Podcast
Manufacturing Happy Hour
Hosted by Chris Luecke · EN
Welcome to Manufacturing Happy Hour, the podcast where we get real about the latest trends and technologies impacting modern manufacturers.
Hosted by industry veteran Chris Luecke, each week, we interview makers, founders, and other manufacturing leaders that are at the top of their game and give you the tools, tactics, and strategies you need to take your career and your business to the next level. We go beyond the buzzwords and dissect real-life applications and success stories so that you can tackle your biggest manufacturing challenges and turn them into profitable opportunities.
Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
32episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
289: Beyond the Hype: How Autonomy Is Scaling Across Critical Industries (LIVE from Pittsburgh)
1w ago00:56:01Tap to summarize20 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.
Transcribe →288: Inside the Sisterhood of Trades: Why Women Are Choosing Skilled Trades Careers
2w ago00:21:33Tap to summarizeFor women working in skilled trades, running into someone who knows what the work feels like doesn't happen every day, Sisterhood of Trades was founded to build that connection. Through platforms like Discord, LinkedIn and TikTok, the community is creating a space where women in the industry can connect with peers, share opportunities, find mentorship and grow their careers. Recorded live from The Manufacturing Exchange at ARTISAN works in Rochester, NY, for the second time hosting the podcast, Chris sits down with CEO Nush Ahmed, and Chief Strategy Officer Brooke Laing to talk about how their fast growing community is supporting women working across machining, pipe welding, mechanics, scaffolding, ship fitting and other areas of industry. Together, they run through how an informal and unnamed Snapchat group has evolved into an active network connecting tradeswomen across skillsets and regions. They also talk about the younger generation's approach to networking, and Nush and Brooke explain why sharing the truth of industrial work on social media always lands with a modern audience. For manufacturers thinking about workforce development, leaders trying to better engage women in industry, or those looking to understand how modern trade communities are forming and growing, this episode offers a look at how one fast-growing organization is strengthening connection across the skilled trades. In this episode, find out: Why Sisterhood of Trades was first formed around the reality that many women in trades are still the only woman on their team or in their shop How the early idea grew from a Snapchat group to a structured and organized Discord-based community providing support and connection How the community connects tradeswomen across different roles, skillsets, regions and life stage so they can learn from like-minded people and access opportunities How Nush Ahmed’s path from CNC operating to marketing and enablement shows the career mobility that is promoted through the organization Why Brooke Laing believes showing real life day to day content on social media platforms encourages both participation and retention in the trade industry How taking a modern approach to outreach and engagement performs better than more traditional methods for increasing interest in the trades How mentorship inside the community works, from students making decisions, to career transitions and progression within the skilled trades 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: “Our whole thing is that we're the largest interactive group chat for women in the trades by women in the trades.” - Brooke Laing, Chief Strategy Officer “We're trying to show the real side of the industry. We don't sugarcoat anything. If you want people to come into the industry and stay, you have to show them what the real world is really like.” Brooke Laing, Chief Strategy Officer “Our members are really great. They have built their own relationships with each other, and that was the whole goal with our Discord server. It wasn't just to elevate ourselves and talk about what we do.” - Nush Ahmed, CEO “You really have to listen to your people. I think people are sick and tired of seeing the social media posts and not seeing action. When we talk about something to our members, most likely they'll see it in the next week in an article or on a podcast.” - Nush Ahmed, CEO Links & mentions: Sisterhood of Trades, bringing together women in different trades from all over the world to make connections, share advice, and promote stories and experiences Fathom Digital Manufacturing, Precision Manufacturing, Speed & Scalability – All Under One Roof…Leverage the industry’s most comprehensive suite of 25+ advanced manufacturing technologies 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.
Transcribe →287: The Art of Precision Manufacturing: Why Humans Still Matter on the Factory Floor | Live from The Manufacturing Exchange in Rochester, NY (Powered by Fathom)
3w ago00:49:25Tap to summarizeFull automation and AI on the factory floor are great, but the line still doesn't run without people who can feel a part click into place wrong or hear a tool burn.That space between what technology can repeat and what only an operator can sense is the art of precision manufacturing.Recorded live from The Manufacturing Exchange at ARTISANworks in Rochester, NY for the Rochester stop on the Rust Belt Renaissance Tour, Chris is joined on stage by three guests who think about that space every day. Matthew Bradley is Program Director at Moog Inc., a 75-year-old Buffalo-based motion control company building out a brand-new 150,000-square-foot machine shop. James Greer is Lead Sourcing Rep at X-Bow Systems, the non-traditional solid rocket motor manufacturer. Chris Brown, SVP of Sales, joins from Fathom Digital Manufacturing, one of the largest on-demand digital manufacturing platforms in North America.They talk through where automation creates value and where applying it too aggressively produces scrap. Matt walks through the philosophy his team is using to pull together routings, eliminate setups, and rethink "we've always done it this way" inside Moog's new facility. James shares what he looks for when grading a supplier within 60 seconds of walking the floor, the regional pockets of the US where manufacturing talent is gathering, and why the mix of people on machine shop floors is more varied than people assume.For anyone scaling a precision shop, evaluating suppliers, trying to figure out where the operator ends and the machine should begin, or thinking about the art of manufacturing, this is a look at how three working leaders are navigating that line right now.In this episode, find out:The parts of precision manufacturing that will always need a human, and why feel still beats sensors when tolerances run into the millionthsWhere the art shows up in novel parts and the unfamiliar problems no simulation, CAM program, or AI catches the first time throughWhy Moog calls its experienced machinists a "critical, precious resource" and how that framing shapes the company's plan to double headcount over the next decadeHow a Moog servo valve goes together, and why an interference fit clicking is the cue that something is already wrongWhat Chris Brown means when he says "the human brain is what needs to solve that problem," and where Fathom puts that into practiceWhat outsiders miss about Upstate New York's manufacturing scene, from optics to aerospace to motion controlHow shop culture and the way owners invest in their people decide whether the next generation of machinists staysEnjoying 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 certain things, especially in the precision motion control world, that we just haven't been able to figure out, and frankly, we don't think we're gonna be able to. There is always gonna have to be a human in there to feel and understand what's going on." — Matthew Bradley, Program Director, Moog Inc."If you ask five engineers to solve one problem, there'll be 10 answers in 20 hours of argument. So time box that time, understand that sometimes your gut's Right. Trust it and move forward." — Chris Brown, SVP of Sales, Fathom Digital Manufacturing"What that owner did is he invested in his people. He said, 'I don't want you to go out and get a personal loan and give your money away to some financial institution. I don't want you to go get a mortgage. I'll buy your house.' So he bought all of his employees their homes through their work. He invested in his people. That story stuck with me." — James Greer, Lead Sourcing Rep, X-Bow SystemsLinks & mentions:Fathom Digital Manufacturing, one of the largest on-demand digital manufacturing platforms in North America, providing 25+ advanced manufacturing technologies and support services across additive manufacturing, injection molding, CNC machining, and sheet metal fabrication.Moog Inc., worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision motion control components and systems, headquartered near Buffalo, NY.X-Bow Systems, leading non-traditional producer of solid rocket motors, offering both traditional SRMs and advanced additive manufacturing solutions.ARTISANworks, the art-centric event space in Rochester, NY where The Manufacturing Exchange (and this episode) was held.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.
Transcribe →286: Why Local Execution Drives Regional Manufacturing Success: Live from Cleveland, OH
4w ago00:48:51Tap to summarizeAmerican manufacturing’s next chapter is being written one region at a time, and Northeast Ohio is one of the places setting the standard. In a region like theirs, the institutions and programs are moving in sync, and that builds into something bigger than any plant could pull off alone. That’s why we’re hitting the road on the Rust Belt Renaissance tour to find more places where modern technology and industrial innovation are helping to revive the area. On the first stop, we’re live from Collision Bend Brewing in Cleveland with seven leaders from across the Northeast Ohio manufacturing community, working out how a region of 7,700 manufacturers turns local action into national impact. We split the conversation into three short parts: Matt Duplin (Manager, TransDigm Advanced Manufacturing Center, Cleveland State University), Kyle Zeller (NSF Engine), and Adam Artman (Executive Director, Manufacturing Works) open with what regional action actually looks like on the ground, covering the role of public universities, federal programs like the $160 million NSF Engine award, and the peer-to-peer learning behind the Manu Future program. Greg Schumacher (Director of Manufacturing, NOVAGARD) and Mike Yost (Manufacturing Excellence Program, Manufacturing Works) turn the theory into a case study, walking through the CESMII Smart Manufacturing Roadmap that Greg’s team finished in six weeks at zero cost. Jillian Kupchella (Director of Marketing, CESMII) and Jonathan Wise (Chief Technology Architect, CESMII) close the conversation with what comes next nationally, including the three technology needs that every digital project should think through. This episode is for any manufacturer wondering how to make the most of the resources closest to them. In this episode, find out: What ‘regional action’ means in a manufacturing ecosystem and why local organisations like Manufacturing Works act as the connective tissue between manufacturers, universities, and workforce providers How a public university with an 80% local student body and a dedicated advanced manufacturing centre creates a homegrown engineering pipeline that stays in the region What an NSF Engine award is, what it takes for a region to compete for one, and how Northeast Ohio became one of fifteen teams in the running for $160 million in federal funding Why peer-to-peer learning through the Manu Future programme moves the needle on technology adoption far more than any vendor pitch The ‘secret ingredient’ each panellist credits for Northeast Ohio’s manufacturing density of 7,700 manufacturers, from collaboration to history to location How CESMII is exporting the same toolset and language to other regions including Western Pennsylvania, Maryland, Los Angeles, and upstate New York The three technology imperatives Jonathan Wise lays out for any manufacturer deploying new tech – modelling data, contextualising data, and making data interoperable through tools like CESMII’s I3X 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're a public university, and so we should be servicing the public and the manufacturers in our region. The advanced manufacturing center is that space." — Matt Duplin "Something like this doesn't just get spun up overnight. It's the result of years and years of work together. It speaks to the confidence that our federal government has in our region to compete on a global scale." — Kyle Zeller "What's unique about Northeast Ohio, every time I meet with someone, is always the same. It's this willingness to share. It's the willingness for the sum to be greater than the parts." — Adam Artman "We have connected our PLCs, and that data — real time, in engineers' hands, in operations' hands — we have unleashed the data. We are making decisions faster, smarter, with the right information." — Greg Schumacher "We talk about smart manufacturing like a destination. It's really just a tool for the leaders to lead. The leaders are the ones that own it and drive it." — Mike Yost "I feel very fortunate to live in a region that is so put together. From a national scale, we're hoping to implement things like this across the nation." — Jillian Kupchella "Technology is an enabler. It's a means to an end. It is not the end. Just buying technology isn't gonna solve your problems." — Jonathan Wise Links & mentions: Manufacturing Works, the membership-based organisation that serves as the connective tissue across Northeast Ohio’s manufacturing ecosystem CESMII, the Smart Manufacturing Institute and national authority on smart manufacturing, behind the roadmap toolset and the I3X interoperability framework NSF Engine, the federal place-based innovation programme behind the $160 million regional award Northeast Ohio is competing for ManuFuture, the peer-to-peer manufacturing learning programme developed in partnership with Purdue University TransDigm Advanced Manufacturing Center at Cleveland State University, the research-oriented, public-university partner serving the Northeast Ohio engineering pipeline MAGNET, the Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network supporting manufacturers across the region Tri-C (Cuyahoga Community College), source of the grant that fully funded NOVAGARD’s Smart Manufacturing Roadmap NOVAGARD, silicone adhesives, sealants, and PVC foam manufacturer featured as the case study Fathom, sponsor of the Rust Belt Renaissance tour and a network of seven regional manufacturing companies 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.
Transcribe →BONUS: Purpose-Built AI for Manufacturing: How AI Agents Are Transforming Workflows on the Factory Floor with Apprentice CEO Angelo Stracquatanio
May 100:45:56Tap to summarizeGeneral-purpose AI can answer almost anything, but that flexibility becomes a liability on the factory floor.In this bonus episode, Chris sits down with Angelo Stracquatanio, CEO of Apprentice, a purpose-built AI company for manufacturers and the creator of A1: The AI Agent for Manufacturing Teams.Angelo has spent 12 years building software for the people on the shop floor, starting in the pharma manufacturing suites where a 200-page paper binder sparked the idea for the company.The conversation covers the origin story of Apprentice, the ‘Predict and Prepare’ framework behind its biggest pivots (including the COVID response that helped produce 300 million vaccine doses), and what it looks like to become AI-native as a business. Angelo also tells the story behind A1, the AI Agent for Manufacturing Teams.This episode's for any manufacturer trying to separate AI hype from AI that can be trusted in production.In this episode, find out:Why Angelo named the company ‘Apprentice’ 12 years ago and why the meaning has only become more relevant in the AI eraHow the product evolved from AR headsets and Google Glass into a full ISA 95 manufacturing stackWhy stacking AI inside a single manufacturing system traps it behind four walls, and what a new layer above the stack can do differentlyAngelo’s personal path from writing every line of code himself to CEO leading the company through multiple pivotsThe ‘Predict and Prepare’ framework behind the team’s COVID response, and how it has guided four or five major business movesWhat Angelo has learned over 12 years about building a leadership team around complementary weaknessesWhy a custom-trained model and a constrained workflow engine are what give manufacturing AI the precision and trust it needs for production useEnjoying 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:“In manufacturing in particular, humans still need to be the driving force. And AI is just a tool to help support them.” “The hardest thing that I had to learn was not software. It wasn’t even the entrepreneurship or the CEO stuff. It was building trust and credibility with our customers.” “If we’re gonna use AI in manufacturing, it’s gotta be precise. Otherwise, no one’s gonna trust this thing.” Links & mentions:Apprentice, a purpose-built AI company for manufacturers and the creators of A1: The AI Agent for Manufacturing TeamsLaico’s, long-running, brick-lined nook offering an array of Italian cuisine, cocktails, and wine in Jersey City, NJMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
Transcribe →285: Why Offshoring Looks Cheaper (But Isn’t): The Real Math Behind Reshoring with Harry Moser
Apr 2800:53:47Tap to summarizeFor years, reshoring was a fringe idea. Now, it’s one of the most talked-about topics in manufacturing.Even though the conversation is now in vogue, there’s still a challenge. Many companies are still making the same mistake when deciding where to manufacture. They’re looking at price, not total cost of ownership (TCO).In this episode, Chris sits down with Harry Moser – Founder of the Reshoring Initiative – to break down the real math behind reshoring…and why getting that math right could unlock millions of jobs and fundamentally reshape U.S. manufacturing.Make sure to visit ManufacturingHappyHour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty. Mentioned in this episode:Mfg Happy Hour's GOLDEN STATE TAKEOVER TourDon't miss Manufacturing Happy Hour on tour this May 2026 as we head across the state of California. We'll be hitting the Bay Area on 5/19, Modesto on 5/20, and Los Angeles on 5/21. Live podcasts and parties in every city. Get your tickets today.Manufacturing Happy Hour on Tour
Transcribe →BONUS: From Spreadsheets to MRP: How SMB Manufacturers Are Improving Visibility to Inventory and Costs with MRPeasy
Apr 2400:33:38Tap to summarizeHow do you know when your current setup has stopped working, and what to do with it when it does?In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris sits down with Shane Dubbelman, Head of Partnerships at MRPeasy, and Sara Duff, Managing Director at Smart Manufacture, to talk about what happens at that point, when the lack of visibility into inventory, costs, and operations starts to hold a business back.They get into where spreadsheets begin to slack, how to think about MRP vs ERP at that stage of growth, and why a lot of companies looking at ERP are probably aiming too far ahead of what they need.Sara shares a couple of examples from her work with manufacturers, including how one CNC machining business ended up stretched across a mix of disconnected tools. And Shane walks through how MRPeasy approaches the tricky task of implementation.In this episode, find out:The point where spreadsheets start to break down, and the impact that has on costs and planningWhy most companies aiming for ERP would be better starting with MRPHow one CNC machining business ended up stretched across disconnected toolsWhat changed for a manufacturer that moved off Excel and saw 25% growth in a yearThe common traits Sara sees in manufacturers that scale successfullyHow MRPeasy approaches implementation, from self-serve to hands-on supportEnjoying 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 small manufacturers that are looking for ERP software probably actually need MRP software - because they're looking to manage their manufacturing.” - Shane Dubbelman“A year after MRPeasy went live, they grew their business by just over 25% - without significantly increasing their headcount. The system made that possible.” - Sara Duff“It’s those that are open to looking at there being a different way of doing things. I may not know exactly how to do that, but if I bring in the right people and the right technology, I can achieve it.” - Sara DuffLinks & mentions:MRPeasy User Manual, installing MRPeasy does not have to be hard or expensive; you can even do it yourselfSmart Manufacture, UK-based Smart Manufacture works with companies from SMEs to Mid-Market across multiple verticals, including engineering to order, discrete manufacturing, batch manufacturing and process manufacturing; Smart Manufacture help these companies to specify, select and implement proven best of breed software which can deliver tangible business outcomes – reduced costs, improved operational efficiencies, increased revenues and improved productivityMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
Transcribe →283: From Craft to Manufacturing: How Crafted Glory’s Kwadwo Som-Pimpong Is Scaling a Furniture Business While Working the Night Shift
