Guest: Max Morwind, Manufacturing Sales Director Switzerland @ Microsoft

In this episode, Niklas sits down with Max Morwind from Microsoft to explore how AI, data, and modern cloud technologies are reshaping global manufacturing. They discuss the evolution from early IoT projects to today’s AI-driven factories, why many digital initiatives stalled in the past, and what manufacturers must do to build a solid data foundation. The conversation also covers the human side of AI adoption—how HR, culture, and skill development play a decisive role - as well as the rise of agents, unified data layers, and the future of automation.

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Guest: Heiko Wirtz, Co-Founder and CTO of ANTICIPATE

In this episode, Alex and Heiko from Anticipate dive into the role of AI and computer vision in modern manufacturing. They trace the journey from early image processing to today’s deep learning–powered quality inspection systems, discussing the challenges of integrating AI into legacy shop-floor environments and the opportunities this technology brings for scalability, accuracy, and reduced costs. The conversation also explores the balance between in-house development and external solutions, the hype around generative AI versus practical industrial applications, and strategies for getting started with computer vision projects in manufacturing.

• The evolution of computer vision from traditional image processing to deep learning.
• How AI improves resilience and adaptability in quality inspection.
• The integration hurdles with legacy machines and protocols.
• Why ease of use is key for automation engineers and SMEs.
• The risks of overestimating DIY in-house AI projects.
• The gap between AI hype at C-level and real shop-floor needs.
• Practical advice for engineers: start small, use open-source tools, and show ROI quickly.
• How computer vision fits into the bigger IT/OT and AI landscape.

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Guest: David Ariens, Author & Founder of The IT/OT Insider

In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, David Ariens joins hosts Alexander Krüger and Jeremy to unpack what it really takes to bring IT and OT together. Drawing on his journey from mathematics to chemical-plant digitalisation, David explains why open learning, shared language, and trust drive success on the shop floor. They discuss:

• Why an interdisciplinary background accelerates digitalisation initiatives
• How paywalled, uneven education slows IT/OT teamwork
• What “infrastructure convergence” means and why factories need it now
• Why cybersecurity must be a joint mission, not a turf war
• How building trust and a common language turns siloed teams into partners
• A practical playbook: clear business cases, visible leadership, and community support

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Guest: Natan Linder, Co-Founder & CEO of Tulip

In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, Natan Linder, CEO and co-founder of Tulip, joins Alexander Krüger, Co-Founder of United Manufacturing Hub, to explore what it really takes to empower shop floor workers with data insights and tools — beyond buzzwords like “digital transformation.” They discuss:

• Why traditional digital transformation strategies often leave shop floor workers behind
• The role of composable, low-code platforms in enabling dynamic, scalable operations
• The shift from rigid architectures to open, ecosystem-driven solutions
• How Tulip is helping turn frontline engineers into citizen developers
• Why treating every worker as a "knowledge worker" is key to future-proofing operations
• The real impact of AI on industrial workflows — beyond the hype

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Guest: Dr. Tilman Buchner, Partner and Director at BCG and global leader of BCG’s Innovation Center for Operations

In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, host Alexander Krüger speaks with Dr. Tilman Buchner , about the shift toward software-defined automation. They explore the challenges and opportunities in bridging IT and OT, scaling industrial use cases, and the growing importance of open-source and resilient architectures in manufacturing.

• Shifting from traditional automation to software-defined solutions
• Bridging IT/OT gaps and deploying services at scale
• Why unified namespace can simplify data management
• Balancing reliability with flexible, cloud-native updates
• Opportunities in the pharma industry and beyond
• BCG’s hands-on approach to engineering and proof-of-concept

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Guest: Matthew Parris, Director of Advanced Manufacturing at GE Appliances

In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, host Jeremy Theocharis speaks with Matthew Parris, Director of Advanced Manufacturing at GE Appliances, about the evolution of Unified Namespace, DataOps, and real-time data integration in industrial manufacturing.

• Data Operations at GE Appliances
• Quality Assurance & Cybersecurity in Manufacturing
• The Shift from OPC UA to MQTT in Data Communication
• Understanding Quality of Service (QoS) in MQTT
• The CESMII API & Standardizing Industrial Data Access
• Practical Advice for IT/OT Professionals

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Guest: Brian Pribe from Mach Controls and Trent Christopher from 4.0 Hero LLC

What’s stopping manufacturers from leveraging their data? High costs, complexity, and IT/OT misalignment. In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, Brian and Trent join Jeremy Theocharis, CTO and Co-Founder of United Manufacturing Hub, to share their firsthand experiences in system integration, Unified Namespace (UNS), and edge data solutions.

• Starting a Systems Integration Business & Finding Market Fit
• Unified Namespace (UNS) as a Manufacturing Data Backbone
• The MQTT & Kafka Debate: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Best Uses
• Why Open-Source & Why UMH?
• ProveIt Conference: Hands-On UNS & Edge Integration

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Guest: Dominik Obermaier, CEO and Co-Founder of HiveMQ

In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, Dominik joins Alexander Krüger, Co-Founder of United Manufacturing Hub, share insights into his journey with HiveMQ, the evolution of MQTT, and its applications in various industries. During the podcast they cover:

• Bootstrapping the company to working with automotive giants.
• Future-proofing IoT with “boring” open standards like MQTT.
• Simplifying data access from the edge to the cloud.
• Addressing IT/OT convergence challenges and empowering the shop floor.
• Future outlook and Unified Namespace governance.

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Guest: Rick Bullotta, Advisor and Co-Founder of ThingWorx

In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, Rick, a seasoned entrepreneur and advisor in the industrial software landscape, joins Alexander Krüger, Co-Founder of United Manufacturing Hub, to share insights from barely graduating college to founding and scaling multiple successful software companies. During the podcast they cover:

• Mastering go-to-market strategies: Building a great product is only part of the equation; selling it effectively is key.
• Embracing extensibility: How enabling customization opens up broader markets and makes your product indispensable.
• Adapting to legacy systems: Integrate instead of replacing, while ensuring mission-critical operations remain resilient.
• Unlocking value with technology: The convergence of IoT platforms, AI, and low-code environments to accelerate innovation.

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Guest: Kasper Korsholm Christiansen, Senior Platform Owner – VELUX IIoT Platform

In this episode of The Connected Factory Podcast, Kasper Karlsson Christiansen, Senior Platform Owner at VELUX, joins Alexander Krüger, Co-Founder of United Manufacturing Hub, to discuss his journey from electrician to building industrial IoT platform.

During the episode, Kasper shared tactical advice for companies getting started on their IIoT journey, along with:

• Build cross-functional teams (IT & OT)
• Focus on decoupling data systems as a key job to be done
• Involve operators and technicians early and implement their feedback
• Leverage open-source technologies to move fast

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