EECO Asks Why Podcast

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is evolving by leaps and bounds in industry.  The impact to manufacturing is growing and Amos Purdy provides thought provoking items to consider.  Amos introduces the idea of the data pyramid and how to correlate that with IIoT.  He gives real life examples of how a process engineer could make impactful decisions as more and more meaningful data is available in real time.  The landscape is changing daily for industry and knowing how to start integrating this technology can be a true differentiator.  No matter where you are on your journey adopting more IIoT technology is key and Amos does a phenomenal job of explaining what exactly IIoT is and how to start moving forward.

Guest: Amos Purdy - Lead Systems Engineer at Global Process Automation
Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio Engineer: Luke Yntema

Resources: 

• EECO's Inspire Blog "Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). What is it, really?"
• NIST Framework

Connect with GPA on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, or visit their Website.

Dustin Rodgers is one of our heroes and served his country in the Marines.  After his service he had a perception about manufacturing that he shares.  It wasn't a positive perception but his eyes were opened when he got exposure thru the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing.  Now Dustin gets the opportunity to work with robots regularly which he absolutely loves.  He speaks to the hands on training and how that was so beneficial to putting to practice the classroom portions of the curriculum. 

He's an avid disc golfer and plays in tournaments regularly. His mom is his hero and he shares how his daughter is so important in his life. In his "why" he shares how his future is wide open with possibilities by completing the AAM program.  You'll quickly hear why Dustin is one of our heroes and we are excited to watch his career progress in the future.

Guest: Dustin Rodgers, Automation Technician at Rockwell Automation
Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio Engineer: Luke Yntema

Resources:

• EECO's Inspired Blog "Military to Manufacturing: Closing Industry’s Skills Gap"
• AAM Website
• AAM Video 

Bee Lo shares how he decided to join the Navy and the training he was able to complete that aligned to his passion in electronics. From the Navy he knew he wanted to pursue a career in manufacturing but wasn't sure the best way to get there.  He found the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing and the training aligned with his personal goals for his future.

Upon graduation Bee his making his way as a control technician at Brady Corporation.  He shares how Brady is investing in technology and how he has been fortunate to lead the effort in building visualizations to improve the process on the floor that impacts so many people in operations.  He loves the artistic design parts of engineering and does a great job of communicating with operations to deliver a product they enjoy and truly makes an impact.

Bee is an avid volleyball player and talks about his boxer that keeps him busy when he's not rocking it at work.  His personal why is that he aspires to be an automation engineer. Once you hear Bee and his passion you'll know why he's one of our heroes and is on the track to be a great engineer in the future. 

Guest: Bee Lo, Maintenance Control Technician at Brady Corporation
Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio Engineer: Luke Yntema

Resources:

• EECO's Inspired Blog "Military to Manufacturing: Closing Industry’s Skills Gap"
• AAM Website
• AAM Video 

Our first testimonial about the impact of the Academy of Advanced Manufacturing is Jackson Henderson.  Jackson served in the Air Force and talked about some of the hurdles he had to overcome transitioning from the military to civilian workforce. He has a passion for fixing problems and loves automation.  He shares a cool story of how he met the CEO of Rockwell Automation and the impact that made on him.

Jackson has a passion for music, podcasting and narrating.  He make a great connection on how his professional studies directly impacted some of his personal passions.  Jackson is one of our heroes and in this conversation you'll hear first hand why programs like AAM are so important as the impact goes beyond completing training and leads to fulfillment that only comes from pursuing your passions.

Guest: Jackson Henderson, Electrical Technician at Owens Corning
Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio Engineer: Luke Yntema

Resources:

• Romera Records Podcast
• EECO's Inspired Blog "Military to Manufacturing: Closing Industry’s Skills Gap"
• AAM Website
• AAM Video 

We love our military heroes and this episode we talk with Mary Burgoon about a program that directly impacts many that serve our great country. The Academy of Advanced Manufacturing was designed to help those that want to make a transition from military to industry when their service is complete. Thru this conversation you'll hear how Rockwell Automation is helping by designing a program that tackles some of the latest technology as well as commercial skills that we all need to effectively work on an industrial team.  Talk about a home run for everyone! 

Mary reviews how the program created a curriculum that covers both classroom and lab settings that let students learn via multiple channels.  Commercial items are addressed as well with areas such as personal coaches who assist with skills like resume writing, interviewing, conflict resolution and effective communication.

You'll hear Mary's passion for serving others and how she sees the impact this program is making on so many people.  As part of this series tune in to hear from graduates on how the program impacted them directly and how we now have a new set of industry heroes because of AAM.

Guest: Mary Burgoon - Business Development Manager - Academy of Advanced Manufacturing (Rockwell)
Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets

Resources:

• EECO's Inspired Blog "Military to Manufacturing: Closing Industry’s Skills Gap"
• AAM Website
• AAM Video 

Tim Shope is one of our heroes and throughout this conversation you'll quickly see why.  He served his country in the Navy and has a tremendous journey that led him to Avid Solutions. Tim is on the front lines helping manufacturing achieve their digital transformation goals. His understanding of technology and how to elevate knowledge in the next generation of engineers is a strength he discusses. His "WHY" clearly shows where Tim's heart is:

1. Learn every day
2. Continue to innovate 
3. Help this country manufacturer for the future.

Hear what drives a leader in industry and some areas to consider for your personal journey.  The insight and knowledge shared is sure to provide inspiration and highlight why we are passionate about our heroes! 

Guest: Tim Shope Director of Digital Transformation at Avid Solutions
Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Audio Engineer: Luke Yntema

https://www.avid.run/

Note: Since making this podcast, Tim is now the Vice President of Operations and Technology at Avid Solutions.

In manufacturing there are digital and human elements that relate to every machine producing product.  As industry evolves, the idea of digitizing assets to optimize plants is becoming more relevant. In this episode, Andrew Hastert does a phenomenal job of identifying how to address digitization of assets to improve industry.  He discusses areas of cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, maintenance optimization and performance optimization that are cutting edge innovations which directly impact reliability and bottom lines.  

Andrew also shares his passion for supporting areas of diversity and inclusion to build stronger organizations across the board. He shares insightful information about the culture of inclusion journey he's experienced at Rockwell and the positive impact that's made.  

This episode is full of insight that makes the future exciting when you picture the manufacturer of tomorrow.  Understanding how assets connect and how a diverse team utilizes that information are key areas that Andrew unpacks in this conversation. 

Resources:

• EECO's Inspired Blog "How to Start a Digital Asset Optimization Journey"
• The Hidden Threat Plant Managers Need to know About (and What You Can Do To Help) blog: https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/company/news/blogs/the-hidden-threat-plant-managers-need-to-know-about-and-what-you.html
• 5 Reasons Why I Am Taking Full Parental Leave (and Why You Should Too): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/5-reasons-why-i-am-taking-full-parental-leave-you-should-hastert/
• It Starts With You: What Being an Ally at Work Really Looks Like: https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-us/support/documentation/overview/it-starts-with-you--what-being-an-ally-at-work-really-looks-like.html
• Catalyst and Rockwell’s Culture of Inclusion Journey: https://www.catalyst.org/spotlight-story/rockwell-automation-a-decade-of-courageous-change/
• Catalyst Award and Rockwell Automation: https://www.catalyst.org/media-release/2017-catalyst-award-honors-global-initiatives-at-3m-bmo-financial-group-and-rockwell-automation/
• Rockwell and the Cyber-Minded CEO: https://www.rockwellautomation.com/en-au/company/events/webinars/the-cyber-minded-ceo.html
• White Men as Full Diversity Partners: https://wmfdp.com/case-studies/rockwell-automation/

Imagine 20+ years ago, a pharmaceutical facility operating with 8 computers on the entire site. Now imagine the facility of today with an extreme level of connectivity. In this episode, Joe Barton walks us thru the evolution he's experienced as the IT leader at Merck, from those initial 8 PC's to the hyper connected plant they have today.  Joe shares how standards impacted the evolution and provides sage advice for anyone that may be self evaluating their career.

Joe began his career as a chemist, took a radical turn towards IT and never looked back.  His personal "why" will leave you speechless as he talks about his dad and the many ways he was impacted by watching him serve others from his military service to being there for his spouse when needed most. This was a truly inspirational story and cements why Joe Barton is one of our heroes.

Guest: Joe Barton - IT Plant Site Lead at Merck & Company
Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets

Megan Samford unpacks the core of product security and addresses why this should be important for everyone to understand in industry.  She speaks to the two primary lenses that product security identifies with.  Secure development life cycle and actual product design are covered in depth and she does a great job of relating these areas to how they impact the manufacturing environment. IT/OT convergence is covered as the need access data across many levels of network infrastructure is something industry is facing right now.  Her goal is to define the areas to be aware of and what steps you can take to protect your facility from unwanted outsiders.  This is an action packed conversation and will have you taking notes to put the proper walls up that will keep your industrial environment safe and secure!

Guest: Megan Samford - Vice President, Chief Product Security Officer - Energy Management at Schneider Electric
Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets

Resources:

• EECO's Inspired Blog "Product Security 101"

Trainings & Certifications

• Idaho National Lab (ICS 301 Course) - https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/Training-Available-Through-ICS-CERT#workshop
• Certified Ethical Hacker Certification - https://www.eccouncil.org/programs/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/
• CISSP Certification - https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CISSP
• GICSP Certification - https://www.giac.org/certification/global-industrial-cyber-security-professional-gicsp

Conferences:

• Dale Peterson's S4 Conference - https://s4xevents.com/
• S4 YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/s4events

Santa Thangavel does an excellent job of relating how security can be compromised in an industrial environment.  Often security breaches are not intentional by the one who allows access but they are always intentional by the outsiders trying to get in.  Santa breaks down the delineation between OT and IT.  He highlights how cybersecurity impacts OT more directly as the need in the industrial floor is centered around availability and time impacts manufacturing at great lengths.  For those that aren't familiar with the CIA Triad Santa unpacks this including Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability.  He emphasizes the need for manufacturing to begin focusing on a more secure journey and in this episode gives great insight on steps to take to get started.

Guest: Santa Thangavel - Automation Network Engineer at ABB
Host: Chris Grainger.
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets.

Additional Resources:

• EECO's Inspired Blog "Industrial Cyber Security Basics"