Manufacturing Matters

The search for skilled workers continues to challenge many manufacturers as young people pursue college degrees in lieu of the skilled trades. If both paths can offer lucrative careers, how do we attract more students to into skilled trades? In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll and Aaron Hand will speak with Darnell Epps, founder and CEO of Thurgood Industries and a recent contributor to The Washington Post to discuss Epps opinion piece titled “I went to trade school during law school. It left me stunned.” They’ll explore the untapped potential of skilled trades and what the industry can do to reach students and their parents to dispel the myths of skilled labor and encourage these careers.

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In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, Fritz Carlson, CEO of Acme Manufacturing, joins TECH B2B Marketing’s Winn Hardin and Jimmy Carroll to discuss robotic machine tooling integrations around the globe. They discuss the benefits of industrial robot arms paired with sensing mechanisms for highly accurate and repeatable machining of complex parts, such as knee and hip implants in the medical devices field and jet engine parts in aerospace. They highlight the labor shortage affecting manufacturers around the world and how it’s driving demand of easy-to-use automated solutions.

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In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll and John Lewis speak with Randall Hinton, Business Development Manager at Edmund Optics to learn more about the evolution of laser integration with machine vision systems and the challenges that come along with it, like focus, laser damage threshold, rapidly evolving machine vision technologies, and more. They cover some of the latest trends and applications in lasers and optics, including growth in high-precision applications that need real-time monitoring of machining processes, like pharmaceutical and medical device applications, and highlight how Edmund Optics is enabling the success of these installations. 

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Digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), and industry 4.0 have all been industry buzzwords for some time. However, in the past few years, these buzzwords have come to fruition as they start bringing real value to the manufacturing space. In this live episode, Bryan DeBois, director of industrial AI at RoviSys, joined TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll to explore how advanced technologies are shaping the future of the manufacturing industry. They discuss how the market is evolving, the power of smart manufacturing, and how industry leaders can adapt to stay competitive.

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In any manufacturing process, products – whether that be raw materials, parts, or full assemblies – need to be moved from point to point. Efficient conveyor systems for industrial automation can help ensure all demands are met. In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, mk North America’s Scott Blais, Jr., sales and business development manager, and Michael Zampano, mechanical project engineer, sat down with TECH B2B Marketing’s Winn Hardin, to discuss the latest trends in material handling conveyance solutions. They talk about primary conveyance and power drive technologies, including the company’s VersaFlex and CleanMove product lines, which handle a range of applications. Additionally, Blais and Zampano explain how technologies like artificial intelligence, simulation, and robotics are impacting material handling technologies, resulting in the need for even more collaboration between suppliers and integrators.

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How have advances in edge computing and artificial intelligence helped democratize hyperspectral imaging? In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, Headwall’s Mark Willingham and Christian Felsheim join TECH B2B Marketing’s Winn Hardin and Jimmy Carroll to answer this question and share how the increased performance and decreased cost of hyperspectral imaging has opened the doors to myriad applications, from manufacturing to environmental monitoring and more. They also discuss Headwall’s expanded capabilities since the acquisitions of inno-spec, PerClass BV, and Holographix, and how the company continues to evolve.

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The manufacturing industry has had an image problem for a while. We’re all familiar with the three Ds of manufacturing — dull, dirty, dangerous — and we know that this perception has steered many potentially skilled employees toward college-based careers. The problem is, the three Ds haven’t defined manufacturing for many years. So how do we change this perception to build a pipeline of talent? Terry Iverson, founder of Champion NOW and author of Inspiring Champions in Advanced Manufacturing and Finding America’s Greatest Champion, joins TECH B2B Marketing’s Winn Hardin and Amanda Del Buono to explain how he’s taken on the challenge of changing the perception of the manufacturing industry in the eyes of everyday Americans and educating the public about the lucrative careers available in the industry.

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After the COVID-19 pandemic, many manufacturers have talked about reshoring. But is it worth it? In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Marketing’s Winn Hardin sits down with Dave Spaulding, president and CEO of Smart Vision Lights, to learn about the machine vision lighting manufacturer’s successful shift to in-house production of circuit boards, LED boards, and enclosures. Spaulding shares how this switch has enabled the company to speed up prototyping of custom solutions and bring new products to market quicker. Additionally, they discuss SVL’s Hidden Strobe technology and its new partnership with Japanese company Leimac.

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Labeling a technology as “smart” — like a smart phone, smart watch, or smart toaster — indicates that it can perceive things about its environment, communicate them, and possibly even adapt performance accordingly. Motion control technology has become more accurate and precise over the years. Now it too is becoming smart. Iris Dynamics co-founder and CEO Patrick McFadden joins the latest episode of the Manufacturing Matters podcast to discuss how the humble linear electric motor is gaining intelligence and what that means for industrial automation, aerospace, test and measurement, and other vertical sectors.

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Less than 10 years ago, artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning were being billed as game changing technologies in the industrial automation space. While perhaps overhyped at the time, today these technologies are bringing real value to manufacturing processes. To explore the practical application of AI in manufacturing, Musashi AI’s Frederick Reinink joins TECH B2B Marketing’s Jimmy Carroll and Winn Hardin on the Manufacturing Matters podcast. Reinink explains how AI and deep learning-based vision systems are automating full part inspection for complex parts in a range of applications, including EV battery manufacturing, laser welding, and several others. Reinink also outlines the challenges of implementing robust, adaptable AI solutions, and what potential users should consider.

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