Manufacturers are under pressure to improve razor-thin margins while juggling domestic production demands, cost control, and data gaps on the shop floor. In this episode, Craig is joined by Shawn Flowers and Ryan Riss of Cohn Reznick. Together, they explore how MES systems capture rich, event-level production data that ERP platforms can’t handle, enabling better visibility into actual conversion costs without burdening operators. They discuss the rise of AI and automation—from vision-based quality inspection to emerging model context protocols—and the importance of owning and contextualizing data for predictive maintenance and future autonomous decision-making. With PE-backed firms driving standardization and “best in breed” tech adoption, even small manufacturers can unlock rapid operational gains.

6:14 MES vs. ERP in Operations

13:00 Ease of Data Collection and Cameras

17:02 The Importance of Data Ownership

21:18 Autonomous Decision Making and AI

31:25 PE Backed Companies

Guest Links

Shawn LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnflowers/ 

Ryan LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ryanriss

Website: CohnreznickHome

 

Show Links

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