate innovation, and build a thriving manufacturing ecosystem.The discussion features five manufacturing leaders representing a wide range of industries:Jim Waldron, President of Wausau TileJohn Peterson, Owner & CEO of Schuette MetalsScott Mattmiller, Greenheck GroupLaura Strek, President of Imperial IndustriesTom Felch, J&D Tube BendersTogether, they discuss everything from workforce shortages and apprenticeship programs to automation, mentorship, community engagement, and why collaboration may be the biggest competitive advantage a manufacturing region can have.Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  290: Why Danny Gonzales Thinks Manufacturing Has a Storytelling Problem 02.06.2026 48min

  Content becomes forgettable when the key message isn't wrapped in storytelling.People don’t retain information anywhere near as well as they remember stories they hear, and this is where manufacturing is missing a trick.Manufacturers are battling false perceptions that the industry is dirty, dingy, not innovative and not creative. But what’s really happening is a failure to communicate the good stuff - the advanced systems and problem solving going on behind factory walls. The things that impact almost everything we touch in our lives.Chris is joined by Danny Gonzales, CEO at IndustrialSage – a video production company focusing on telling those manufacturing stories. Danny noticed that the sector was massively underserved and saw an opportunity to change peoples’ perceptions. Using his background in B2B video production to fill the empty space with tales of meaningful work, and to show them to people in a way that they can receive it as something cool. Not a brain dump of stagnant information.For anyone thinking about how manufacturing companies can better communicate their value, attract talent, build stronger brands or create connections through storytelling, this episode is a look at how media and manufacturing are merging.In this episode, find out:How IndustrialSage was born out of the discovery that the machines, technology and processes happening in factories was both very cool and underrepresented in media.IndustrialSage and Danny’s mission to change the common misconceptions about the manufacturing industry through storytelling and thought leadership.How true opportunity is found in the niches, despite the instinct to gravitate towards the aesthetic and techy industries which are usually overserviced.How Danny’s career has evolved from his college dream of becoming a Hollywood producer, and how an actual Hollywood producer set him on his current path.Why product-user content filmed on an iPhone is outperforming brand films and how leveraging these tools can save time and money while embracing the shift towards authenticity.Why Danny believes the key to creating quality video content is in the strategy and distribution and what companies can do to implement these effectively.Why storytelling is the best way to communicate the value proposition and the psychology behind why it is so effective in overcoming the flood of content.Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“IndustrialSage is on a mission to change the perception of the industry. There are a lot of people that think it's dingy, grimy, not innovative, not creative, and they're dead wrong. We want to show what is going on. We want to do that through storytelling.” – Danny Gonzales “Most people will upload videos, and they just sit there on YouTube, maybe embedded on their website, and that's it. There are so many other use cases – social media, in your trade shows, in your email campaigns.” – Danny Gonzales“For anyone that's going to be a little bit more storytelling driven, there's like an 8X chance that people are going to remember it better when you wrap it inside of a story. That's just how we communicate, and it's easier to be able to transmit.” – Danny GonzalesLinks & mentions:IndustrialSage, industry-leading media company, publishing compelling content for industrial & manufacturing professionalsSierra Nevada Brewing, their Mills River Taproom in Asheville is the Willie Wonka of craft breweriesConnect with Danny on LinkedInMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
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  289: Beyond the Hype: How Autonomy Is Scaling Across Critical Industries (LIVE from Pittsburgh) 26.05.2026 56min

  20 years ago, automation was a pipe dream for industrial workers, 10 years ago it existed in research and development labs. Now it's fully operational in warehouses, production facilities and even mines.The companies driving robotics forwards are going one step further than developing smarter AI. They’re figuring out how to apply that advanced engineering to ‘gritty’ manufacturing – and there are few places that understand that world better than the Steel City.Pittsburgh has become an important ecosystem for developing autonomous technologies, the combination of engineering talent and thriving industrial background has turned it into somewhat of a testing ground for physical AI.Recorded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this was a special live show in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Robotics Network. Chris is joined by three industry leaders to talk about adopting autonomy in critical industries. Brett Phillips is Chief Revenue Officer and General Council at Hellbender, specializing in on-edge AI hardware development. David Griffin is Chief Sales Officer at Seegrid, manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots. Mike Smocer is CEO of Mine Vision Systems, a mining technology company building real-time digital mapping systems for GPS denied environments.They dig into how autonomy is moving beyond one-off projects, and into fully integrated systems. Brett breaks down how the incorporation of sensors and models are shrinking development timelines for autonomous systems and why Pittsburgh’s willingness to ‘get their hands dirty’ is key. David explains how advances in perception and control systems have pushed AMRs beyond basic pallet moves into large, complex material moves through busy logistics environments. Mike shares how Mine Vision Systems support vital underground decision making with millions of dollars of impact by replacing manual mapping and tribal knowledge with accurate digital records.For anyone considering where robotics and AI can create value inside their operations, thinking about the intersection between advanced software and manufacturing, or curious why Pittsburgh has become so strong in robotics and autonomy, this episode is a look at how three industry leaders are managing that change today.In this episode, find out: • About the technological advances that shifted autonomy from isolated deployments to a broader ecosystem covering manufacturing, logistics, mining and warehouse operations.• How David explains the evolution of AMRs within lifting, going from limited pallet moves to an all-in-one technology capable of moving any material to any location.• Why mid-tier manufacturers are becoming a major driver of autonomy adoption due to labor constraints and the positive impact of this in regional production environments.• What mining looks like without the implementation of automated systems, Mike discusses highly intelligent operators still using coloured pencils and paper to capture critical underground data.• Mining as a tunnel building process with the constant balance of optimizing extraction with breakage vs. how much time and cost is spent processing the material caused by that breakage.• How Hellbender utilizes their expertise and capability to provide an end-to-end service inhouse, getting their customers to market in a matter of months rather than years.• The role of sensors, on-edge AI, and manufacturing capability in accelerating the production of perception systems that serve as the eyes and ears of the autonomy stack.• What the conversation reveals about Pittsburgh’s current position as a robotics hub where engineering talent, institutional history and manufacturing culture are allowing them to go head-to-head with the likes of Silicon Valley.Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes: • “At the end of the day, we are a software company. The hardware component of our product is essentially a near commodity at this point. It's the navigation systems, the safety systems, the perception systems, the control systems.” – David Griffin • ”There is a transformation involved. There's change management involved. There are workflows that if you disrupt them just because your cool technology solved one little problem, broke 12... There's an approach to developing your technology so that it succeeds not only now, but in the future.” – Mike Smocer• “What's gonna separate us moving forward is the ability to sort of mash this really high-level, very technical engineering with real-world manufacturing. That is where, uniquely, Pittsburgh stands alone.” – Brett Phillips Do you want to connect with other leaders that are moving the needle in manufacturing everyday?Then make sure to join us in the Manufacturing Happy Hour Industry Community on LinkedIn.Apprentice has developed the first AI Agent designed specifically for manufacturing, not adapted from a general model. It connects across your full tech stack, keeps an eye on operations 24/7, and helps automate the mission-critical workflows your team is handling manually today. This isn’t “set it and forget it” AI. Your team stays in control of every critical decision, because that’s how real manufacturing works.Recommended Resources• Pittsburgh Robotics Network, facilitating commercial business growth and economic development opportunities for the Greater Pittsburgh region's robotics, automation, and vision communities• Seegrid, delivering customized AMR solutions that meet the changing needs of today's manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing facilities• Mine Vision Systems, maximizing efficiency and safety in underground mining operations with real-time 3D mapping technology• HELLBENDER Inc., building mission-critical hardware and software infrastructure for AI-driven perception systems in autonomy, robotics, and industrial applicationsConnect with David, Mike, and BrettDavid Griffin | Mike Smocer | Brett PhillipsMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.