Smart Metals Podcast

In this episode of the Smart Metals Podcast, hosts Denis Gontcharov and Luke van Enkhuizen welcome Todd Abraham from InnoVaas. They dive into digital transformation within the metals industry, focusing on the Unified Namespace’s growing influence in Asia and Europe. The discussion covers enabling technologies like Apache Kafka and MQTT, cultural differences in technology adoption, and how agile approaches help smaller companies innovate. The episode concludes with advice on navigating digital transformation and the importance of structured data for machine learning.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Smart Metals Podcast
00:49 Meet Todd Abraham from InnoVaas
02:39 Unified Namespace in Asia vs. Europe
05:08 Cultural Dynamics in Technology Adoption
06:39 The Role of Innovation in Global Markets
11:50 Digital Transformation Strategies
41:53 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information

Notable Quotes:

"Building the Unified Namespace is about doing the work upfront to contextualize and normalize your data, so it’s ready when you need it for machine learning." — Todd Abraham
"You can’t just hand a data engineer a pile of disorganized data and expect results. Structuring your data from the beginning makes everything, including machine learning, much more effective." — Luke van Enkhuizen
"Don’t boil the ocean. Break digital transformation into small, actionable steps, creating value incrementally." — Todd Abraham
"We act as Sherpas, guiding companies through digital transformation, but they still have to walk the path themselves." — Denis Gontcharov
"The agile, smaller organizations are the ones that will thrive in the future, as larger corporations struggle to adapt." — Todd Abraham

Key Takeaways:

• Start small: Focus on solving a key problem incrementally for faster success.
• Use open-source tech: Platforms like Apache Kafka and MQTT are crucial for real-time data integration.
• Real-time visibility: Structured data upfront simplifies the digital transformation process and accelerates machine learning.

Relevant Links:

• 🔗 Follow the show
• 🔗 About Todd Abraham
• 🔗 About Denis Gontcharov
• 🔗 About Luke van Enkhuizen
• 🔗 InnoVaas

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If you liked this episode, please consider sharing it with some friends or colleagues who might find it useful. Thank you! 😊

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Did this show help you with new ideas for your business? Then rate the show on iTunes or Spotify. This helps people like you find the show and helps us book more guests with industry specialists and top solution providers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In this episode of the Smart Metals podcast, we (Denis Gontcharov and Luke Van Enkhuizen) had the pleasure of hosting Wim Dijkgraaf, founder and CEO of Quotation Factory. We discussed the challenges and solutions in high mix, low volume manufacturing, focusing on the impact of Event-Driven Architectures (EDA) and Unified Namespace (UNS) in transforming the metalworking industry.

Wim shared how Quotation Factory leverages advanced systems to estimate production times, streamline operations, and enhance responsiveness.

We also dove into the concept of semantic hierarchy and explored the potential for AI in building autonomous, smart factories. The episode wraps up with insights on how these architectures can make manufacturers more agile, reliable, and ready for digital transformation.

Timestamps:
- 00:13 Introduction and Guest Welcome
- 00:32 Wim Dijkgraaf's Background and Quotation Factory Overview
- 02:07 Challenges in High Mix, Low Volume Manufacturing
- 03:31 Manual Processes and Data Integration Issues
- 10:42 Event-Driven Architecture and Its Benefits
- 18:19 Unified Namespace and Semantic Hierarchy
- 35:31 Conclusion and Future Prospects

Notable Quotes:
1. "If you create point-to-point connections, both parties should understand the world on the other side. This creates complexity and increases the time and cost of integrations. That's why event-driven architecture adds value." – Wim Dijkgraaf
2. "Many metalworking companies believe they have a lot of data because it’s in their ERP. But to become a smart factory, the critical information is actually the events happening in real time." – Wim Dijkgraaf
3. "You want to observe and store events as they happen, with all the necessary data tied to that moment. That's what a good data strategy is about—capturing events." – Wim Dijkgraaf
4. "When there’s a manufacturing issue, like a standstill or quality concern, you need data from several systems to identify the root cause. If you rely only on the ERP, you lose real-time insight." – Luke Van Enkhuizen
5. "The Unified Namespace allows all your data—whether from sensors or MES systems—to be unified in one place. This semantic hierarchy makes it easy for both humans and machines to navigate and understand the data." – Denis Gontcharov

Relevant Links:
- 🔗 Follow the show: [https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/](https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/)
- 🔗 About Denis Gontcharov: [https://gontcharov.eu/](https://gontcharov.eu/)
- 🔗 About Luke Van Enkhuizen: [https://sheetmetalconnect.com/](https://sheetmetalconnect.com/)
- 🔗 About Wim Dijkgraaf and Quotation Factory: [https://www.quotationfactory.com/en/](https://www.quotationfactory.com/en/)

This week at the Smart Metals Podcast, we had a conversation about the state of Unified Namespace (UNS) adoption in the European metals industry. We were joined by Angelo Hulshout, a seasoned software architect, to discuss the unique challenges and opportunities that UNS presents for metals manufacturers in Europe.

We delved deeper into the cultural differences between Europe and the U.S. in adopting innovative technologies like UNS and the practical steps manufacturers can take to start their digital transformation.

If your current challenge is navigating the complexities of UNS implementation in the metals industry, then listen to this episode when you have a moment.

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction
• 01:24 Understanding Unified Namespace Adoption in Europe
• 04:35 Challenges and Real-World Examples
• 08:58 Comparing European and US Approaches
• 23:53 Challenges in Time Tracking for Metals Industry
• 27:02 Unified Namespace Solutions for Metals Industry
• 30:17 Real-World Examples and Scalability
• 33:14 Getting Started with Unified Namespace

Notable Quotes:

1. "The biggest challenge with Unified Namespace adoption in Europe is not the technology itself, but the cultural approach to innovation." – Denis Gontcharov
2. "MQTT is becoming a game changer in real-time data exchange, especially when compared to traditional systems in manufacturing." – Angelo Hulshout
3. "It's not completely tailored to you and then you can get it almost for free in software terms, but you just have to put more effort into it, defining how you want it." – Luke van Enkhuizen
4. "Manufacturers need to start small with UNS adoption, focusing on low-risk areas like time tracking and inventory traceability to demonstrate value." – Angelo Hulshout
5. "In the metals industry, especially, Unified Namespace can dramatically improve operational efficiency by providing real-time insights into production processes, reducing waste, and enhancing traceability." – Denis Gontcharov
6. "I think the key takeaway is finding out where you can make the biggest bang for your buck, where these things would be able to launch quickly next to the business or building on top of the business without having to exchange systems." – Luke van Enkhuizen

Relevant Links:

• 🔗 Follow the show: https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/
• 🔗 About Angelo Hulshout: https://www.shinchoku.eu/ | LinkedIn
• 🔗 About Denis Gontcharov: https://gontcharov.eu
• 🔗 About Luke van Enkhuizen: https://vanenkhuizen.com/

Sharing is caring!
If you liked this episode, please consider sharing it with some friends or colleagues who might find it useful. Thank you! 😊

Would you like to help?
Did this show help you with new ideas for your business? Then rate the show on iTunes or Spotify. This helps people like you find the show and us to be able to book more guests with industry specialists and top solution providers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This week at Smart Metals Podcast, we, the hosts Luke van Enkhuizen and Denis Gontcharov, had a conversation about the critical role of domain knowledge in the metals industry, particularly in the context of increasing automation and AI.

We delved deeper into the challenges of preserving expertise in a digital age and the potential future of factories. If your current challenge is balancing domain knowledge with technological advancements, then listen to this episode when you have a moment.

Topics

• [00:00] Introduction to the Smart Metals Podcast
• [00:26] The Future of Factories and AI: How domain knowledge remains crucial
• [03:57] The Role of Domain Knowledge: Preserving expertise in a digital age
• [06:17] Challenges in Data Collection and AI Implementation
• [19:33] Case Study: Aluminum Smelting Process
• [29:42] AI in Manufacturing: Potential and Limitations
• [34:22] Conclusion and Future Topics

Interesting Quotes

• "Domain knowledge is what makes your company what it is today. It's the secret sauce that's hard to replace." – Luke van Enkhuizen
• "Even with the best AI, the most complex and ambiguous decisions will always need a human touch." – Denis Gontcharov
• "Without clean data and solid digital infrastructure, even the deepest domain knowledge can't be effectively leveraged." – Luke van Enkhuizen
• "The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment." – Warren G. Bennis
• "We still don't really know what happens chemically inside the [aluminum electrolysis] cell. It's essentially still a very big black box." – Denis Gontcharov

Resources:

• 🔗 Follow the show: https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/
• 🔗 About Luke van Enkhuizen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lukevanenkhuizen
• 🔗 About Denis Gontcharov: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denisgontcharov

Sharing is caring!
If you liked this episode, please consider sharing it with some friends or colleagues who might find it useful. Thank you! 😊

Would you like to help?
Did this show help you with new ideas for your business? Then rate the show on iTunes or Spotify. This helps people like you find the show and us to be able to book more guests with industry specialists and top solution providers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 In this episode of the Smart Metals Podcast, host Luke van Enkhuizen and co-host Dennis Gontcharov delve into Luke's journey from welder to consultant for the metalworking industry.

The discussion covers the challenges faced by metalworking companies in digital transformation and provides practical advice on how they can become more efficient and meet customer demands.

 Luke highlights the importance of creating a strategic plan, understanding customer needs, and ensuring comprehensive training for staff to effectively implement digital solutions. 

The conversation also touches on the role of vendors, the urgency for digital transformation due to market uncertainties, and the evolving landscape of software solutions in the industry. 

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction and Host Background
• 00:42 Journey into Metalworking Consultancy
• 03:49 Understanding Sheet Metal and Industry Challenges
• 21:25 Common Pitfalls in Project Management
• 24:00 The Digitalization Gap in Metalworking
• 31:07 Steps to Embrace Digital Transformation

Notable Quotes:

1.  "So I have a very deep affiliation with actually the metal that I welded myself. And I always wondered like, how was this done? So I have this deep and a sort of passion for what I did when I was on the floor, knowing the frustrations, the inefficiencies. So I like to solve inefficiencies, right? I like things to work well." – Luke
2. "I often ask in any company that I come. My first question is like, 'Hey imagine I am new here today. This is my first day on the job. I'm an engineer. I have the qualifications. I have a business background. Tell me, I work in the work preparation department or I work in the sales department. Where can I find what I have to do? Like, what is the first next thing that I have to do? And where's the manual?'" – Luke
3. "So first step is get knowledge and start reading things, start watching videos, start really diving into this new generation media and don't rely on industry magazines or conferences where you only get vendor talk. Really! There is so much information out there about how you can digitally transform." – Luke
4. "I think that's a fair point to end because indeed one advantage of being so slow with adopting new technologies is that they by now have evolved so much that in my opinion, and you can see if you agree or not, that the biggest challenge is really not technical. We have great solutions. It's really about the manufacturers themselves. They've scoped discovering these by reading the correct resources." – Denis

This week at Metal Connect, we, the hosts Denis Gontcharov and Luke van Enkhuizen, had a conversation about digital transformation in the aluminum industry.

We delved deeper into Denis's journey from an aluminum process engineer to a data consultant and the unique challenges and opportunities of digital transformation in this sector. If your current challenge is navigating digital transformation in the aluminum industry, then listen to this episode when you have a moment.

🎧 LISTEN NOW ➡️ https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/

Topics

• [00:00] Introduction to the Smart Metals Podcast
• [00:41] 📊 Denis Gontcharov's background in aluminum and data
• [03:10] 🚀 Challenges in digital transformation
• [21:14] 🌐 Importance of Unified Namespace (UNS)
• [27:08] 🛠️ Practical steps for digital transformation
• [31:34] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Notable Quotes:

1. "My background can be summarized in two words: data and aluminum. I began my career as a process engineer in aluminum smelting and then transitioned to a data-focused role at companies like Novelis, a world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling." – Denis Gontcharov
2. "The most challenging aspect is aligning all the stakeholders. It's not just about getting OT and IT to work together, but also involving the business, accounting, and everyone else. This coordination has proven to be quite difficult." – Denis Gontcharov
3. "When you start implementing your digital transformation strategy, you often face initial challenges when gathering data. Companies frequently get stuck in 'pilot purgatory,' where they have numerous pilot projects that can't scale across different plants due to non-uniform digital infrastructure." – Denis Gontcharov
4. "It's crucial to demonstrate value, meaning you need to show that your use cases lead to concrete cost savings or increased revenue. The outcome of your first project should be a clear financial estimate of the cost savings or additional revenue it generated." – Denis Gontcharov
5. "Unified Namespace is a philosophy, a real-time snapshot of your business and a central repository of all your data. The way you build your unified namespace depends on your company. One solution I really like is provided by the German company United Manufacturing Hub." – Denis Gontcharov

Resources:

• 🔗 Follow the show: https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/
• 🔗 About Denis Gontcharov: https://gontcharov.eu/
• 🔗 About Luke van Enkhuizen: https://vanenkhuizen.com/

Sharing is caring!
If you liked this episode, please consider sharing it with some friends or colleagues who might find it useful. Thank you! 😊

Would you like to help?

