Manufacturing Happy Hour

It's been five years since Wendy Covey, CEO and Co-Founder of TREW Marketing, and Joe Sullivan, Founder of Gorilla 76, first joined Manufacturing Happy Hour, back when everyone was scrambling to figure out digital marketing during the pandemic.We sit down with them to explore which marketing fundamentals still deliver results and what new tactics manufacturers can't afford to ignore. The core truth hasn't changed: your best content still comes from extracting knowledge from industry experts. But where that content needs to live? That's completely different.PR is making a comeback, or as Wendy calls it, “the second coming of PR” while Joe shares how manufacturers can build knowledge bases from existing content to feed AI tools the right way.Both agree that becoming the best resource for your audience beats trying to game the system every time. And with showing up in ChatGPT becoming both more important and more challenging, manufacturers need to think beyond their own websites to build credibility across digital platforms.In this episode, find out:Why the best content still comes from extracting knowledge from industry expertsWhich timeless marketing strategies still deliver resultsThe surprising resurgence of PR and why engineers are starting to trust it more than everHow showing up in ChatGPT is getting harder, and what actually worksThe patience problem among industrial marketers and why ROI questions after 3 months miss the pointHow manufacturers are successfully using community-driven marketingWhat to look forward to at the Industrial Marketing Summit 2026 and why attendees keep coming backEnjoying 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:“With generative search, they’re placing more value in third-party placements. So it’s still the idea of being a topical authority, but you can’t just do it on your website. You need to be a topical authority in industry publications, Reddit, YouTube, and all these other sources.” - Wendy Covey“Whether it’s Google or ChatGPT, they’re trying to display the best information and the most helpful possible information. It’s just getting packaged up differently. And how do you make sure you’re part of what shows up? You build credibility for yourself.” - Joe Sullivan“A lot of digital strategies have evolved but are still tried and true. So that’s educating your audience, and publishing content on a regular cadence. Knowing your audience and building a strong value proposition that speaks to their pain points.” - Wendy CoveyLinks & mentions:Industrial Marketing Summit 2026, an annual three-day gathering where manufacturing and industrial marketers connect to share practical insights, learn emerging strategies, and build community with peers facing similar challengesTREW Marketing, partners with B2B technical companies to establish strong marketing foundations, create engaging content strategies, and accelerate growth through research-backed campaigns tailored for engineering audiencesGorilla 76, an industrial marketing agency that helps B2B companies in the manufacturing ecosystem grow through outcome-focused marketing programs built specifically for industrial markets Make sure to visit

This episode is brought to you by RoboBusiness 2025, the preeminent show for learning about the business of robotics and catching up on the latest engineering advancements in the field.Robotics has moved beyond pilots. it’s scaling for real. In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, host Chris Luecke sits down with Sanjay Aggarwal, Partner at F-Prime Capital, to explore the State of Robotics from an investor’s perspective.Sanjay shares where venture capital is flowing in robotics and automation, which technologies are market-ready today, and what’s still on the horizon. He also breaks down what manufacturers can learn from early adopters and what investors look for in robotics founders.If you want to understand where robotics and manufacturing innovation are headed in 2025 - and why now is the time to act - this conversation is for you.Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

It’s been over a year since we’ve talked about cybersecurity on Manufacturing Happy Hour, and with AI changing the game completely, we’re overdue for a refresh. Around 80-85% of the global industry doesn’t have basic defense at the edge of their networks; that’s a sobering statistic.Felipe Sabino Costa, Senior Product Manager for Networking and Cybersecurity at Moxa, joins the show to break down why Operational Technology (OT) security matters more than ever. Manufacturers need to transmit massive amounts of data for AI and predictive analytics, but they’re working with 15–20-year-old infrastructure that wasn’t built for this.The good news is, Felipe shares practical frameworks like NIST and IEC 62443 (which he compares to nutrition labels) that help manufacturers build security into their operations. The key takeaway? There's no silver bullet; it's about building layers of defense and finding the right partners.In this episode, find out:Why OT data has shifted from historical logging to real-time predictive powerThe bandwidth issue hitting intelligent transportation systems and semiconductor manufacturingHow AI enables attackers to adapt their attacks in real-timeWhy 80-85% of global industry lacks protectionFelipe's nutrition label analogy for understanding security certificationsThe difference between thinking your air-gapped and actually being air-gappedWhy defense requires multiple layers of securityFelipe's outlook on the future of OT networksEnjoying 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 used to be air-gapped or isolated. And many of the companies, they still think that they are, but they are not anymore. To be really air-gapped, I shouldn't have any way to send data.”“Give and take, 80% of the global industry, including the US, does not have these specific layers of defense. They have some defense, but they have nearly zero protection close to the process itself.”“There is no silver bullet. We are seeing this shift right from how we used to do security. A strategy should be way more sophisticated.”Links & mentions:OT Network Security: Investment & Segmentation Strategies, a webinar that addresses the financial and operational risks posed by cyber threats while offering hands-on guidance for OT network security Futureproof Industrial Networks, a website shares how to design and implement a robust, secure, and efficient network infrastructure that can meet the demands of modern industrial environments and optimize operational processesMoxa, delivering the reliable and secure connectivity foundation that advanced analytics and AI depend on, with solutions in edge connectivity, industrial computing, and network infrastructure  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.

Before Silicon Valley, there was Pittsburgh in the early 1900s. Young entrepreneurs with serious capital flocked to the city, creating industries from the ground up. Plate glass. Oil drilling. Vulcanized rubber. Steel processes that would literally build America's skyline. But today, something incredible is happening in the Steel City again. The same superstructures tower overhead, but below, you’ll find robots solving automation challenges that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. We sit down with Jay Douglass, COO of the ARM Institute, inside the historic Mill 19 facility. The epic building sits beneath a 1,400-foot steel framework that once stored World War II ammunition. Only now, it houses one of our country’s most advanced robotics labs, and it’s all powered by the largest slope solar array in North America. This story is personal to Jay, too. We learn that his great uncle was the first head of workforce at the steel company that operated on this exact site back in 1883. Four generations later, Jay's tackling a problem as old as time: how do you help American manufacturers scale and stay competitive? In this episode, find out: How 450+ Pittsburgh companies are working together instead of against each other The truth behind America's manufacturing dependence (and why we'd be lost buying only US-made products) Why robotics seems like building the "Starship Enterprise" to small manufacturers, and the practical solutions that overcome this A compelling family story spanning 140 years at the same industrial site, from steel workforce supervisor to robotics leader How proper robotics risk assessments save expensive automation mistakes later down the line His formula for the future of domestic manufacturing: Robots + people = Scalability + skillset The history of the Mill 19 building from 1940, when it was constructed, to now 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:  “We created the industrial world 130 years ago, and now we're really pushing the robotics industry.” - Jay Douglass “We're not going to buy you a robot. We're gonna help you make a better decision.” - Jay Douglass “Another thing about small businesses; if they're not focused on cost, quality, and time to market, by definition they're going out of business.” - Jay Douglass Links & mentions:  Connect with Jay Douglass, Chief Operating Officer, ARM Institute on LinkedIn. ARM Institute operates as America's manufacturing robotics consortium, where 450+ companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 giants collaborate on automation projects. 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. 

Manufacturers know that automation is table stakes in 2025, and yet it’s still a bit of an afterthought for some. You'd think something that can make or break a facility would be everyone’s number one priority. And as you'll hear in this episode, overlooking automation can sometimes have disastrous consequences.  In this episode, we sit down with Cassy Gardner and Chris Schleich from E Tech Group over virtual Pellegrinos to unpack a real-world case study. They were called in to revive a mothballed solar facility where the owners had accidentally destroyed critical automation infrastructure during demolition. Cut wiring, severed connections, damaged systems... all the stuff they didn't realize was essential until it was gone. The two walk us through everything from why Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies matter (even when you're racing against the clock) to how “humble confidence” became their project philosophy. You'll hear about oversized electrical panels, “pit bull” project managers, and why sometimes the best sales strategy is just showing up when you say you will. In this episode, find out: Why automation often becomes an afterthought in capital projects, and the surprising impact that has How automation may be a small slice of the spend, but determines how the plant runs The most common pitfall manufacturers face when it comes to automation planning What a FEED study is, and why it's essential in fast-paced projects How "humble confidence" and "tenacious politeness" became guiding principles for E Tech What happens when demolition destroys critical wiring and IO connections and how a hazardous monitoring partner failed mid-project Lessons any manufacturer can apply whether that's running a project with 45 people or just five 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: “Typically, in a large capital project, the automation budget is around 10%. But it's a really critical 10% that you need to invest to have the manufacturing work the way you want to work.” – Cassy Gardner  “Automation relative to mechanical, electrical process, etc. has an outsized impact.”– Chris Schleich  “Always start earlier than you think you need to start. If you can engage a partner who is an expert in automation, you will set yourself up for a foundation of success.” – Cassy Gardner  Links & mentions: E Tech Group, one of the largest engineering and systems integration companies in the US, providing automation, control and information systems 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. 

Manufacturers (not just the guys on the shop floor, but the C-suite behind them) are on a race to the finish line when it comes to automation. Most of us by now are pretty familiar with how AI and automation can play a role in manufacturing. But it looks like we’re heading to the next stage…In this episode, we hear from Chris Stevens, the SVP & GM of US Automation Business at Siemens Digital Industries. We grab a virtual drink and kick the episode off with an interesting paradox – twenty years ago, the push was to automate humans out of processes. But today, we’re figuring out how to bring them back.Chris talks about where we’re heading now with AI – from reactive tools to proactive partners with the rise of agentic AI. He talks about how the new and improved era of AI can make adaptive manufacturing a reality – imagine having one line but with multiple configurations.Digital transformation is a big theme in this episode, but it’s not just about tools and technology. Chris highlights the role of people in the new age of manufacturing too.In this episode, find out:Chris explains the biggest changes since he’s been in the industry and why the focus has moved on from just ‘lean manufacturing’A breakdown of what adaptive manufacturing is and how it ties into automation and AIHow the lines are blurring between IT and manufacturing rolesHow AI could help to bring humans back into the loop – internal and external use casesAgentic AI vs. reactive tools like Copilot and how manufacturers can use AI agents in real examplesThe top lightbulb moments around AI and why data contextualization is how we move one step forward as an industryDifferent ways adaptive production methods are changing manufacturing processesHow adaptive production ties into the trends around reshoringWhy more manufacturers need to use digital twin technologyCurrent digital transformation trends and why it’s not just about the technologyEnjoying 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 contextualization of data is extremely important. That's where the work's got to happen.”“Two decades ago, it was 'how can I take humans out of the loop?' Today it's 'how do I bring humans back in the loop?'”“There's a lot of digital transformation projects that fail, and it has nothing to do with the technology. It has everything to do with usability. Making sure that people like it and then how we implement it.”Links & mentions:Siemens Digital Industries, business platform that helps organizations digitally transform using software and hardware like digital twin technologyMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We just can’t stay away from Pittsburgh’s robotics scene! So we’re back, this time turning the spotlight on the business and startup angle with Premier Labs. Premier Labs is a corporate venture studio, a relatively new model that changes how technology comes to market.President Joel Reed joins the episode to give real examples and explanations about how a corporate venture studio works. In short, Premier Labs starts with real problems and works backward to create solutions that actually fit.Finding product-market fit is usually the biggest hump for new product companies to get over. But that’s only an issue if you start with the product first. Premier Labs’ approach starts with the problem first and then builds a solution and a company around that. Joel explains how this pretty much guarantees product-market fit, plus how businesses are already succeeding through Premier Labs. In this episode, find out:Why Pittsburgh is the capital of robotics in the USHow Premier Labs is solving startup problems with its corporate venture studio modelThe product-market fit challenge and why the studio model basically eliminates itDifferences between service vs product-based companies and why Premier Labs decided to stay separate from the robotics companyReal examples of companies the studio has helped to support and growWhy Premier Labs is looking out for operational leaders rather than just tech founders to head up the new companiesHow Pittsburgh has been crucial to Premier’s successJoel tells us why he chose Premier Labs for the next stage of his careerEnjoying 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's this mentality called break-fix, which is when things break, we'll fix them. But we really can get ahead of that."“You get to learn a customer's problem before you actually start designing the solution.”“We validate that product-market fit, and then we look for people with credibility with the customers who might have some execution or operational experience to be able to build those companies.” Links & mentions:Premier Automation, an industry leading engineered solutions company focused on providing best-in-class automation, drive, robotics, electrical control, and morePremier Labs, a corporate venture studio that creates purpose-built companies to solve business problems using automation, robotics and artificial intelligenceThe Abbey on Butler Street, a trendy, spacious cafe serving espresso, craft beer and cocktails, plus new American cuisine in Pittsburgh, PA’s Lawrenceville neighborhoodMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

As manufacturers are under pressure to do more with less and somehow fill roles in an increasingly smaller talent pool, unlocking your “hidden factory” could be the solution.To celebrate episode 250, Chris Luecke returns home to St. Louis to meet with some of his early career mentors from Rockwell Automation – now heading up Tri Tech Automation.Ryan Williams, Director of Innovation and Solution Sales, Adam Ruebsam, President, and Luke Manier, Managing Director, sit down at Urban Chestnut Brewing Company for a trip down memory lane and a look forward to the future of manufacturing.The hidden factory concept is simple – how do we uncover the untapped potential in our existing resources? We talk about what that looks like for Tri Tech Automation and how they help customers find those new opportunities. Mentorship is a big theme in this conversation, so we discuss the importance of reaching out to the right people, whether you’re new in your career or want to try something different.Plus, we look at what we can learn from the Savannah Bananas baseball team (believe it or not, we could learn a thing or two from their customer-first approach).Cheers to 250 episodes and counting!In this episode, find out:We start with the most important question – what beer did everyone pick?Ryan, Adam, and Luke introduce themselves and Tri Tech Automation, and Chris reminisces with his mentors from his Rockwell Automation daysHow Tri Tech Automation focuses on helping customers right-size their tech and find new solutions from their existing resourcesWhat is a hidden factory and how do you unlock more potential from what you already have?The most common issues that manufacturers struggle withReal stories about what unlocking a hidden factory really looks likeHow Tri Tech Automation is focused on a three-year plan to unlock its own hidden factories within the workforce, tech, and processes How they’ve unlocked potential across two different locationsWhat manufacturers can learn from the Savannah BananasAdvice for young people getting into the industry and for those already in manufacturingWhy mentors are the biggest bonus to your manufacturing careerEnjoying 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 “hidden factory” represents the untapped potential to do more in their operations with the resources that they have. It represents the invisible inefficiencies and unutilized capacity." - Luke"It's business value first and technology second. We have to right-size the technology... but we really need to start with the business outcomes." - Adam“Customers know they've got inefficiencies, but they can't quantify it without the data. So it starts with gathering on the front end and then analyzing the low-hanging fruit, where the biggest improvements are.” - RyanLinks & mentions:Tri Tech Automation, a full-service control systems integrator providing R&D, controls design, programming, fabrication, start-up, and commissioning based in St. Louis and TulsaEOS - Entrepreneurial Operating System, a complete set of real-world tools that help entrepreneurs get what they want from their businessa...

What happens when you put five podcasters in a room together at one of the biggest events of the year for innovative industrial tech? A super broad view of what’s happening in the industry and what we’ve got to look forward to.Recorded live from Hexagon’s 2025 event, we welcomed four friends of Manufacturing Happy Hour, returning to the show to talk about the innovations we were most excited to see at the event. But for the main part of our conversation, we do a mid-year check-in on the industry to hear their thoughts of what we have in store in the future.Say hello to our panel:Jim Mayer – Founder of The Manufacturing Connector and Host of the Manufacturing Culture PodcastNikki Gonzalez – Director of Business Development at Weintek USA plus Co-Founder and Host of the Automation Ladies podcastMike Payne - President & Owner of Hill Manufacturing & Fabrication and Co-Host of MakingChipsNick Goellner - VP of Sales & Marketing at Hennig, and Co-Host of MakingChipsTune in to hear about 3D printed body parts, how scientists are turning ocean trash into surfboards, and how new mentor programs are revolutionizing how we train the next generation.We each take stock of what we’ve been seeing in the industry lately and why uncertainty isn’t dampening our optimism. While investing in new tech is naturally a big part of our conversation, we also widen the topic to investing in ourselves and our teams, highlighting the importance of relationships and staying true to company values.In this episode, find out:The tech that stood out the most to us at Hexagon’s 2025 eventA mid-year check-in: Jim, Nikki, Mike and Nick share their thoughts on manufacturing in 2025Why Jim’s optimistic about the industry and how technology adoption is fueling thatHow Mike’s balancing his optimism with concern over the access to capital challengeHow manufacturers can weather the storm in uncertain times (some lessons from COVID)What it means to invest in yourself as a manufacturer and company leader and why it’s about more than just adopting new techWhy you should overlook working on relationships and partnerships in the industryJim explains why we all need to reassess company values and make sure we’re staying true to what we believe inEnjoying 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:“Make sure everybody's looking at the same scoreboard. Train and coach your team to think like a business owner.” - Nick“Build the foundation on values and relationships. When one of those numbers changes, you work it out together.” – Nikki“The shops that adopt the new technologies will be the ones who really start to expand their capacity and workforce.”- Jim“All these solutions that are coming to market, whether it's hardware or software, help to fill that productivity gap. The concern that I have relates back to the current funding crisis with the MEP networks because if those grant dollars are going away, how do we adopt this stuff?” - Mike Links & mentions:Manufacturing Culture Podcast, hosted by Jim Mayer, this podcast explores the culture of manufacturing with different manufacturing leaders The Manufacturing Connector, connecting manufacturers through training and storytelling, founded by Jim

Pittsburgh’s success in the robotics space didn’t happen overnight. It’s been over 40 years in the making, with education, business, and new innovations all coming together to make the city one of the big robotics hubs alongside Boston and San Francisco.The Pittsburgh Robotics Network has been a key player in that success, giving individuals, companies, and universities the opportunity to collaborate on projects and business opportunities. Executive Director, Jennifer Apicella, joins us on the podcast to give us a background on Pittsburgh’s industry and to share her take on the commercialization of robotics and automation.A key theme in this episode is how you don’t have to replicate the success of the big cities. Every place is different, and part of Pittsburgh’s success has been to lean into its unique strengths and industry challenges. In other words, you don’t need your city to become the next Silicon Valley to be successful. In this episode, find out:A recap of the great bars, restaurants and bowling alleys we explored around PittsburghJennifer explains what the Pittsburgh Robotics Network does and how it’s helping to support new technology and industry growthSome background on why the Pittsburgh Robotics Network was started and built by the community it now representsHow the group measures success and why commercialization is key to developing technologies that solve real problemsHow other cities and regions can learn from what Pittsburgh has done without needing to copy the same formulaThe challenges of working in a non-profit in a for-profit industry and how Jennifer balances different prioritiesJennifer’s advice for becoming a better part of the local technology communityWhy the key to commercialization is about looking beyond the tech and focusing instead on problemsPlans and predictions for Pittsburgh’s industry in the next five years 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:"I think it's just really important that you stop being obsessed with the technology... rather than being inspired by the technology, be inspired by the problem that it's solving."“Like any kind of industrial revolution, this is going to be largely highly disruptive to all humans. Society is going to change. People are going to change, businesses are going to change. Are you on the right side of that change?”“Commercialization is key. The world is sitting by waiting to see what robotics and autonomy look like at scale. How do you take something and not need it to be custom-built?”Links & mentions:Pittsburgh Robotics Network, a community that connects more than 125 advanced technology companies across multiple industriesIndustrial Solutions Network, an interconnected group of manufacturing technology companies working on a common missionGrapperia Pittsburgh, a cocktail bar with a huge selection of speciality cocktails, grappa and amariUmami Izakaya, a Japanese restaurant and bar serving modern Asian cuisine in PittsburghArsenal Bowl, originally Arsenal Lanes, this bowling alley combines unique décor with live music and...

What will it take to get humanoid robots out of the experimental phase and into our daily lives? A lot of us always dreamed of having our own C-3PO at the ready, but how close are we really?Well, it’s a little more complicated than simply getting them on a production line. If we want robots to make an appearance not just in the manufacturing space, but also in healthcare, construction, public spaces, and even at home, there’s a whole lot more work to do.In this episode, we bring you a two-part conversation, recorded live at the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston. First up, Aaron Prather, Director of Robotics & Autonomous Systems Program at ASTM, sits down with Jake Hall, the Manufacturing Millennial, to talk about the number one important thing shaping robotics – safety standards. We talk about how safety standards have a long way to go and will need to look a bit different in different industries.Next, we speak to Spencer Krause, the President and CEO of SKA Robotics, about the best use cases for robots right now and where they could end up in the future. We look at healthcare and hospitals, mining and construction, and break down what will need to happen to increase robotics use and make it a buyer’s market one day.In this episode, find out:Aaron explains his work at ASTM and the importance of pairing standards with new technologyThe biggest hurdles to improving standards for humanoid robotsWhy we’ll need different standards for different scenarios if we want robots in the home, in healthcare, and industryThe most exciting use cases for humanoids and why there’s still a lot of work to do to make it feasible How interest in robotics is growing, as shown by increased talk outside of technical fields in social science, law, and moreSpencer explains his work at SKA Robotics and how robotics is evolvingWhere the biggest current use cases for robotics are nowHow robotics is branching out into industries like mining and constructionWhat will it take to push robot use in areas like healthcare from the current 3% in the USWhy safety, use, and productivity are the keys to making robotics a buyer’s marketEnjoying 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:“More people will embrace the idea of robotics and look for those solutions, and ultimately that's what we need. We need more problem solvers at the table because not all of these are technical.” – Aaron Prather“In the last five years, what we've been able to see with the ability to run perception on the edge and some of these AI algorithms has been incredible.” – Spencer Krause”We're going to see more and more different types of niche surgical robots coming out in the hospital logistics space. That's a market that's only penetrated 3% of hospitals so far in the US. I think we'll see more of that.” – Spencer KrauseLinks & mentions:Robotics Summit & Expo, robotics convention that brings together over 5,000 developers focused on building robots for various industries including aerospace, defense, healthcare, and logisticsSKA Robotics, robotics hardware, software, and systems engineering developera...

The reindustrialization movement is fully underway, and cities like Detroit are leading the charge. But how do we accelerate the timescale it takes to get America back to the ‘golden days’ of manufacturing?The key, as you’ll hear in this episode, isn’t to keep looking back at the past. It’s to use the tools and resources we have today with a healthy dose of industry collaboration.Joining this episode is Chris Nolte, Co-Founder of Bloom, an operations-as-a-service platform created in Detroit to help companies build, ship, and service products through a vetted network of service partners. You’ll hear a bit about Chris’ unique story as an Iraq war veteran who originally started in the business of selling electric bikes. But he noticed, as we all saw during COVID, that global supply chains are more delicate than we imagined. And that’s why reshoring and reindustrialization in the US is gaining more traction.Chris shares his thoughts on how the US can accelerate manufacturing by saying “yes” more often, taking advantage of new technology, and collaborating across industries. You’ll also hear about how Detroit’s industrial background is making a comeback and even drawing in talent from the coasts to bolster American manufacturing.In this episode, find out:A little history lesson of Detroit and how reindustrialization has revitalized the areaHow COVID changed the public’s perception of global supply chains and the need for a stronger industry in the USWhy Chris co-founded Bloom to help fill in some of the gaps needed for US manufacturers to thriveChris’ take on how “custom at scale” can become more feasible in the USHow Chris went from serving in the military to starting an e-bike company before starting BloomWhat’s holding back the US from becoming a manufacturing powerhouse like it was in the pastWhat the US can learn from China’s approach to manufacturing and why the US needs to say “yes” moreThe culture change that’s needed and why the next generation of workers is key to making that happenWhy we need to be open-minded and stop looking back at the past if we want to accelerate reindustrializationThe secrets behind Detroit’s resurgence in manufacturing and why the Midwest needs to shout out about its successes 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:“It's amazing that we're doing electric vehicles and solar panels and all these sorts of things, but if we're not making that stuff here, we're really missing the boat. We're missing so much of an opportunity.”“Don't get caught up in the past because the ingredients are very different today.”“Try to be open-minded because it's a very different world today and what we couldn't do yesterday, we potentially can do today and tomorrow because we have different resources.”Links & mentions:Bloom, an operations-as-a-service platform for hard tech innovatorsNewlab Detroit, a hub with state-of-the-art prototyping equipment, work spaces, and specially pitted pilot sitesEpisode 237 with Dr. John Liu of MIT, Manufacturing Happy Hour episode on how higher education is shaping the future of manufacturinga...

What if accepting failure was the key to entrepreneurial success? Mark DeSantis has built and sold multiple companies over the years and like any entrepreneurial journey, it’s been a mixture of ups and downs, failures and successes. But in this episode, we hear that acknowledging the possibility of failure is what gave him the courage to keep on going.Mark shares his entrepreneurial story – why he began it, how he stays motivated, and some of the best lessons he’s picked up over the years. One of the top points he makes in this episode is to be problem-focused, not solutions-focused. When building tech solutions, it’s easy to get lost in the tech itself and lose sight of the real problems you want it to solve. But to make anything commercially viable, especially something as “new” as robotics, it needs to solve real problems.Mark also sings the praises of Pittsburgh, which he says is one of the best cities for robotics innovation today. He’s seen the city decline and grow over the years into what’s now a college town that’s thriving in the tech space.In this episode, find out:Mark shares what he’s been up to recently, after seeing Bloomfield Robotics acquired by Kubota CorporationThe challenge of living with uncertainty as an entrepreneur and the story that inspired him to embrace fearWhy entrepreneurship is like climbing Mount Everest in that you should look in front of you, not at the summitMark’s secret to enjoying the journey of entrepreneurship and the moment he decided he wanted to do this for the rest of his lifeWhy AI and robotics are perfect for the “big and boring” problems in our livesWhy we might need a Henry Ford-style revolution to take robotics to the next levelHow Pittsburgh is growing in the tech and robotics spaceWhy asking if someone wants to buy your solution is the wrong question for an entrepreneur to askEnjoying 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:“Where technology, particularly AI, can make a difference is in the big and boring problems. The places where nobody thinks to take an advanced technology."“Go where everyone else isn't with advanced solutions and make sure the problem's big enough where you can make a difference.  “If you’re frozen with fear because you're worried about the failure of the company, or your personal failure and the humiliation that that might bring, you're not going to make good decisions. You're gonna fail. It's like playing not to lose in sports. Entrepreneurship’s all offense, no defense.”Links & mentions:Mark DeSantis, his bio is stackedBloomfield Robotics, combining plant-level imaging and deep learning to assess the health and performance of every plant, at any scale continuouslyKubota, manufacturing and assembling Kubota lawn tractorsPittsburgh Robotics Network, facilitating commercial business growth and economic development opportunities for the Greater Pittsburgh region's robotics, autonomy, and AI...

You’ll want to grab yourself a pilsner for this episode. Manufacturing Happy Hour heads overseas to sample some fine German beer in the city of Munich…and we also headed to automatica 2025 while we were there.Europe’s biggest AI and automation event is a must-visit if you can get over there. But if not, this episode has you covered.Between event talks, demos, and trips to the beer garden, we met some amazing people behind robotics and AI companies in Germany and beyond. Chris Luecke and Jake Hall (The Manufacturing Millennial) speak to company founders, innovators, and robotics pioneers, including:Wendy Tan White, CEO, IntrinsicDayana Ramirez Gutierrez, Chief of Innovation, TUMNicole Ebner, Head of Robotics/AI Startup Incubator, TUMDr. Martina Kohlhuber, Scientific Director TUM CampusAlwin Heerklotz, CEO, Innok RoboticsNikolas Roessler, CCO/CFO, Innok RoboticsDr. Christian Liedtke, Principal Consultant, KUKAPatrick Schwarzkopf, Managing Director, VDMAYou’ll hear what makes Germany, specifically Bavaria, a rising star in robotics innovation, how AI is powering robotics’ evolution (and vice versa), and how European businesses approach innovation. In this episode, find out:Wendy gives us background on Intrinsic and explains what AI adds to robotics’ potential todayWhy we’re at an inflection point with AI and robotics and the top trends that are driving the demandWhy hardware and software are both equally important and why we need to think about the physical world as much as the digitalThe importance of hybrid skills and how a “confluence of knowledge” will drive more creativity and breakthroughs in tech  What we can learn about the innovation ecosystem in MunichHow we can empower startups to bring tech from academia into the working worldWhy collaboration is the key thing that the world can learn from Bavaria and German manufacturingA background on Innok Robotics and why the founders decided to focus on AMRs in outdoor applicationsWhy a niche market focus makes Innok Robotics stand out in their fieldWhy growth in new markets depends on the customers’ approach to risk tooWhat Germany brings to innovation – smart engineersWhy AI is the push that robotics needs (and vice versa) so we can start doing more with physical AIWhy more people should come to Automatica and see the reflection of European entrepreneurship and innovationThe challenges facing innovative startups in Europe, and why investors should be more open to riskEnjoying 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 thing AI can do for traditional robotics is add vision, touch, dexterity in a way we've never been able to provide with sensors before or at least in a cost effective way.” – Wendy Tan White“Our customers in Germany are forward-thinking and they take not only the risk but also the pain to start with a product that’s not finished yet. I think that’s been an important part of getting to where we are now.” – Alwin Heerklotz“We come from a world that we describe as a deterministic world... now we move into a different paradigm with AI...the robots become skilled, like humans have skills." – Patrick SchwarzkopfLinks & mentions:automatica, the world's leading trade fair for smart automation and robotics, automatica brings...

You might be surprised to learn what the biggest challenge manufacturers say they’re facing right now. The talent gap comes up a lot on this podcast, but early survey findings from the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA), show that “access to capital” is really what holds most mid-market manufacturers back.In this episode, we sit down with the CEO and Co-Founder of Sustainment, a software company that helps manufacturers manage supplier data, sourcing, and procurement in one centralized platform. As someone partnered with NAIA, Bret takes us through what the findings reveal about procurement and supplier challenges, technology adoption, and plans for the future.In a previous life, Bret was an Army infantry officer and served four tours in Iraq, which taught him a surprising amount about leadership and business. He shares his unique perspective on running a mission-oriented business that aims to support the resurgence of American manufacturing.In this episode, find out:Bret shares a little background on his military career and why he eventually wound up in the technology and defense manufacturing spaceThe biggest lessons Bret learned in the military about business leadership, creativity, initiative, and problem-solvingWhat led Bret to build Sustainment and how it solves wider problems facing American manufacturersWhy manufacturing and supplier relationship management is a team sport between procurement, suppliers, supply chains, and manufacturersBret explains why he partnered with the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA) to help support a community of manufacturersWhy mid-market manufacturers are the backbone of the industry – plus how the industry is facing a resurgenceWhat the early findings of NAIA’s survey reveal and why the workforce may not be the number one challenge we thought it wasHow manufacturing’s success ties into the capacity and availability of materials and equipment, with a story of how COVID affected manufacturingWhat the survey tells us about manufacturing and new technology adoptionHow manufacturing leaders can tell their story and change the general public’s view on what this industry is like todayWhat the survey shows about manufacturing’s procurement outlook on tariffs, supply chains, and reshoringWhat manufacturers can do to prepare for the next 20-30 years and the tools they need to succeedEnjoying 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 combat power in American manufacturing is in entrepreneurial, small businesses spread throughout middle America... 70% of manufacturing employees work in the small business segment.""Manufacturing in this day and age is a high-tech industry... these are super high- paying jobs, working in high tech that allow you to build a great depth of knowledge and great skills.""Manufacturing gets done in a community. Every single OEM relies upon a trusted network of contract manufacturers and suppliers and people that are essential to what they sell to their customers."Links & mentions:Sustainment, an SRM for improving your sourcing and procurement efforts with tools built specifically for managing suppliers within manufacturingNAIA, New American Industrial...

“The hardest part of robotics isn't actually doing robotics. It's providing a solution that solves a real customer problem.” Melonee Wise’s quote from this episode is a good summary of what we talk about in this episode – practical, real-world applications of the technology we see hyped.Robotics, AMRs, humanoid robots, automation, AI – all of these things are hot topics in manufacturing. But the truth is that these solutions may not always result in the most exciting or sexiest applications. But when they’re eliminating boring, laborious tasks, it’s a huge opportunity across the industry.For part two of our Automate 2025 special episode, we hear from five incredible people, all from different areas of manufacturing, automation and robotics.We kick things off with Melonee Wise from Agility Robotics who you may have heard on the show before. She talks about the practical applications of using humanoid robots and where the industry is headed, while also talking through the biggest concern of adopting this new tech – safety.We kick things off with Melonee Wise from Agility Robotics who you may have heard on the show before. She talks about the practical applications of using humanoid robots and where the industry is headed, while also talking through the biggest concern of adopting this new tech – safety.Glen Guernsey from JR Automation talks about the biggest changes in warehouse automation today – including the ability to handle random SKU palletization. We chat with Zoie Rittling of OnLogic and Michael Maxey from ZEDEDA, about how right sizing AI at the edge is about eliminating boring work. And finally, Robert Ponsonby from Arduino talks about the interoperability and open-source solutions that drive innovation. All are slightly different takes on automation’s new capabilities but offer truly great insights for anyone working in manufacturing thinking about the future. In this episode, find out:Melonee talks through Agility Robotics’ humanoid demo and the practical applications of this techWhy Agility Robotics focused on bulk material handling at the beginning and takes a tiered approach to complexity  Why robots performing individual tasks isn’t what’s important – it’s how this connects to other systems and solves overall problemsWhere the humanoid market is likely headed compared to AMRsWhat the new safety standard means for humanoid implementation and how we could realistically see cooperatively safe humanoids working alongside humansGlen talks about the biggest changes we’re seeing in warehouse automation, including the ability to handle random SKU palletizationWhy the labor shortage will need to be supplemented with automationPractical applications of AGVs and AMRs in warehouse operationsWhat the warehouse of the future will look likeZoie and Michael describe edge architecture and how it applies to managing applicationsHow the industry can right-size AI at the edge and how this will look different from using cloud applicationsWhy you need to prioritize integration when looking for the best AI partnersRobert defines interoperability and Arduino’s approach to open-source softwareHow interoperability in open source allows for innovation, empowering teams, and rapid deploymentEnjoying 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 most innovative thing that's out there has to do with random SKU palletization... up until recently with the advances in AI and advances in vision systems, this was not something that was easily done." – Glen Guernsey"We've seen on average for rollouts on projects,

Welcome to Part 1 of our two-part Automate 2025 recap series. In this episode, we dive into current trends in automation and robotics, including cobots, open operating systems, and more. The interviews were recorded as part of A3's Automate LIVE series of interviews and include insights from the following industry leaders:Jerry Perez, FANUC America CorporationBernd Raithel, Director Product Management & Marketing, Siemens Factory AutomationShawn Donahue and Brian Darling, Raymond CorpKen Crawford, Sr. Director of Automation, WeidmuellerStay tuned for Part 2 covering the latest trends in warehouse automation, AI at the edge, and more coming out later this week.

When we talk about building a more productive and competitive manufacturing industry, talk of AI, automation, and other new tech usually crops up. But let’s not forget the basics – the way we power, staff, and build sustainable practices. That stuff’s also important.We’re in an era of transformation right now, but it’s definitely not the first time the US has gone through this. In fact, we get a little history lesson in this episode from Ted Fertik, VP of Manufacturing & Industrial Policy at BlueGreen Alliance. With a PhD in Economic History, we hear how today's manufacturing challenges mirror our history and what we can learn from it.As we look to the future, Ted talks about today’s greater demands on the electrical grid but also why a low carbon economy and electrification are the future. Ted gives us a breakdown on the work that BlueGreen Alliance is doing to make manufacturing more sustainable and attractive to fresh talent and investors.In this episode, find out:Ted shares his background as a PhD grad in Economic History with a focus on industrySome stories from industrial history that inspired Ted to build a career, including the history of Brazil and the UK’s industriesHow industrial strategy has been successfully rolled out in other countries in the pastWhat the BlueGreen Alliance does to help build a low carbon economy and a stronger industryWhy focusing on investment into transformation benefits everyone, not just the economyThe connection between sustainability and productivity and why they benefit each other and workersWhy manufacturing is such a critical part of a healthy modern economy, especially in the USWhat a low carbon future could look like and why we can’t overlook the effect on the demand for electricityHow manufacturing and industry can attract talent and the role of trade unionsHow to attract investment to a capital-intensive industry and the role of the public sector in making it economically viableWhy we need to make sure that the benefits of careers and investment in manufacturing are widely felt across the populationEnjoying 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 need the benefits of the manufacturing economy to be really widely felt. And we need them to be real.”“There's a powerful link between making things with less carbon and the prospect of huge gains in productivity and in material wellbeing for people.”“As we're thinking about building out manufacturing, an affordable, stable, and reliable clean grid is an essential ingredient to a thriving, future-facing manufacturing sector in the US.” Links & mentions:BlueGreen Alliance, an organization that shapes US industrial policy with a focus on good-paying union jobs and environmental progress St. Arnold’s Mussel Bar, serving an extensive variety of mussels, Belgian beers, waffles, and more in a ground-level, brick-lined space near Dupond Circle in Washington, DC  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.

Get ready for a front-row seat to Europe’s biggest automation event! In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, host Chris Luecke and Jake Hall – The Manufacturing Millennial – share their excitement and preview what’s ahead at Automatica 2025, taking place June 24–27 in Munich, Germany.Chris and Jake discuss:What makes German manufacturing a global powerhouse in automation and vocational trainingWhat to expect from Automatica: major exhibitors, international tech showcases, and epic trade show boothsWhy this event is a must-attend for anyone in robotics, smart manufacturing, and industrial automationPlus, they crack open a special "Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty" IPA, brewed just for the occasion, and share some of their favorite Munich spots to check out between sessions. Whether you're attending the event or watching from afar, this episode sets the stage for one of the year’s most important industrial showcases.🎥 Don’t forget: Daily video recaps and a full post-show episode will follow!

We’re seeing a huge leap in potential when it comes to what AI can accomplish in industrial settings. Not only can it catch errors, it can provide intelligent insights to prevent them in the first place, reduce waste, save costs, and improve processes.  Recorded live from Automate 2025, we sat down with Alvin Clark, Senior AI Engineer at NVIDIA, to discuss AI agents in manufacturing and how they’re reshaping industrial inspections. We hear about all the different use cases of AI agents, including error detection and understanding the root cause of errors, saving costs, and even supplying training data to patch the gaps in “tribal knowledge” of manufacturing processes.  You’ll hear real examples of how AI agents have saved costs and reduced errors drastically when monitoring SOPs and how they can provide multimodal maintenance assistance. Alvin also takes us through how NVIDIA’s Metropolis works at helping developers create visual AI agents and why the next few years will see visual AI inspections take off in manufacturing.  In this episode, find out: Alvin shares his background in the AI space and why he saw potential in AI earlier than most  Why 2012 was the real AI boom and how we saw a shift from the algorithm being king to data being king Alvin’s explanation for what an AI agent does in four stages  How AI agents are evolving beyond capturing data to providing intelligence in industrial settings How vision inspection can perform not only real time error detection but also real time failure analysis Use cases for AI agents and examples of how Alvin has seen them most successful How AI agents could also address the skills gap and replace the multimodal “tribal knowledge” we’ll lose when people start retiring Alvin breaks down how Metropolis works to help developers build visual AI agents How simulation, training and data transform what AI agents can accomplish Alvin’s perspective on where manufacturers are in their industrial AI journeys The role of systems integrators in leading the AI revolution What the next phase of AI agents will look like   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: “Metropolis is a combination of models and tools that are used to build what we call vision analytics. So anytime you're looking at video images and you want to extract information from that, these are the tools that can help you do that.” - Alvin Clark “It's not really the ability to catch the error, it's the ability to, as quickly as possible understand the genesis that caused the error.” - Alvin Clark  ”If I had to kind of describe an AI agent, it is a collection of one or more models that can perceive, reason, and potentially plan and then execute.” - Alvin Clark Links & mentions: NVIDIA Metropolis, automating physical spaces and infrastructure with interactive visual AI agents and services AlexNet, a convolutional neural network architecture developed for image classification tasks, like identifying a cat Make sure to visit