What does it actually take to keep a small or mid-size manufacturer competitive right now? Jason Hehman sits down with David Boulay, President of IMEC, the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, to find out.

David and his team work with thousands of Illinois manufacturers every year. His read on the industry is grounded, honest, and a little different from what you usually hear. In this conversation, they get into why the process has to come before technology, what the workforce challenge actually looks like beyond the "skills gap" talking point, and why David is genuinely optimistic about the next 10 years of domestic manufacturing.

If you are running a plant, managing operations, or making decisions about where to invest right now, this one is worth your time.

Resources:

• Connect with Jason Hehman on LinkedIn
• Connect with David Boulay on LinkedIn
• Learn more about TXI at https://txidigital.com/

In this episode Jason Hehman, Industry 4.0 Vertical Lead at TXI, sits down with Jim Pang, a senior technology executive and product innovator with decades of experience in freight transportation. Together, they uncover the surprising truth about rail's quiet leadership in AI and machine learning applications—innovations that have been transforming the industry for over two decades. 

From acoustic monitoring systems detecting anomalies across millions of wheels in real-time to computer vision applications in massive rail depots, the rail industry has been pioneering AI solutions long before they became mainstream. The conversation explores how rail's unique challenges—multiple handoff points, legacy systems, and complex stakeholder ecosystems—actually create profound opportunities for innovation. 

Jim shares his own evolution from operations skeptic to technology bridge-builder, offering insights on scaling AI from proof of concept to production, the critical role of product teams in bridging business and technology, and how cooperative competition models from the software industry could revolutionize rail logistics. This episode reveals how logistics digitization and data standardization are essential enablers for America's manufacturing renaissance.

Resources:

• Connect with Jason Hehman on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jim Pang on LinkedIn

Immersive technology is revolutionizing workforce training, and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are leading the way. From reducing downtime in manufacturing to enhancing hands-on learning without real-world risks, AR/VR is shaping the future of industrial operations.

In this live episode of the Modern Industrialist Podcast, Jason Hehman is joined by Ed LaFoy, Lead Engineer specializing in spatial computing and XR, and Patrick DeMichael, TXI’s Strategy Practice Lead.

The conversation dives into real-world case studies, including how DHL increased efficiency with AR-enabled logistics and how HABCO Industries leveraged AR to streamline a time-consuming aerospace manufacturing process. The team also examines the role of Apple Vision Pro in industrial settings and what it will take for AR/VR hardware to reach mainstream adoption.

Whether you're curious about the potential of AR/VR or actively considering it for workforce training, this episode unpacks the opportunities, challenges, and strategies that will define its role in Industry 4.0.

Resources:

• Connect with Jason Hehman on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA

What if you could optimize your manufacturing processes in real time, anticipate failures before they happen, and optimize processes with just a few key data points? That’s the power of digital twin solutions—an evolving technology that’s reshaping industries from smart manufacturing to logistics.

Host Jason Hehman, Industry 4.0 Vertical Lead at TXI, is joined by Andrew Horner and Alan Gardner, principal engineers at TXI, for a deep dive into what digital twins iiot solutions really are and how companies can start using them today.

We break down the common misconceptions surrounding digital twins, moving beyond simple simulations to explore how they function as assistive tools for data-driven decision-making. Along the way, we uncover unexpected insights digital twins can generate, from reducing downtime on offshore oil rigs to solving taxi shortages through data-driven visibility. We also discuss the future of AR and AI-powered digital twins, the role of shared data ecosystems, and why starting small with simple data collection can unlock massive value.

Whether you’re an industrial leader looking to implement digital transformation or just curious about the technology driving Industry 4.0, this conversation offers a practical, engaging look at how digital twins are transforming the way we see, predict, and optimize our world.

Resources:

• Connect with Jason Hehman on LinkedIn
• Connect with Andrew Horner on LinkedIn
• Connect with Alan Gardner on LinkedIn

Produced by NOVA

What does it take to lead a company at the forefront of innovation in highly regulated industries? Melissa Robbins, Chief Operating Officer at Mindr, joins the Modern Industrialist Podcast to share her approach to balancing cutting-edge technology with a people-first mindset. Mindr, a leader in substance detection and monitoring solutions, is reshaping public safety with products like Intoxalock and Keeper while maintaining a deep commitment to customer care.

Melissa reveals how her values-based leadership philosophy, developed at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, drives Mindr's success. From automating compliance processes to building trust with regulators and customers alike, Melissa's strategies offer actionable insights for leaders navigating complex industries.

The conversation also uncovers how Mindr leverages AI and data to enhance both employee efficiency and customer experience, all while maintaining a strong focus on innovation and public safety. We hope you find Melissa's journey and insights as inspiring and thought-provoking as we did.

Resources:

• Learn more at mindrglobal.com
• Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn
• Read Churchill on Leadership: Executive Success in the Face of Adversity by Steven F. Hayward
• Harry Kramer: harrykraemer.org
• Mel Robbins: melrobbins.com
• Read: How Netflix Reinvented HR

Produced by NOVA

When you’re in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing, you have a unique perspective on efficiency and improvement processes. There aren’t a lot of iterations where you can implement improvements or amortize suboptimization. Brian Montanari is the President & CEO of HABCO Industries, a leader in high-mix, low-volume manufacturing. He joins us on the show today to bring his unique perspective to the conversation.

We explore his fascinating case study of how his company identified and solved a critical business challenge using Microsoft's HoloLens technology. We also discuss how he has incorporated AI into his business-side processes. 

As Brian describes these change processes, he weaves in wisdom about leadership and team development. His take on workforce development should be heard across industries. We hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did.

Resources:

• Learn more about the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technologies: www.ccat.us

Produced by NOVA

If you had a bird’s-eye view of digital transformation projects in manufacturing plants across the world, what would you see? No need to guess: Today, our guest is a man who has that exact view.

Tim O’Neal is the Global Operations Director for Operational Excellence and Leveraged Services for Dow Chemical. He oversees digital transformation projects at over 300 plants in 31 different countries. 

We have a fascinating conversation about how Tim’s team decides where to pilot new initiatives, how they evaluate success, and what he sees as the future of Industry 4.0.

Stick around for the end segment, where we briefly cover the latest in GenAI, digital twins, and 3D printing. 

Resources:

• Read the DORA State of DevOp’s Report
• Read Abi Noda’s “Three methods for measuring GenAI adoption and impact”
• Check out the summary of the Aerospace Components Manufacturing tradeshow

Produced by NOVA

What’s all the buzz about NVIDIA? And what does it have to do with manufacturing and logistics? In today’s episode, Jason Hehman and Patrick Turley break down everything you need to know.

Jason and Patrick explain the technological difference between traditional computer chips (CPUs) and NVIDIA’s GPUs. Then they explain how these NVIDIA GPUs are making GenAI, machine learning, and edge computing possible. Jason and Patrick also get into NVIDIA’s valuation and future, including geopolitical concerns around their supply chain.

This episode will give you the knowledge you need to better understand the AI market and how it may affect your business.

Resources:

• Listen to the Acquired Podcast episode “NVIDIA Part I: The GPU Company (1993-2006)”
• Listen to the Acquired Podcast episode “NVIDIA Part II: The Machine Learning Company (2006-2022)”
• Listen to the Acquired Podcast episode “NVIDIA Part III: The Dawn of the AI Era (2022-2023)”
• Listen to the Acquired Podcast episode “NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang”

Produced by NOVA Media

In Patrick Turley’s own words, his “dogs are barking,” but the ache of his feet doesn’t compare to the excitement he felt walking around the International Manufacturing Technology Show for days. Patrick joins the podcast to give us highlights from the event.

He tells about trends he saw from 3D printing and additive manufacturing vendors. Then Patrick goes over what he saw in the automation and robotics space. He wraps up by describing what he saw in terms of connected systems and digital twins.

Whether you are a suit-wearing type or a camouflage-hat-wearing type– or both – you’ll get a lot out of this episode, including a renewed excitement about the future of manufacturing.

Resources:

• Learn more about the TXI and Dickson success story
• Revisit this year’s IMTS exhibits at IMTS.com
• Check out Formlabs Fuse 1+ 3D printer

Produced by NOVA Media

Both IoT devices and 3D printing have followed a similar timeline recently: a surge of interest, lots of hype, and now stricter scrutiny. 

In this episode, Jason Hehman and Matt Reich discuss where these two technologies are trending, both in the consumer world and in the industrial space.

Listen in as Jason and Matt break down IoT devices and 3D printing (aka additive manufacturing) in terms of value proposition, maintenance, and ecosystem.

Resources:

• Learn more about the predictive maintenance system Amazon sells, Monitron
• Read “State of IoT 2024: Number of connected IoT devices growing 13% to 18.8 billion globally”
• Read “The economics of additive manufacturing are broken — here's how to fix it”
• Read “Why has the Internet of Things failed?”

Produced by NOVA Media