ASSEMBLY Audible

In Aerotek’s latest Job Seeker Survey, nearly three-quarters of more than 2,400 respondents said they’re applying to manufacturing jobs, and 64% are optimistic about the industry’s future in North America. We connect with Stanley Johnson, Director of Business Development for Manufacturing and Logistics at Aerotek, to discuss findings from Aerotek’s job seeker survey, including why job seekers are enthusiastic about manufacturing, what factors make manufacturing feel stable and rewarding, and the biggest motivators driving candidates to apply. Additionally, learn why 60% of job seekers feel entry-level jobs require too much experience and how manufacturers can close the gap between expectations and readiness through training, mentorship, and better role definitions. If you’re examining your recruitment and retention strategy heading into 2026, this episode provides insights from the perspective of job candidates.Sponsored By:

You don’t usually hear “franchise model” and “manufacturing” in the same sentence, but Isembard is rewriting that narrative. The company’s plan to build a distributed network of software-driven factories across the U.S. and beyond is backed by full operational support, including machines and tooling, hiring, quality, and an integrated pipeline of customer orders. At the heart of it all is MasonOS, the company’s AI-native operating system that connects quoting, scheduling, supply chain, machining, and quality under one platform. Justin Baucum, General Manager of Isembard, joins us to discuss why Isembard believes franchising can solve longstanding challenges for small workshops. Learn how to become a franchise owner and what’s ahead as the company expands its distributed-factory model.Sponsored By:

During the ASSEMBLY Show in Rosemont, IL, Russ Hughes, product marketing manager at Desoutter Tools, joined ASSEMBLY Audible to discuss his company’s new tightening platform, AXON. Hughes discusses how AXON solves assembly challenges, such as managing diverse tools that require backup controllers onsite, reducing downtime, enabling live data analytics, supporting sustainability goals, and shrinking equipment footprints.Sponsored By:

Cost estimation is becoming smarter, faster, and more predictive thanks to advances in AI, demonstrated by platforms such as Galorath's SEERai, a new agentic AI platform engineered to deliver secure, traceable, and audit-ready cost, schedule, and risk insights for manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and IT programs. In this episode, ASSEMBLY Audible welcomes Charles Orlando, Chief Strategy Officer at Galorath, to discuss how SEER and SEERai work, the gaps in today’s costing tools, and why AI-driven estimation is emerging as a strategic advantage. If you’re exploring digital transformation, AI adoption, or manufacturing software, this conversation is a must-listen.Sponsored By:

Software companies are building a new manufacturing stack that includes four layers: ERP, MES, Connected Worker, and AI. Dan McKiernan, principal product manager with Epicor, joins us at the ASSEMBLY Show to talk about the success that arises when these systems work together in a stack rather than a patchwork of tools.Sponsored By:

Next-generation connectivity is emerging as a powerful solution to meet sustainability goals and enhance operational efficiency. In this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible, we speak with Michael Weller, Global Practice Leader in Manufacturing, Energy, and Utilities at Verizon Business. Did you know, for every million linear feet of copper cabling, manufacturers require significant amounts of energy-intensive infrastructure, often dozens of control closets throughout large facilities. By eliminating this copper-based network design, 5G enables a leaner approach to connectivity. One 5G antenna can replace three to ten Wi-Fi access points, dramatically simplifying plant infrastructure and reducing overall power consumption. Weller shares how private networks are helping manufacturers implement measurable environmental and performance benefits by modernizing network architecture.Sponsored By:

At the 2025 ASSEMBLY Show, we sat down with Ben Brakenwagen, Account Executive, to explore how Dirac’s BuildOS automated work instruction platform transforms complex CAD models into clear, repeatable, and scalable work instructions, creating the digital thread that connects design, production, and quality. By automating and standardizing this critical step, manufacturers can accelerate digital transformation, reduce documentation time by up to 95%, and enable agile production across facilities. Learn why work instructions, “the blueprints of the modern industrial base,” could be the key to reindustrialization across the West.Sponsored By:

A new report from Deloitte, From Vision to Value: A Roadmap for Enterprise Transformation in Manufacturing with Agentic AI, reveals that more than a quarter of manufacturers are already exploring how agentic AI technology can transform everything from the back office to the factory floor. We explore the report's implications with the AI & Data Principal at Deloitte, Patricia Henderson, breaking down where AI agents deliver the greatest impact, why most manufacturing work remains human-driven, and how agentic AI can autonomously reconfigure operations when disruptions strike. Ready to turn agentic AI into real enterprise value? Don't miss this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible.Sponsored By:

Explore the technology ecosystem behind John Deere’s award-winning factories, such as Davenport Works, which was named ASSEMBLY Magazine’s 2025 Plant of the Year. Jason Wallin, Senior Principal Architect, TechStack at John Deere, shares how an engaged workforce supported by the right digital tools drives the quality John Deere customers expect. We dive into the company’s use of AI, digital twins, private 5G networks, and their proprietary John Deere Assembly Assist Tool (JDAAT). Tune in to learn how these systems work together to deliver ROI, increase agility, and pave the way for the next generation of adaptive, tech-forward factories.Sponsored By:

According to Kearney’s latest Supply Chain Navigator 2025 H2 Outlook, global supply chain costs are projected to rise from 4 to 7% above inflation by Q4 2025. We examine disruption-led cost inflation and what "designing for disruption” really means in today’s manufacturing landscape. Our guest, Rupal Deshmukh, Partner, Kearney, explains the intent behind the Supply Chain Navigator and what the findings reveal about the role of AI and digital tools in building adaptive, high-performing operations. Learn why leadership today is less about resilience and more about absorption and the approach needed for turning volatility into operational control.Sponsored By: