ASSEMBLY Audible

In this episode, we sit down with Ann Wyatt, President of Ann Wyatt Recruiting and Host of the Workforce 4.0 podcast. Ann shares her insights on how small to mid-sized manufacturers can adapt their hiring strategies to locate top-tier technical talent. From understanding which platforms to use for talent outreach to the growing importance of technology-driven training—like VR and AI—we explore what it takes to build a sustainable, skilled workforce. She also weighs in on tariffs, reshoring, and the shared responsibility of workforce development.Sponsored By:

Traditional robotic systems often require manufacturers to constrain their environments with expensive tooling and rigid setups. Griffin Gillespie, Account Executive, shares how Inbolt is transforming assembly operations by attaching a 3D vision system to industrial robots. Inbolt’s technology allows robots to follow moving parts on assembly lines and has proven particularly useful in automotive manufacturing. Learn more about the company on a mission to create a vision system for industrial robots that enables robust real-time decision-making for any environment.

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Tariffs may well be the defining word of 2025—especially in manufacturing. In this follow-up to our earlier episode, The Impact of Trump's Tariffs on Manufacturers, we revisit the conversation with an updated perspective. We connect with René Linsner, President & CEO of Horváth USA, to discuss how tariffs are currently affecting manufacturers—from rising production costs to reshoring strategies, planning challenges, and even some business opportunities amid constant policy shifts.Sponsored By:

Optimal leak detection is critical to ensure quality control—and safety. In this episode, we speak with Dave Deiwert, President of Tracer Gas Technologies LLC, about the challenges of leak testing, especially when using helium as a tracer gas. Dave shares insights from his decades-long career, including what inspired him to launch his company and why hands-on training is essential. We explore common mistakes manufacturers make—like improper venting of helium—and the hidden factors that can undermine even the best equipment. This episode offers practical takeaways from optimizing leak detector systems to planning for long-term system wellness.Sponsored By:

Meet Nush Ahmed—Quality Inspector, founder of the NextGenMFG-Podcast, and co-founder of Sisterhood of Trades, a growing community built by tradeswomen to empower the next generation. Nush takes us inside the world of quality inspection in manufacturing. We dive into her philosophy that quality isn’t a bottleneck—it’s the heart of manufacturing. From aerospace to automotive, Nush explains how quality assurance is a powerful asset that deserves more investment and visibility. She also shares how content creation can serve as a bridge, attracting more people—especially young women—to explore careers in the skilled trades.Sponsored By:

Workforce regulations have intensified under the current administration—making compliance a higher priority than ever. This episode explores strategies to avoid costly fines, damaging publicity, and disruptive production delays. Our guest, Billy Milam, CEO of EmployBridge, the U.S.'s largest industrial staffing firm, suggests a "belt and suspenders"  approach to protect operations. We examine what happens when audits reveal undocumented workers, how that affects productivity, and how to mitigate the risk.Sponsored By:

Mark Cianciosa, Business Development Manager – Automation at Wauseon Machine, joins us to discuss the challenges and benefits beyond just the numbers of integrating robotics into high-speed assembly and manufacturing environments. Mark shares insights on the ripple effect of automation across a facility: why you should get everyone on board, how the investment in automation strengthens an organization's quest for job candidates and more fascinating tips. If you're considering automation or wondering how to get your team aligned, this conversation is full of tactical advice and lessons learned in the field.Sponsored By:

Artificial Intelligence Will Revolutionize Manufacturing, is the title of a book by our guest, Dr. Markus Guerster, Ph.D., founder and CEO of MontBlanc AI. In this episode, we discuss how advances in computing power and access to high-quality data have enabled AI to evolve from reactive to more predictive systems—such as predictive maintenance. According to Guerster, the key to unlocking AI value is analyzing existing data, building statistical models, and continuously observing and measuring new processes against established knowledge. Guerster's work on AI in manufacturing is the topic of an upcoming ASSEMBLY webinar. Sponsored By:

Fastening is critical to product design and assembly, as mistakes can be costly or dangerous. Discover the top fastening mistakes, according to longtime industry expert Doug Jones, Applications Engineering Manager at Bossard North America.Sponsored By:

Why are customers starting to simulate Assembly processes following their typical Stamping single part simulation? AutoForm USA will discuss the 3 approaches customers are using to simulate their assemblies, including potential savings if the software solution is used very early or very late in the development process. They will also speak about who are the early adopters and what’s on the horizon for AutoForm.Sponsored By: