EECO Asks Why Podcast

Be present in what you are doing and make an impact!  That is the approach our hero Prabhjot Singh takes to business and life.  He is leading the way as the CEO at Pyze and his passion for helping manufacturers improve their processes is inspirational.

Prabhjot shares how the pressure is impacting industry as the markets are more competitive than ever and the end users who understand their processes the best will have a unique advantage.  As businesses strive to produce faster, at a lower cost and increasing quality their ability to step back from the tree to see the forest is critical.

For those that want to learn more about lean manufacturing and Six Sigma he shares insight on how that has evolved.  There are also a few industry myths that were completely debunked along the way.

Prabhjot gives us a peek behind what drives him and he truly lights up when sharing about his family.  He loves making custom pizzas for his family and may be the best Candy Crush Saga player you will ever meet.

At the end of the day he is making a huge impact on industry and there is a ton of wisdom and insight that we can all learn from.  Here's to our hero Prabhjot and be sure to connect with him and the amazing group at Pyze to learn more.

Remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Prabhjot Singh - CEO at Pyze

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

The customer experience impacts us all.  When you enter a store the journey begins. Everything from how you find the items you are looking for to the actual purchasing process, every step makes an impression on how you evaluate a business.  This reins true in the industrial manufacturing sector as well as the markets are more competitive than ever so any opportunity to remove friction should be capitalized.

Paula Courtney knows the importance of a fluid customer experience and shares a ton of wisdom and insight on how to make a true impact.  She shares when customers make a decision to walk away versus when they will stick around even if the experience isn't perfect.

A few of the areas that Paula unpacks that provide valuable insight are:

• Exposure of weaknesses 
• Investments that move the needle
• Soliciting the right feedback
• Understanding behavioral analytics 
• The golden rule - follow the money!!

At the end of the day the more you can arm your customers with information and foresight on what challenges you might have as a supplier. The better your customers will be and in that process you will build trust like no other.

Grab something to take notes with as Paula is an absolute expert in the customer experience and she will shine a light on many areas we all need to understand better as we strive to provide superior customer experiences! 

Take action and remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Paula Courtney - CEO & President at The Verde Group

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Verde Group Blog
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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Alicia Wilson is leading the way at Summerville CPW and after walking through their amazing case study we had to unpack her journey as a nice cherry on top. She shares with us many of the steps she has taken in her career and even how a Clemson girl can stand strong surrounded by a world of Gamecocks! 

This was the first time we were able to connect with someone in the water/wastewater industry and Alicia shares wonderful insight into many of the challenges they are facing.  From governmental regulations to public health they must be on top of their game everyday and she embraces that challenge head on.

She shares how her site is a living biological system.  It is her teams goal to keep the system healthy and operating at the highest levels.  This means always analyzing the current status and adjusting to meet the changing demands.  As Alicia describes a career in this industry can be extremely fulfilling as you are serving your community daily and there are numerous opportunities to grow professionally.

Alicia has an amazing family and you can hear her light up when she starts talking about her daughters and husband.  She was born and raised in South Carolina and her roots are firmly planted in the community that she serves with pride daily.  You will quickly hear why Alicia Wilson is our hero!

We want to thank the wonderful staff at Summerville CPW for their hospitality and it was a treat to be able to meet and learn from so many amazing people.  These types of conversations are critical to growing and learning together.  So sit back, take notes, apply what you learn and remember to keep asking why! 

Guest: Alicia Wilson - Deputy General Manager - Operations at Summerville CPW

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

This is the incredible conclusion to Micah Miley and Mike Rathbun's amazing modernization case study.  It began by them working together to get their ducks in a row.  Then it moved into actual project management which basically meant they were dialed in with each other at all times (this is how trust and friendship is built). 

In this episode they review the moment we have all been waiting for - delivery and commissioning!! 

This part of the story had many twists and turns (LITERALLY) and you can feel the pressure build as they recap how the equipment made it to the site.  Everything came together to the moment where the rubber meets the road.  In those tense times the results of planning, engineering and good old fashioned teamwork come to light.

Listen for yourself as you hear how this project had an "IT'S ALIVE" moment!  This was such a powerful testimony and really shows how the EECO team is committed to serving others. As EECO Asks Why says we are all about people and ideas over products.  Stories like this are what makes that not just a saying but a reality. 

Many thanks go to Micah and the team at Summerville CPW for opening up their facility and sharing their story.  Come back next week to hear an amazing hero journey from one of the primary leaders at Summerville and listen as she unpacks her incredible story.

Share this case study with others and remember to keep asking why! 

Guests:
Micah Miley - Engineer at Summerville CPW
Mike Rathbun - Power & Control Solution Architecture Manager at EECO

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

For those that have walked a modernization project from cradle to grave you know success lies in the details and planning.  Showing up on gameday doesn't work for a NFL team and neither does success in a project of any size.  In part two of this powerful story Micah Miley and Mike Rathbun unpack how they were able to work together to ensure the project would have a successful outcome.

They explore areas such as how communication flowed between all parties in the heat of planning.  There was a special bond that formed due to the constant communication and you will hear the power of partnerships that are grounded with trust. 

As with most things in life there were plenty of hurdles and obstacles.  Micah and Mike openly review how they managed adversity together and through exquisite communication, complete honesty and a few bottles of Tums they were able to navigate the project management phase of this journey together.

There is a ton to learn from this case study and the transparency they share is what makes conversations like this golden.  If you are struggling right now with project management grab a notepad as this team shares it all and there are a ton of tips that could serve you well as you aim for success in the future.

Come back next week for the incredible conclusion of this Case Study of Modernization!

Guests:
Micah Miley - Engineer at Summerville CPW
Mike Rathbun - Power & Control Solution Architecture Manager at EECO

Industry War Story Submission: Send us a DM!
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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Guests:
Micah Miley - Engineer at Summerville CPW
Mike Rathbun - Power & Control Solution Architecture Manager at EECO

On this episode EECO Asks Why hits the road and goes to plant to talk about modernization. And what better way to do that than to discuss a real life case study with the people who implemented the project.

We sit down with Micah Miley the engineer from Summerville CPW and Mike Rathbun form our EECO Team as the cover from cradle to grave the entire process of bringing the E-House to life.

This is just the first part of this modernization series. In this episode we cover the decision makers, the ground work, and get our ducks in a row. Stay tuned for part two discussing more of the project management, headaches, and hurdles as well as in part three the final product. 

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

Paula Courtney has an amazing journey that is full of inspiration for others to learn from.  As the CEO of Verde Group she is leading the way in improving the customer experience by providing insightful market research consultation services. Paula shares about her entrepreneurial journey and how taking risks was something she always leaned into and the results have been incredible.

 She take time to unpack several items that are sure to aid others in their journey including:

• What it takes to find success as an entrepreneur
• How women can support each other for success
• Why nurturing confidence is key for a growth mindset
• Who we can learn from to grow (the power of mentors)

Paula is a phenomenal leader and finds true joy in helping others find success.  It was a blessing to get a peak into her amazing world.  This is a powerful conversation that is full of insight to help anyone grow in the future.

Be the hero you have inside and keep asking why!

Guest: Paula Courtney - CEO & President at The Verde Group

Website
Verde Group Blog
HBR Article
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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

What if you could look at your operations holistically and marry your energy data to the production data?  Welcome - you just entered the world of energy intelligence! Natalie Birdwell is leading the way in this sector and helping industrial users everywhere make an impact with the energy they are already consuming.  

In this conversation Natalie unpacks items such as:

• How to move from energy monitoring to energy intelligence
• Areas of low hanging fruit to get a quick win and build advocates
• Types of individuals involved with energy intelligence initiatives 
• Potential headwinds that exist and how to adjust
• Measuring what matters - how to speak the right language to show real results

As Natalie highlights energy intelligence provides the industrial user the ability to look out of the windshield and make decisions that will positively impact operations based off the energy being utilized.  That is a huge leap forward and one that many can start taking advantage of now.

To learn more about this fascinating topic we encourage you to connect with Natalie and the great team at ndustrial.io as they are leading the way with helping industry make a true impact with energy intelligence!

Guest: Natalie Birdwell - VP of Strategic and Corporate Development @ ndustrial.io

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

At the core of who Tanuj Thapliyal is a desire to help people.  That has driven him to great lengths and ultimately founding Spot AI.  Tanuj put in the work to learn the skills needed to serve others so much so that he completed a double masters program at Stanford.  Having a passion for entrepreneurship he has great advice for those wanting to pursue their own path.

Some of his advice included finding those that are a few steps ahead of where you are to help push you to achieve what you never knew possible.  He correlates being an entrepreneur to playing a game of croquet versus golf.  In his view it is not so much about the long drives that make a difference in business as much as it is the little steps you take every day to get better.

Tanuj is helping industrials all over realize the power they have at their fingertips in utilizing video technology to enable better business decisions and improve processes.  He has a great practice where he tracks what brings him energy and what takes it away.  From reviewing those results he tries to lean in on the items that help him grow and also brings fulfillment to his journey.  That is a cool tip many can learn and start implementing today. 

From sausage McMuffin's to video enabled AI this conversation has it all.  You'll quickly hear why Tanuj is our hero and we highly encourage others to connect with him and the team at Spot AI for support in turning video into decisions on the plant floor.

Guest: Tanuj Thapliyal - CEO at Spot AI

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower

One area that is making an impact on industry and specifically the skills gap are the amazing graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's).  Ayoka Gay is an HBCU graduate herself and shares about how programs at HBCU's are teaching many of the skills that industry is seeking and how she's helping graduates and employers find each other.  

Ayoka is a passionate advocate and shares tons of wisdom around ideas such as:

• Where the most progress has been made to support HBCU graduates in industry
• How industry leaders can engage HBCU students directly
• Program examples that align to industrial skillsets 
• Industrial career paths that HBCU students could consider
• Advice for students considering industry for a career in the future

At the core of Ayoka's message is teaching others how to support and bring awareness to HBCU's moving forward.  She is an amazing advocate and the insight she provides is sure to connect the dots for many in industry.  As she demonstrates daily there is a great opportunity to create diverse, robust, highly skilled and extremely talented workforces in the future and the incredible graduates from HBCU's are leading the way! 

Guest: Ayoka Gay - System & Test Engineering Manager at Schneider Electric

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Host: Chris Grainger
Executive Producer: Adam Sheets
Podcast Editor: Andi Thrower