Did this show help you with new ideas for your business? Then rate the show on iTunes or Spotify. This helps people like you find the show and us to be able to book more guests with industry specialists and top solution providers. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In this episode of the Smart Metals Podcast, hosts Dennis Gontcharov and Luke van Enkhuizen explore the challenges and common pitfalls of digitalization in the metals manufacturing sector. 

They discuss the high failure rate of digital transformation initiatives, the difficulty in transitioning from pilot projects to full-scale implementation, and the absence of comprehensive digital strategies with a focus on data infrastructure and quality. The conversation addresses the misalignment between IT and OT departments, the drawbacks of relying on legacy solutions, and the essential role of a unified data strategy in breaking down operational silos. 

They emphasize the importance of leveraging internal domain knowledge, minimizing dependence on external consultants, and ensuring that technology adoption directly supports specific business objectives. The episode underlines the need to begin with a clear digital strategy, involve domain experts, and view technology as a tool to enhance business processes, crucial for successful digital transformation in the metals industry.

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00:00 Introduction to Digital Transformation Challenges
00:13 The Pitfalls of Digitalization in the Metals Industry
01:07 Exploring 'Pilot Purgatory' and Strategic Deficiencies
03:09 Misalignment between IT and OT Departments
05:54 The Role of External Consultants in Digital Initiatives
15:51 The Importance of a Unified Data Strategy
23:46 Rethinking Business Processes for Effective Digitalization
26:55 Concluding Thoughts on Achieving Successful Digital Transformation

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Follow the show: https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/

About Denis Gontcharov: https://gontcharov.eu/

About Luke van Enkhuizen https://vanenkhuizen.com/

Navigating Digital Transformation in Multi-Site Enterprises

Do you struggle with managing digital transformation across multiple factories in different countries? Navigating cultural and technological disparities can be tricky. Let's explore how enterprise manufacturers can overcome these challenges for successful multi-site deployments.

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Content:

00:00 Welcome to the Smart Metals Podcast: Navigating Digital Transformation

00:22 The Complexities of Multi-Site Digital Transformation

02:13 Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Approaches: Strategies and Challenges

03:30 Cultural and Technological Hurdles in Global Deployment

07:47 Exploring Bottom-Up Innovations: Opportunities and Limitations

16:29 Finding the Middle Ground: A Hybrid Approach to Digital Transformation

17:12 Practical Steps Towards a Unified Digital Strategy

23:47 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions

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In this episode of the Smart Metals Podcast, hosts Luke van Enkhuizen and Denis Gontcharov delve into the complex world of digital transformation across multi-site enterprises. 

They discuss the challenges and opportunities of deploying a unified digital strategy either top-down or bottom-up, exploring the pros and cons of each approach. The conversation highlights the difficulties of standardization across different cultures, languages, and technologies, and how these factors can impede seamless integration. 

They propose a middle-ground solution using a 'unified namespace' architecture to balance centralized control with local flexibility, aiming to streamline operations while respecting the unique needs of each site. 

The episode touches on practical advice for starting digital transformation initiatives, emphasizing the importance of addressing local problems within an overarching enterprise strategy.

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Follow the show: https://smartmetals.transistor.fm/

About Denis Gontcharov: https://gontcharov.eu/

About Luke van Enkhuizen https://vanenkhuizen.com/

The Evolution from Data Science to Data Engineering in Industry 4.0

In this debut episode of the Smart Metals Podcasting Show, hosts Luke van Enkhuizen and Denis delve into the world of Industry 4.0, focusing on the critical shift from data science to data engineering within industrial environments. 

Denis shares his journey from a data scientist to a data engineer, sparked by the challenge of accessing and preparing data for analysis in the metal industry. He highlights the insufficiency of current systems to support the data analytics needed for Industry 4.0 and argues for a separate digital infrastructure for control and analytics. 

The discussion also covers the limitations of traditional ERP systems for real-time data analysis and the potential of a unified namespace to streamline data integration across various operational levels. 

The episode concludes with insights into establishing a robust digital infrastructure to support data-driven operations and the necessary mindset for companies embarking on their digital transformation journey.

00:00 Welcome to the Smart Metals Podcasting Show!
00:56 Diving Into the World of Data Engineering and Science
01:12 The Shift from Data Science to Data Engineering
03:42 Challenges in Industrial Data Management
06:52 Rethinking Data Integration for Industry 4.0
09:04 Learning from Past Mistakes: A New Approach to Data
15:05 The Unified Namespace: A Game Changer for Data Analytics
19:02 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions