Down with OEE: A Podcast by Patti Engineering

Host Sam Hoff talks with Don Roberts of Exotek, a longtime CSIA certification auditor who has both evaluated and advised system integration businesses all over the world. Don shares how manufacturers can improve OEE without waiting on new capital budget approvals, along with simple, proven ways to select a high-quality system integrator partner.

Discussion Topics:

• Access data from legacy machines with edge devices and retrofits

• When buying new equipment, consider your data requirements in addition to throughput
• Use the CSIA-certified label to identify reliable integrators
• Partner with consultative integrators who design for efficiency, visibility, and easy maintenance

This episode gives manufacturers practical guidance for improving OEE without relying on large budgets, making better equipment decisions, and choosing integrator partners they can trust.

What separates top integrators from the rest? Jose Rivera, former CEO of the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA), joins host Sam Hoff to discuss what top-performing integrators are doing differently.

In this episode:

• A $1 million breakdown that a $20 k fix could have prevented
• Moving from “it works” to “it grows the business”
• The hard-to-justify investment that delivers big gains in performance and budget

• How a minor scheduling change led to a measurable productivity gain

Listen to learn what matters most in the future of integration. 

Former Stellantis Senior VP Brad Clark shares the specific OEE and leadership strategies that took multiple engine andtransmission plants from reactive firefighting to high-performance operations.

DiscussionTopics:  

●    The OEE component Brad prioritizes and why it makes the biggest difference.

●    Six cross-functional teams for quality, consistency and collaboration.

●    A downtime-reduction group that combines trades expertise with real-time data.

●    A digital-twin case study that fixed slow-cycles across a five-CNC, two-robot system.

Packed with practical information and real-world examples of improving OEE, this episode belongs in every manufacturing engineer’s queue.

In this episode of Down with OEE, Sam Hoff sits down with Patti Engineering Vice-President of Engineering and Operations, Dave Foster to reflect on 30 years of collaboration, innovation, and fast-paced problem-solving. They discuss the parallels between competitive car-racing and system integration. Sharing stories from the track, the shop floor, and the early days of Patti Engineering, Dave reflects on rewarding projects, tough customers, and the value of complementary skills in business.

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In this episode of Down with OEE, Patti Engineering CEO Sam Hoff talks with Gen Z controls engineer Tomas Guillen about the future of automation, AI's role in programming, and the benefits of virtual commissioning. Tomas also talks about his early career and his experiences working at Patti Engineering.

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Newly appointed CEO of Acieta, Craig Ulrich joins Sam Hoff to share insights from his distinguished career including prominent roles at JR Automation, Amazon, General Motors, and more. Together, they discuss the evolution of control systems, including significant advancements in modern vision systems, and the growing need for edge/cloud connectivity to effectively use valuable PLC data. They also cover the continuous improvement mindset required for optimizing a system’s OEE.  Additionally, Craig and Sam discuss the software-based technology tools they believe will transform the future of the manufacturing industry, including artificial intelligence-based data analysis tools, the value of investment into digital twins, and the tremendous time and cost savings achieved through the use of virtual commissioning simulation tools.

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Sam Hoff and Matt Shewell discuss the role of robotics and automation in addressing manufacturing labor shortages. Matt shares his career journey, experiences with automation projects, and insights into collaborative robots, vision systems, and the importance of diagnostics for reliable system performance.Check out our website: ⁠pattiengineering.com⁠

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Terrance Brinkley discusses the growing importance of edge devices and digitalization in manufacturing. The conversation includes how edge devices can provide a non-invasive way to capture data and the benefits of virtual commissioning for reducing costs and improving project efficiency

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Travis Cox from Inductive Automation joins the podcast to discuss the development of Ignition and its role in transforming data accessibility and integration. Travis highlights how Ignition has been shaped by collaboration with system integrators and discusses its innovative licensing model that empowers manufacturers to utilize the full potential of their systems.

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