Apr 1400:47:06Tap to summarizeKwadwo Som-Pimpong started making furniture in 2015 because he bought a house with no furniture and decided to build his own. A decade later, he runs Crafted Glory, a small-batch luxury furniture brand blending West African artistry with Scandinavian design, while working 10-hour shifts at Eaton as a fabrication supervisor. In this episode, Chris sits down with Kwadwo to trace the journey from those first end tables built in a garage to a full-scale business. The conversation covers how Kwadwo manages the constraints of four to five hours in the shop each day, including three strategies he has put in place, a clipboard for tracking time and tasks, using Claude to reflect and connect the dots on the 40-minute drive home, and a networking story from New York that turned one photo on Instagram into a series of interior design projects. He also walks through the Echoes of the Forest project, two pieces made from trees uprooted by Hurricane Helene, one already installed in Biltmore Forest Town Hall and one headed for Asheville’s historic YMI Cultural Center. In this episode, find out: How Kwadwo got into furniture making in 2015 out of necessity, moving into a house with no furniture and discovering he’d rather build his own, and how that organic beginning grew into Crafted Glory How his dual engineering degree from Carnegie Mellon gives him the mindset and the resilience to keep working through problems that feel unsolvable What he observed visiting Hellman Chang’s manufacturing plant in Georgia, component part numbers, scan systems, work cells, and 5S, and how it changed what scaling from craft to production can look like while keeping the handmade element intact How 12 years as a fabrication supervisor at Eaton translated directly into running his own team, applying method sheets and time studies, and building standard operations that let someone else step in and do what he does The three strategies he uses to manage four to five hours of shop time per day alongside a 10-hour shift: a clipboard for time tracking, Claude for end-of-day reflection, and deliberate networking that turned one New York visit into a pipeline of interior design projects The Echoes of the Forest project, how Hurricane Helene uprooted thousands of trees across Asheville and led to two commissions: a mantle from a fallen walnut tree installed in Biltmore Forest Town Hall, and an outdoor bench headed for the historic YMI Cultural Center 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: “Now I see where I’m spending my time, I see how long each piece takes me. If I know the time, that translates into my pricing. If I get my pricing right, that moves me closer to being free from working another job.” “I use AI a lot in helping with organization — Claude specifically. At the end of the day, on my 40-minute drive home, I dictate what happened in the studio, my reflections, the challenges I faced. I love how Claude draws connections and builds on your whole story, your whole journey.” “I aspire to have an operation where I still maintain the craft element of what I’m doing, but it is systematized such that I can step away, bring someone in, train them to the documentation, and they can come in and do the same thing that I do.” Links & mentions: Crafted Glory, small batch luxury handmade furniture brand that crafts sustainable hardwood artistic furniture inspired by West African artistry and Scandanavian design Biscuit Head, an incredible biscuit-centric breakfast joint with roots in Asheville, NC 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:Mfg Happy Hour's GOLDEN STATE TAKEOVER TourDon't miss Manufacturing Happy Hour on tour this May 2026 as we head across the state of California. We'll be hitting the Bay Area on 5/19, Modesto on 5/20, and Los Angeles on 5/21. Live podcasts and parties in every city. Get your tickets today.Manufacturing Happy Hour on Tour
Transcribe →282: Inside a Warehouse Automation Project: How Sumitomo Drive Technologies Is Transforming Logistics and Reshoring Operations
Apr 700:42:33Tap to summarizeRunning out of warehouse space doesn’t always mean you need more of it. For Sumitomo Drive Technologies, it meant rethinking the whole operation from the ground up.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris sits down remotely with Tony Barlett and Shawn Lambert from Sumitomo Drive Technologies for an inside look at a live warehouse automation project underway at their Chesapeake, Virginia headquarters.The project combines AutoStore, an automated storage and retrieval system, with automated guided vehicles to compress 30,000 square feet of high-bay racking into a 7,500 square foot footprint, with robots handling the picking and every transaction flowing through a single digital interface.The conversation runs from the 2021 decision all the way through to where the project stands today. The business case, the technology choices, and what it takes to bring automation into a facility that has run on pen and paper for years.They get into the workforce question too. What this means for the people on the floor, how Sumitomo plans to grow 50 percent over the next five years without scaling headcount at the same rate, and why the digital foundation they're building now is what makes AI integration possible later.In this episode, find out:How a customer demo in 2021 sparked the decision to stop expanding Sumitomo Drive Technologies' warehouse footprint and automate instead, and what it took to get from that first look to a live projectWhat the AutoStore system does at a practical level, and how a simple analogy made the technology immediately understandable for anyone who hasn’t seen itHow condensing 30,000 square feet of high-bay racking into a 7,500 square foot cube changes what growth looks like for the businessHow moving from pen-and-paper operations to a single digital interface changes day-to-day work for every person on the warehouse floorThe company’s plan for its existing workforce, and how it expects to grow 50 percent over the next five years with roughly the same headcount it has todayWhy the AI boom has not changed the scope of this project, and why building connected digital infrastructure now is the precondition for AI integration down the roadThe three pieces of advice Tony and Shawn would pass on to any manufacturer considering an automation project of this scaleEnjoying 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 you're not doing this from an automation standpoint, you're missing the boat. It is the wave of the future, the labor force shortages are not going away, and they're only going to get more difficult." - Tony Barlett"You can't start looking into this soon enough. The more prepared you are for a project of this scale, the better off you're going to be, not just plugging in the automation, but how it connects to your ERP, your processes, your AGVs." - Shawn Lambert"AI doesn't do anything for you when you're dealing with pen and paper. Get into a more technological age first, get your software systems in place, and then you can integrate AI to turn static decisions into dynamic ones." - Shawn LambertLinks & mentions:Sumitomo Drive Technologies, dedicated to providing the highest quality power transmission products, gearboxes, gearmotors, and services to industrial companiesAutoStore, automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) that uses the power of warehouse robots for 24/7 order fulfillment within a cubic layoutSwisslog, logistics automation; they design, manufacture, and optimize automated logistics solutions across the supply chainNansemond Brewing, craft brewery in downtown Suffolk, VAAllgood Lounge, premiere bar and party spot in Athens, GAMake 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:Party with Manufacturing Happy Hour!Join Manufacturing Happy Hour on tour, or at one of our famous EXTRA INNINGS conference afterparties (co-hosted with Jake Hall, The Manufacturing Millennial).Join The Party
Transcribe →281: How AI-Powered Predictive Maintenance Enhances Operational Reliability with Colin Morris of MaintainX
Mar 3100:33:25Tap to summarizeAI-powered predictive maintenance has been on the radar for years, but for most facilities, it still hasn’t fully landed.Chris sits down remotely with Colin Morris, Senior Director of Solution Consulting at MaintainX, the AI-powered maintenance and asset management platform built for the industrial frontline. Colin has spent eight years working in this space, long enough to have watched maintenance shift from an afterthought to a strategic asset across North American manufacturing.They cover the real barriers to AI adoption in maintenance: unstructured data sitting across disconnected systems, outdated assumptions about what predictive tools should deliver, and the foundational steps most facilities skip before they’re ready.Colin walks through what parts data to collect and why, how maintenance has evolved from cost center to cost saver, and where agentic AI is taking the industry next, including what scheduling looks like when an agent does the first pass and a human approves the plan.In this episode, find out:Whether today’s manufacturers have the data infrastructure AI actually needs, and why having data and having usable data are two very different thingsThe gap between what AI-driven predictive maintenance promises and what tends to happen when facilities try to put it into practiceWhy a predictive system that shows no faults can mean things are working exactly as they should, and how confirmation bias leads teams to misread that signalThe foundations most facilities skip when digitizing, and why jumping ahead without them creates problems that are hard to undoWhat parts information every facility should have on record, why it matters more than most teams realize, and what happens when a critical component is not cataloguedHow maintenance’s status has changed over eight years, from a cost center most facilities avoided spending on, to a core part of a facility’s digital strategyWhat AI looks like across maintenance operations today and where it genuinely adds value versus where human judgment still needs to leadEnjoying 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 customers do have the data. The biggest challenge is it’s super unstructured and in different systems, so getting it into a format AI can actually use is still a huge challenge.”“People expect predictive maintenance to surface issues, but if an asset is running well, nothing’s going to happen. No insights are sometimes good insights. That means things are operating the way they should.”“Historically, about 60% of a technician’s time is admin work. If you can give even 10–20% of that time back, that’s a huge gain in actual wrench time.”Links & mentions:MaintainX, helping industrial teams manage work orders, asset performance, parts, and labor with AI-driven insights that reduce downtime and boost operational excellenceNick Haase on Manufacturing Happy Hour, episode 206 featuring MaintainX’s Co-Founder and the company’s first appearance on the podcastLeft Field Brewery, established in Toronto in 2013 and brews a series of baseball-inspired, distinct and full-flavoured beersMake 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:Party with Manufacturing Happy Hour!Join Manufacturing Happy Hour on tour, or at one of our famous EXTRA INNINGS conference afterparties (co-hosted with Jake Hall, The Manufacturing Millennial).Join The Party
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