Today's bonus episode is all about MEPs, and actually a very urgent issue related to MEPs. For context, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions by helping small and medium-sized manufacturers grow, make operational improvements, and reduce risk.

To put it in more simplified terms - MEPs provide resources to small- and medium-sized manufacturers that allow them to adopt new technology, upskill and train their people, and ultimately create jobs in their area. Every state has one, they go by different names in different states, and it was recently announced that this program was being defunded.

Specifically, funding for 10 state MEP initiatives expired at the end of March, and the government’s controlling agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), chose not to renew them. This is a moving target, it could change (as it already has once by extending the deadline to the end of the fiscal year), and quite frankly manufacturers don't know what's going to happen. It hasn't been communicated as to why this cut is taking place, but the reality is right now is there is a concern across the manufacturing community that funding for the entire MEP initiative - across all 50 states - might get cut.

As a result of this action, a number of manufacturing podcasters got together to discuss the situation and actions that you, as manufacturers, can take to have your voices heard and say "This is ridiculous. My MEP has helped my business and community succeed for XYZ reason."

We cannot afford to lose a critical resource like this that so many small- to mid-sized manufacturers rely on. All this an more in today's episode.

What’s getting VCs to look beyond Silicon Valley in the tech startup scene? The Midwest is not just an up-and-coming place for investors to watch. It’s now a region that more investors are betting on. With companies like Path Robotics, the Midwest is taking its status as a manufacturing hub and merging it with the kind of innovative tech traditionally associated with the coastal cities.

For this episode, we hear from two sides of the conversation – from Andy Lonsberry, CEO of Path Robotics, and Nima Gard, the company's Director of AI, along with Nils Root from Drive Capital, a VC firm that operates in the Midwest manufacturing and tech scene.

They join us live from Columbus, Ohio to talk about what makes the region a hot spot for manufacturing innovation, why it’s not the “next Silicon Valley” (and doesn’t have to be), and what companies like Path Robotics are getting right. We also dig into the tech at Path Robotics and where AI fits into the future of new technological developments in the industry.

In this episode, find out:

• Why Columbus is seeing a wave of tech startups and VC interest
• Andy explains why Ohio was the perfect spot to build Path Robotics and how it’s using machine intelligence to specifically solve manufacturing problems
• How manufacturers can successfully decide what to focus on now and in the future
• The technology behind the scenes at Path Robotics and data is the number one biggest focus
• The secrets behind Path Robotics' 3x growth and where data fits into that
• What Andy’s most excited about building at Path Robotics and the importance of practical applications
• How Path Robotics closes the deal cycle faster, works with their CRO and isn’t afraid to disqualify leads
• What can other regions learn from Columbus and why the startup scene is increasingly seen as an exciting opportunity rather than a risk
• The skills gap in manufacturing and how AI will realistically change manufacturing jobs in the future
• How humans and robots can realistically interact, create value and solve problems together

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• ”Everyone still asks, 'when are you going to move to Silicon Valley? When are you going to move to the East Coast?' And the main reason is that the talent is here.” – Andy Lonsberry
• “More great world-class technology businesses will be built outside of Silicon Valley in the next 20 years than will be built inside of Silicon Valley. So Drive is just investing behind that thesis.” – Nils Root
• “One of the hardest things in robotics is data. Data is the bottleneck. The fact that we are not seeing a GPT moment in robotics is because we don't have enough data as we had for text and language.” – Nima Gard

Links & mentions:

• Drive Capital, a Columbus, OH-based VC that’s companies are proving that you can build a world-class technology company anywhere
• Path Robotics, providing precise robotic welding systems. No programmer required. Designed for precision, efficiency, and scalability.
• Makerspace Central is a 501(c)3 non-profit based in Columbus, Ohio, providing innovative STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) workshops for K-12 students in the Columbus greater region. Their culturally-relevant STEM experiences ignite students' curiosity to prepare them for a more tech-focused world, offering K-12 pop-up makerspace workshops and curriculum development consultation.
• Seventh Son Brewing, Columbus, OH-based brewery specializing in IPAs with a bright, rustic tasting room & visiting food trucks

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Robotics is a cool field, no doubt about that. But what’s cooler than using it to change people’s lives?

When he was seven years old, Aadeel Akhtar met a girl in Pakistan with a missing leg. This kickstarted a fascination with helping people regain control over lost limbs and a decision that pivoted his planned career in medicine to robotics and prosthetics.

Today, he’s the CEO and Founder of PSYONIC, the company behind the world’s first touch-sensing bionic hand. He’s on a mission to make this tech as accessible as possible, and we hear about the challenges of balancing philanthropic ventures with running and scaling a business.

Host Chris Luecke gets to try out the hand remotely in this episode and talks about the different use cases of bionic tech, from helping humans to helping robots. We talk about crowdfunding, getting investment, how the hand works, and what PSYONIC is working on right now to make the Ability Hand even better.

Plus, Aadeel is our very first Shark Tank alumni, so we get to hear about the nerve-wracking behind-the-scenes story of demonstrating the Ability Hand in front of the Sharks.

In this episode, find out:

• What PSYONIC does to help people regain mobility and control with bionic limbs
• The moment that kickstarted Aadeel’s passion for helping people with lost limbs and pivoted his planned career from medicine to robotics
• The challenges of funding R&D in bionics and making the tech accessible to as many people as possible
• What the early days of making prototypes and testing them out on the first patients
• What made Aadeel realize he needed to go into business and production rather than just researching bionics
• Why San Diego is PSYONIC’s chosen HQ and how it’s partnering with medical and biotech companies
• What PSYONIC is working on now to make bionic hands feel more natural for users
• Chris gets to remotely control the Ability Hand from across the country
• How Aadeel is working on making the tech accessible through Medicare and the Ability Fund
• Different ways Aadeel and PSYONIC have approached getting funding, from crowdfunding to venture capital to government grants
• The challenge of keeping up with demand and prioritizing accessibility while running a successful business that’s focused on the mission
• How PSYONIC helps both humans and robots with its tech, including NASA
• The biggest tech advances that have made this possible today, including micro controllers and AI
•  What it’s really like being a contestant on Shark Tank and how Aadeel prepared for his pitch and eventual negotiations
• Why Aadeel is optimistic that bionics is becoming a bigger industry

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “We're bridging both the neurotech side with the robotic side, with AI being the connecting piece between the two.”
• “We would be attaching the hand directly to your bones, muscles and nerves that are in your forearm to give them the most optimal control possible.”
• “Seeing the amount of interest at the intersection of neurotech and robotics and having big investors behind it shows this is an exciting field that's up and coming.”

Links & mentions:

• PSYONIC, supercharging humans and robots with advanced capabilities, including the world’s first touch-sensing bionic hand
• Dr. Aadeel Akhtar on Shark Tank
• Robotics Summit & Expo, bringing together 5,000+ developers focused on building robots for aerospace and defense, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing and other markets

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We’ve been on tour for the past couple of months, recording live episodes in some of the manufacturing hot spots around the country. Indiana is our current stop, where Guggman Haus Brewing hosted us for an episode all about innovation, technology, culture, and, of course, Indiana’s manufacturing prowess.

Manufacturing makes up a huge portion of Indiana’s economy and culture, so we look behind the scenes at what the state is getting right to make it a manufacturing hub.

We welcomed Noel Hopkins, the Principal of Digital Growth at CliftonLarsonAllen and digital transformation expert, joins along with self-titled “private equity mercenary” Steve Martin, who sits on the board at Elevate Ventures. We also welcomed Kathy Miller, President and Co-Founder of YK2020 and OPSisters, plus co-author of the book Steel Toes and Stilettos.

Noel, Steve, and Kathy share their takes on local manufacturing and how it’s adapting to the rapid evolution of tech like AI. But it’s not just tech that’s shaping the industry. We also explore the human element of manufacturing and why we need leaders who are open to change and growth (even if it means making some mistakes along the way).

In this episode, find out:

• What can manufacturers learn from Indiana
• The role of digital transformation in manufacturing and the best ways to implement it
• Why leadership is key to driving transformation and the top characteristics good leaders need
• The challenges facing Indiana’s manufacturing industry from a private equity viewpoint
• Why you should always look at the problems facing your organization first, then find tech to solve it (not the other way around)
• Why fewer companies are using tech for the sake of it and are becoming more intentional
• Lessons learned from past experiences and why manufacturing is all about the people
• Areas where technology is making the most difference and how it impacts the people working with it
• How to build scale and transferability within organizations with the three Ps – people, planning, process
• The importance of having a vision and the ability to execute on it and why leaders are central to this
• Why hesitancy is the most dangerous thing manufacturers could do right now
• Innovation’s impact on psychological safety in the workplace, plus why we need to be open to making mistakes

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

•  ”If we create a culture that basically penalizes thinking, then we're never going to get any new ideas.” – Steve Martin
• “ I think the most dangerous thing manufacturers could do right now is pause or wait, or be overly cautious and risk falling way, way behind.” – Noel Hopkins
• “No matter what technology we're working with, what inventions, manufacturing is about people. And so, we can't lose sight of that.” – Kathy Miller

Links & mentions:

• CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), an advisory, audit, tax and consulting firm
• Industry Trends: Lessons Learned from Florida Manufacturing Days
• Guggman Haus Brewing, a family-owned microbrewery and coffee Haus in the northwest side of downtown Indianapolis
• Elevate Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in Indianapolis

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Manufacturers up and down the country are doing great work and naturally, you want the world to know about it – especially your potential customers. So we turn the spotlight on marketing in this episode to take a look at the folks who get the name out there for manufacturing companies big and small.

Recorded live from the 2025 Industrial Marketing Summit in Austin, TX, we sat down with…

• Rachel Cossette, Marketing Manager at Rogers Machinery Company
• Jenni Gritti, Senior Marketing Communications Consultant at Caterpillar Inc
• Jim Hessin, Regional Sales Manager at CADENAS PARTsolutions
• Greg Knox, CEO of Knox Manufacturing Solutions
• Steve Lamensdorf, SVP of CX at Icreon
• Kerry Nedic, Strategic Marketing Leader (Masoneilan & Consolidated Valves) at Baker Hughes
• Rich Ward, Director of Marketing at AcroMat

Rachel, Greg and Rich chat in part one about how to make marketing magic with a small team, with lots of actionable advice on sales-marketing alignment and revising strategies.

Jenni and Kerry give us the enterprise-level view of marketing with a conversation about balancing company policy with creativity, video and social media content, and getting leadership involved.

Finally, in part three, we talk to Steve and Jim about the technology we can use to power marketing and why sometimes we need to rip up the playbook and start new things from scratch.

All have slightly different experiences and insights to share from different areas of marketing, so no matter what type of manufacturing organization you’re in, there’s something in here for everyone.

In this episode, find out:

• How Rich helped to build the marketing strategy for AcroMat from the ground up
• How marketing can encourage salespeople to become amplifiers for the company and create content online
• What not to do as a B2B marketer and why good marketing is all about show, don’t tell
• How sales and marketing have become more aligned today and when marketing became a focus for Greg
• How to be effective with a small marketing team by focusing on priorities and boundaries
• Why regular communication is the most important way marketing and sales can work together
• How to get buy-in from leadership and why marketing can feel like a relay race
• Why you need to be a subject matter expert, not just a marketer, to earn respect both externally with customers and internally
• How marketers can make things happen in a large enterprise
• How to balance company guidelines with creativity in your content
• The tools and methods that enterprise marketers need to take more advantage of
• Why authentic video content is far more effective than clean and polished content
• The challenge of getting leadership willing to create content and share their stories
• Advice for marketers in manufacturing to cultivate stories and new ideas
• How new technology is empowering today's marketers
• Marketing technology that’s underrated and the challenges of adopting new tech in a disorganized system
• Tips for manufacturers to get over the hurdle of adopting new technology
• Why staying the same is the worst thing you can do in marketing

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “If you continue to do what you've always done, you'll always get what you always got.” – Jim Hessin
• “I found a lot of success in giving guys an iPhone, giving them some guardrails, and saying, 'go!' And that is the stuff that people really resonate with. It's incredibly authentic. These people are the experts. They say it in a way that makes sense for the audience.” – Jenni Gritti
•  ”You have to align with your leadership. What you find important and what your boss finds important, you need to know what all those levels are because if it's something your boss cares about, then you need to care about it.” – Rachel Cossette

Links & mentions:

• Industrial Marketing Summit, the premier gathering for industrial marketers — organized for and by the industrial marketing teams at TREW Marketing and Gorilla 76
• Lustre Pearl, drinks & snacks in an old, converted home with a jukebox and huge backyard with picnic tables and games in East Austin

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

When you imagine a rural versus an urban manufacturing company, that picture might look a bit different. But some things are the same. Both types of manufacturers face challenges, but do they face different ones?

The good news is that there are some incredible people and businesses in the industry who are on a mission to bridge connections, build up local communities, and train future talent to solve those challenges.

Live from the Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference, we sit down with three manufacturing champions to talk about the different challenges facing rural and urban-based manufacturers. We chat about the great work that companies and individuals are doing to raise awareness of the opportunities in manufacturing and connect the dots between businesses and future talent.

You’ll hear from Krisi Schell, Executive VP of HR at SRC Holdings Corporation, Chris Oravec, the Director at L&R Industries, and Manufacturing Happy Hour regular Drew Crowe, Founder of the New American Manufacturing Renaissance. Krisi, Chris, and Drew all bring their experiences of different sides of manufacturing, what they’ve learned about connecting with the local community and solving the talent shortage issue.

In this episode, find out:

• How to make a company people want to work for – Krisi explains SRC Holdings’ approach to building a company culture of businesspeople
• Why more organizations don’t open up their finances to the employees despite the positive impact on SRC Holdings
• Some background on SRC Holdings Corporation as a job saver and creator
• The benefits of organizations, particularly in rural areas, investing in the local community
• Krisi’s advice for manufacturing leaders to build their culture and community
• Chris gives us a backstory on his company as a family-owned, small-town manufacturer
• How L&R Industries manages to attract and retain talent by looking after its people
• The different ways L&R Industries gets involved with and gives back to the community
• Chris’ advice for attracting and retaining talent, plus building connections with other organizations
• What Drew has learned from traveling around the country to talk to manufacturers
• The different challenges for rural-based manufacturers vs. those in the inner cities
• Drew explains the two main parts of his mission – raising awareness and building connections between organizations and potential talent
• Strategies that are working for rural and urban manufacturers and how to get the right people involved to solve challenges

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “Being conscious of what you give to the community is where you are able to build that brand and build those relationships and then attract the talent that you need.” – Krisi Schell
• “If you can get an employee to buy into, say putting a new product line in, they want to be involved in that project. And the company wants them to be involved. Your productivity is going to go through the roof.” – Chris Oravec
• “ When manufacturing left the inner cities, it almost took that middle class with it. And it took a lot of opportunity with it.” – Drew Crowe

Links & mentions:

• SRC Holdings, helping Original Equipment Manufacturers sell parts and whole goods through custom remanufacturing programs
• L&R Industries, producing large and complex heavy-duty industrial metal fabrications
• Drew ‘The MFG’ Crowe, inspiring the next generation of manufacturing leaders
• The Great Game of Business, written by Jack Stack; an open-book approach to management

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

When like-minded entrepreneurs sit down to swap stories, advice, and connections, it’s a major win for everyone. This is one of the great things about manufacturing because this industry thrives on collaboration, not just competition.

In this episode, we hear from Russell Winter, Founder of US MFG, who’s on a mission to connect entrepreneurs in the machine shop space together, while also acquiring shops from retiring owners that would have otherwise gone out of business. With the number of machine shops steadily declining, people like Russell are breathing new life into the space with technology and innovative ideas.

Russell shares his story of how he got started, how he chooses whether to acquire a new shop, the red flags to watch out for, and the two main things he looks at when accessing a business. We hear more about his efforts to build bridges in the community and his thoughts on inspiring the next generation of manufacturing business owners.

In this episode, find out:

• Russell shares an overview of how he buys machine shops and brings them together with software
• Retiring owners of machine shops who don’t have a clear succession plan often close their doors for good unless someone like Russell steps in
• How Russell decides which machine shops to acquire by looking at finances and culture to find red flags
• Why bringing people in with more experience is a huge part of succeeding in this space
• How Russell finds mentors and collaborates in his network
• Advice for entrepreneurs looking for business opportunities
• What led Russell to realize he needed to change the mission of US MFG to a more community-focused approach
• How do we create awareness in the next generation of manufacturing business ownership?
• The skills and knowledge we need to prepare young people for a future in manufacturing and business ownership
• Why shop classes in high schools are a growing trend and what this means for the industry
• How Russell’s company teaches important skills like financial literacy through his shops
• Russell shares the first major project he remembers manufacturing

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• “The cool part about these shop classes is their instructors are often very mutual and collaborative with the industry that's around the high school. They'll have a board of business owners saying, 'This is who we're looking to hire. Can you teach them more turning work or a specific software?'”
• “Something that I've worked on developing a lot more is a mindset of trust but verify as opposed to just trust. Going over things with a fine-toothed comb, actual financials, and setting clear expectations at the beginning really pays off.”
• “There's a saying: if you want investment, ask for advice. And if you want advice, ask for investment. People are always going to give you advice because there's something to improve on, and if you're willing to take it and learn and grow and actually put it into action, then they're like, 'Oh, I see an investment here.'”

Links & mentions:

• US MFG partners with entrepreneurs to acquire, operate, and grow manufacturing companies within a collaborative network
• SCORE Business Mentoring, providing free business advice for starting or growing a small business through their network of 11,000 volunteer mentors in-person and online; part of the US Small Business Administration (SBA)
• Discourse Coffee, a music-driven coffee workshop in Milwaukee, WI, located in the same building as local, community-driven radio station Radio Milwaukee

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

What happens when a former engineering leader decides to open a brewery?

In the true spirit of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we talk all about beer in this episode. Recorded live from Amorphic Beer in Milwaukee, WI, we sit down with the Founder, Ron Hockersmith, to learn about what makes their beer special and the company a success even as the hype around craft beer fades.

We’re also joined by the brilliant hosts from A BROADcast for Manufacturers, Kris Harrington (CEO of GenAlpha) and Lori Highby (CEO and Founder of Keystone Click), for a 4-way entrepreneurial chat about manufacturing, engineering, leadership, and of course, beer.

In this episode, we take a look at the early days of Amorphic Beer and Ron’s career background before he stepped into the brewing world. Ron has taken all the great parts of leading a team from his engineering days and applied them to his business today, and it’s safe to say that’s been a great move for Amorphic. We hear about the team, the operations, the scientific approach to margins and recipes, and some surprising beer facts along the way.

In this episode, find out:

• A little background on Ron’s career and how he came from healthcare manufacturing and defense contracting to start his own brewery
• Introduction to the hosts of A BROADcast for Manufacturers podcast
• Why Ron opted for lean manufacturing principles without the formality to run his brewery
• What a background in engineering taught Ron about leadership and why he runs Amorphic Beer like an international engineering organization
• What makes the leadership and management of Amorphic Beer different and successful even as the hype around craft beer dies down
• Why trust in your employees is key to success
• Ron shares the main differences he’s experienced since working for himself vs. as an employee in a major organization
• Facts on beer, music, plants, and sports for the “I just learned that…” segment
• How recent tariffs on Canadian aluminum may have a huge impact on Amorphic Beer in the future

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• "We run this like it's an international engineering organization."
• "Don't try and hire for the perfect team because you'll never find the perfect people to fit into the perfect cogs... Find what your people are very good at and then build your organization around that.”
• "No-one's ever worked for me that I don't trust. Doesn't matter if I'm working in defense contracting for GE or at the brewery,  trust them, empower them to do the right things.”

Links & mentions:

• Amorphic Beer, Milwaukee WI brewery where beer is “engineered through scientific experimentation”
• A BROADcast for Manufacturers, a podcast run by Lori, Kris and Erin exploring stories and manufacturing insights that challenge the status quo

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Manufacturing is a hotbed of activity, interest, and innovation right now and states like Nebraska are leading the way. As part of our Made Here series, we toured Nebraska’s manufacturing heartland to hear stories from leaders, experts, and innovators who want to spread the word about the opportunities and community benefits of manufacturing.

We round off our Nebraska tour with Mike Johnson COO of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who shares a wider perspective on how manufacturing is impacting local communities, the economy, and the individuals who make it all happen. 

We talk about why manufacturing opportunities are great for people from all walks of life, with some inspiring stories about women in the space becoming role models for future manufacturers. Mike also explains the role of a Chamber of Commerce and why we should celebrate and showcases manufacturing careers for the benefit of all. We hear a great example of Nebraska doing this with its annual competition for the coolest innovations in Nebraska – featuring a fire-breathing drone and an all-terrain wheelchair. 

In this episode, find out:

• A summary of what we’ve heard and learned as we round off the Nebraska tour of our Made Here series
• We recap on the last time Mike was on the show and how perceptions of the industry have changed since
• Old perceptions of the dirty and dangerous stereotype of manufacturing are changing, leading more young people to consider it as a career 
• Why rural Nebraska is writing a playbook for reinvigorating manufacturing and the impact this has on the economy and community
• The role of education institutions in training and encouraging more to consider manufacturing careers
• The best ways to connect with the local community and involve everyone in the manufacturing scene
• Why we’re seeing more women in manufacturing plus some inspiring stories from Mike
• How a Chamber of Commerce can act as a conduit for manufacturers to share their voice on what the industry needs  
• The coolest things made in Nebraska, including a fire-breathing drone

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• ”The chamber of commerce is the conduit for manufacturers of any shape and size across the state to convene and partner on what the voice of this industry in this state needs right now.”
• “State departments are starting to see that when manufacturers automate, they make more stuff, more stuff made means higher wages are paid to people, higher multipliers than hitting the local communities. And so the state can see higher tax revenues and then in the future, lower tax rates.”
• “I think it's really important for young women to see that “I can do this” and I don't have to be a big dude to be able to do this type of work.”

Links & mentions:

• NE Chamber, delivering economic and workforce growth, a competitive business climate, and a network of leaders with the connections and know-how to help Nebraska businesses succeed
• Nebraska Manufacturing Competitiveness Study, January 2024
• Coolest Thing Made in Nebraska

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Take your mind back to five years ago. Many of us were celebrating the start of what we thought would be an exciting decade for automation. And well… it’s certainly been different and not quite how most of us expected.

Now, we sit squarely in the middle of a decade that has pushed automation and AI front and center of so many industries now. So how close were our pre-pandemic predictions on automation? And more importantly, where is automation headed next?

This episode was recorded live at the 2025 A3 Business Forum, co-hosted by Jake Hall aka the Manufacturing Millennial, and features five conversations with industry leaders helping to shape automation’s future. We look at robotics, AI, machine vision, motion control, and the broader tech and manufacturing industries, plus we swap predictions on the second half of the 2020s.

This week’s guests include:

• Peter Zafiro, General Manager at LinMot USA
• Christelle Keefer - Global Business Development Manager, Education at ABB
• Juan Aparicio - Founder & CEO at Reshape Automation
• David Dechow - Machine Vision & Automation Solutions Architect at Motion Automation Intelligence
• Alex Shikany - Executive Vice President at A3

Jake Hall will be joining us for Automate 2025 in May, so don’t miss the chance to grab tickets and learn more here.

In this episode, find out:

• Why 2025 A3 Business Forum is the perfect spot for a conversation about automation
• What the convergence of technologies has meant for automation’s applications in manufacturing and beyond
• Peter explains the biggest pain point that LinMot was experiencing and how automation became key
• The role of motion vision today and how it’s evolved with the help of automation
• Why now is the best time in history to be involved with automation
• How STEM education paves the way for the growth of robotics
• The biggest hurdles to getting education institutions on board with STEM
• Some of the top non-profit organizations to keep an eye out for
• How AI has developed over the first half of the decade
•  Two ingredients that every successful application should have in the world of AI
• Examples of AI deployed successfully and where this is likely to change in the future
• How elements of vision tech have accelerated in the past 10 years
• Alex’s perspective on automation’s evolution throughout the first half of this decade
• The biggest things we’re looking forward to in 2025 and beyond
• What to expect at Automate 2025, which this episode’s co-hosts Chris and Jake will be attending in May

Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!

Tweetable Quotes:

• "This is the best time there is in this industry. It's the convergence of all these technologies, whether it's robots, cobots, linear motion... the difference-maker will be how you introduce automation to your employees and make it easier to do more fun jobs." - Peter Zafiro
• "Schools are starting to realize that the students need to be exposed to STEM way earlier than just high school. High school is too late. College is too late. Let's get those kids exposed at an earlier age to the amazing field of manufacturing." - Christelle Keefer
• "Behind every robot, there are a lot of people. There are people selling the robots. There are people installing the robots. There are people maintaining the robots." - Juan Aparicio
• "No one I talk to thinks that automation is going to become less relevant or less important to their future plans in the next 10 years, 20 years. Almost every single CEO or leader of these companies has automation at the top of their list." - Alex Shikany

Links & mentions:

• A3 – The Association for Advancing Automation, North America’s largest automation trade association representing more than 1,200 organizations involved in robotics, artificial intelligence, machine vision & imaging, motion control & motors and related automation technologies
• Automate Show, experience the largest event in Automation #Automate2025
• Jake Hall - The Manufacturing Millennial, where this week’s co-host Jake Hall discusses the latest technology in the automation and manufacturing space in an engaging style for all audiences
• Project Lead The Way, where STEM curriculum meets career readiness; created by teachers and led by educators, PLTW motivates, prepares, and supports teachers as they strive to make every child in every grade STEM-successful
• FIRST Robotics, a global robotics community preparing young people for the future and the world's leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education
• REC Foundation, home of the VEX family of robotics programs for elementary school through college students includes 1.1 million students in 70 countries
• Detroit Lions War Room 2019 vs. 2021

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.