In this episode, Matthew Chang and Colin Russ sit down with Richard Schrade (President and Co-Founder of Automation Intelligence) to talk about digital twins, the gap between where industrial automation is and where it needs to be, and a new AI tool that could change how PLC engineers work. 

If you care about manufacturing, automation, robotics, industrial software, or the future of American production, this one is for you. 

What we cover 

• What digital twins actually are, how they work, and why the biggest manufacturers in the country use them before touching the factory floor 
• Why Richard is disappointed with the pace of industrial innovation, and why he thinks we're still at 1% of what's possible 
• How narrowing the gap of uncertainty is the real value proposition for capital allocators looking at automation investments 
• The Auto Intel Cloud: making digital twins accessible without expensive hardware or license headaches 
• PLC Forge: the AI-powered tool for PLC engineers that Automation Intelligence is bringing to market now 

Chapters 

00:00 Why Manufacturing Innovation Can't Wait 

01:00 Meet Richard Schrade and Automation Intelligence 

02:54 How Digital Twins Work and Why They Matter 

12:14 Are We at 1% of What's Possible? 

21:14 The Auto Intel Cloud 

25:21 PLC Forge: AI for the Factory Floor 

Guest: Richard Schrade, President and Co-Founder at Automation Intelligence Find Richard Schrade: https://autointel.io [email protected] 

Find Matthew Chang: https://x.com/MatthewChang https://www.instagram.com/the.matthewchang https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewachang/ https://www.tiktok.com/@the.matthewchang 

Find Colin Russ: https://x.com/ThaaatColin https://www.linkedin.com/in/colinruss/ 

Find Chang Robotics: https://changrobotics.ai https://www.linkedin.com/company/changrobotics/ 

Follow ReForge 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-reforge-podcast/ 

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thereforgepod 

Website: https://thereforgepodcast.com/ 

Want to be a guest or partner? 

If you're building, funding, operating, or shaping the future of U.S. manufacturing, we'd love to hear from you. Email: [email protected] 

About ReForge 

ReForge is a podcast featuring conversations with the leaders reindustrializing America. This show exists to prove American reindustrialization is possible, pivotal, and pressing. Hosted by Matthew Chang and Colin Russ. 

Produced by Chang Robotics.