Connected Shopfloor

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, Marco Tschan welcomes Luis Moreno, the Plant Manager at Megapack in Peru, for an in-depth discussion on the transformation of the flexible packaging industry. The conversation centers on a significant milestone for the sector: the successful remote digitization of a manufacturing plant located thousands of miles away from the technical support team. Luis provides a detailed account of how they managed this overseas implementation, proving that geographical distance is no longer a constraint for industrial modernization when supported by clear communication and robust digital tools.The dialogue extends beyond technical implementation to explore the broader industrial landscape in South America. Luis shares his perspective on the essential shift toward automation and the growing pressure to balance operational efficiency with the global demand for sustainable packaging solutions. He examines the complexities of these transitions, particularly regarding cost management and the integration of artificial intelligence into daily production workflows.Furthermore, the episode addresses the critical human element of plant management. Luis discusses the challenges of leading a new generation of talent and the importance of creating a workplace culture that values rapid growth and purposeful career paths. A key highlight of the interview is the focus on organizational agility, specifically how viewing mistakes as learning opportunities can accelerate a factory’s path to excellence. This conversation serves as a comprehensive case study for leaders looking to scale their operations and embrace the future of global manufacturing.

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆’𝘀 "𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿" 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲?

In this keynote from the 3rd Connected Shopfloor Summit, Marco Tschan, CEO of proGrow, challenges industrial managers to bridge the "visibility gap" that still haunts many production lines. Using the Age of Discovery as an analogy, Marco explains that just as sailors needed the Polaris star to navigate, modern factories need a reliable "North Star": real-time OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness).

Throughout the session, Marco breaks down why traditional digitalization projects often fail due to high costs and long implementation periods. He introduces a new era of industrial agility with the proGrow One App, a solution that literally puts your factory in your pocket. By leveraging wireless IoT technology, proGrow has reduced machine installation time from an entire month to just 30 minutes, making Industry 4.0 accessible to any shopfloor.

The highlight of the presentation is a live showcase of proGrow’s AI Chat. Marco demonstrates how managers can now "talk" to their machines, asking for real-time efficiency data, downtime causes, and even proactive recommendations on how to improve performance. With real-world examples from industry leaders like Simoldes and Quantal, this session proves that moving from manual logs to automated digital signals isn't just a tech upgrade, it’s a competitive necessity for the future of manufacturing.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴. Watch the full presentation to see how you can transform your shopfloor data into actionable intelligence.

👉 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘄: https://www.progrow.ai/app

🎁 Use the promocode 𝗦𝗢𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘 to get your free IoT Device!

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, Marco Tschan sits down with Rui Cernadas, the Chief Operating Officer at Adalberto Textile Solutions, to explore the intersection of high-level strategy and the reality of the factory floor.

Rui’s career is a masterclass in operational evolution. From his early days at the Kaizen Institute to the high-stakes world of entrepreneurship and his current role leading one of Portugal’s most innovative textile manufacturers, Rui has seen it all. We dive into how his background in startups transformed his approach to traditional industry, why he believes a "founder mindset" is essential for modern leadership, and how to stay in control of production while managing global operations across continents.

The conversation takes a deep dive into the textile industry’s biggest challenge: balancing growth with the urgent need for sustainability. Rui explains why technology and data must be more than just "noise”, they must be the primary drivers of ROI and the key to helping European companies compete on a global scale. We also touch on the future of the workforce, the role of AI in driving efficiency, and how to lead diverse teams through periods of constant change.

Whether you're interested in the mechanics of a connected shopfloor or the leadership philosophy required to navigate Industry 4.0, this episode offers a 360-degree view of what it takes to transform a business from the inside out.

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, we explore the essential bridge between precision engineering and strategic business vision. We are joined by João Rodrigues, Business Development Lead at IDentPrint, for an in-depth conversation on how identification and mobility systems are shaping the future of industrial operations.

João shares his unique perspective as an engineer-turned-sales-leader, explaining why technology should never be implemented for its own sake, but rather as a direct solution to real-world business challenges. We discuss the importance of approaching the shopfloor with a critical eye to identify process gaps that often go unnoticed, from automating quality control through machine vision to replacing monotonous tasks with collaborative robotics.

A central theme of this conversation is the "mindset" challenge. We explore why many organizations still hesitate to move away from paper-based processes, even when the return on investment is clear. João demystifies concepts like RFID, warning against the common mistake of trying to "build the house from the roof down" without a solid data infrastructure.

Beyond the technology, we dive into the human side and the resilience required to thrive in the industrial sector. João draws a parallel between his passion for ultra-endurance trail running and the "sales-athlete" mentality needed to manage complex long-term partnerships in global environments like Marcopolo, Schneider Electric, and Vodafone.

This is a must-watch conversation for anyone looking to understand how traceability, data transparency, and automation are creating truly autonomous and efficient operations in the era of Industry 4.0.

In this presentation, Rui Baptista, CEO of WEDRONE, details the company's strategic journey to modernize industrial operations and move away from manual processes.

The session focuses on the transition from paper-based management to a fully connected digital ecosystem dedicated to producing complex aluminum components for automotive industry leaders such as Porsche, Bentley and Volkswagen.

Throughout the video, Baptista explores the five-step roadmap WEDRONE utilized to implement digitalization, starting from the identification of core goals like increasing productivity and reducing costs to the detailed mapping of melting, casting, and machining sectors.

The presentation also covers the successful integration between the company's ERP system and the proGrow platform, enabling the automation of tasks such as label printing and ensuring data flows transparently across all levels of the organization, from shopfloor tablets to mobile devices for management.

Rui concludes the presentation with a vision of utilizing collected data to generate insights for increasingly precise and proactive quality control and maintenance.

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, Marco Tschan talks with Francisco Duarte, professor at the University of Minho and affiliated researcher at CCG.

They share essential advice for engineering students, explore shopfloor innovation, and discuss the technologies transforming the industry.The conversation highlights the importance of staying curious, questioning assumptions, critically evaluating information, and actively engaging with your education and experiences.

They also discuss how AI is shaping engineering practice, the value of diverse perspectives, developing problem-solving skills for real-world challenges and building strong networks to support career growth.

On October 23, 2025, at the Connected Shopfloor Summit 2025, Ricardo Tschan Carvalho, COO at proGrow, moderated a roundtable discussion on Artificial Industry or Industrial Intelligence? with industry leaders Filipe Silva, COO at Coloplast, Pedro Maia, COO at Ferral - José Luís & Co. Ltd, and Gonçalo Barata da Rocha, COO at MCF & Palsystems.

The discussion explored the critical intersection of AI and digitalization with human resources innovation and competitiveness, highlighting how companies can leverage technology to enhance operational efficiency, drive innovation and empower their workforce.

The session offers practical insights and real-world examples from leading COOs on how industrial intelligence, both human and artificial, is shaping the future of manufacturing and mobility.

If you’re interested in leadership, manufacturing transformation, or the future of industrial teams, this session is a must-watch.

Are We Prepared to Go 5.0?

In the second episode of Season 2, we sit down with Oscar Sroor, Senior Manager of Business Transformation & Continuous Improvement at STERIS, to explore what truly drives progress in a world accelerating toward Industry 5.0.

From continuous improvement to cultural adaptation, Oscar shares how people, culture, and mindset shape transformation long before automation enters the scene.

Because at the heart of Industry 5.0 lies a simple truth: technology evolves fast, but humans are the starting line.

A conversation about change, resilience, and the human factor behind every real improvement.

Are we truly prepared to rethink how we lead our industrial teams?

In this opening session of the Connected Shopfloor Summit 2025, Ignacio delivers a powerful message: technology alone doesn’t transform factories, people do.

This talk dives into the mindset, clarity and leadership needed to drive real change on the shopfloor.

It’s not just about data or digital tools, but about inspiring ownership, action and continuous improvement across operations.

If you’re interested in leadership, manufacturing transformation, or the future of industrial teams, this session is a must-watch.

Where Craftsmanship Meets Technology… Is the Furniture Industry Ready for the Future?

In the first episode of the new season we sit down with Margarida Silva, COO at AM Furniture Group, to explore how leadership, innovation and people are driving change in the furniture industry.

When tradition meets technology, transformation happens.

From craftsmanship to technology, Margarida shares her perspective on balancing legacy and progress in a fast-evolving industrial world.

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