While the COVID-19 pandemic caused innumerable, life-threatening challenges, it also gave the manufacturing industry a unique opportunity to showcase its collaborative potential. Host Tony Uphoff speaks to 4 key stakeholders from 3 companies involved in Project DIAMOnD, which stands for Distributed, Independent, Agile Manufacturing on Demand, a unique program created last year at the height of the pandemic. Backed by Microsoft, the Michigan-based initiative was developed by Automation Alley, a World Economic Forum Advanced Manufacturing Hub (AMHUB), with the goal of creating the nation’s largest 3D printing marketplace and network to increase agile, urgent resource production.

Resources From This Episode:

Watch full video episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/RXB2uOcxsiM

Apply to participate in Project DIAMOnD: https://www.projectdiamond.org/

Learn more about Automation Alley: https://www.automationalley.com/

Learn more about Markforged: https://markforged.com/

Learn more about Avon Machining: https://www.avonmachining.com/

“We're at a moment of truth now where it's the time that you really have to get digital transformation right to secure the right future,” says Accenture CTO and Group Chief Executive of Technology Paul Daugherty, who is the co-author of Human Plus Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI, on the latest episode of the Thomas Industry Update Podcast. In conversation with host Tony Uphoff, Thomas CEO and president, Daugherty explains how business leaders can overcome the 2 main barriers to digital transformation, the growing momentum of AI and the impact of big vs. small data, and the top 3 fundamental changes driving the future of work post-COVID-19.

Resources From This Episode:

Learn More About Paul Daugherty: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/about/leadership/paul-daugherty

Purchase “Human Plus Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI”: https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insights/technology/human-plus-machine

Read the Accenture Report: “Future-Ready” Organizations Leveraging Digital to Operate Faster and Smarter Could Help Unlock $5 Trillion in Economic Growth”:

https://newsroom.accenture.com/news/future-ready-organizations-leveraging-digital-to-operate-faster-and-smarter-could-help-unlock-5-trillion-in-economic-growth-says-accenture-study.htm

How to Launch a Successful Digital Transformation [Checklist] [Thomas Insights]: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/how-to-successfully-launch-a-digital-transformation-checklist/

“As football fans, we’ve all heard that a quarterback can really spin it,” says John "JP" Pollard, vice president of business development at Zebra MotionWorks™ Sport. But now, equipped with Zebra’s innovative tracking technology, “the tag in the football actually allows us to calculate in a quantifiable way the actual spin rate of the football.” In its seventh year as the official on-field player-tracking provider of the NFL, Zebra fuels the League’s Next Gen Stats program by collecting real-time location data that captures the activity of every player in every play on every inch of the field. Hear about how Zebra’s tracking technology works and how data could enhance the future of football in the latest episode with host Shawn Fitzgerald.

Resources From This Episode:

Learn more about John "JP" Pollard: https://www.zebra.com/us/en/blog/authors/john-pollard.html

Learn more about Zebra Motionworks Sport: https://www.zebra.com/us/en/solutions/intelligent-edge-solutions/rtls/sports-player-tracking.html

Learn more about Zebra's partnership with the NFL: https://www.zebra.com/us/en/nfl.html

How High-tech Player Tracking Became a Key Part of the NFL [Q&A Interview] [Thomas Insights]: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/how-zebra-technologies-brought-high-tech-player-tracking-to-the-nfl-q-a-interview/

As a new administration begins to shift trade policy, U.S.-China trade uncertainties continue to linger, and digital transformation dominates the industrial space, industrial business leaders need to prepare for a new paradigm in global free trade. “A global values trade system is about to emerge,” says returning guest Andrew Blasi, Director at Crowell & Moring International. The global values trade system, he says, will encapsulate worker-centric policies, human rights, sustainability, data privacy, technological impacts, and more to influence decision-making. Hear more of Blasi’s actionable guidance to business leaders in preparing for the future of fragmented globalization, shared in conversation with host Tony Uphoff, in today’s episode.

Resources From This Episode:

Learn More About Andrew Blasi Jr.: https://www.crowell.com/professionals/andrew-blasi

Forecasting the Impact of COVID-19 on Global Trade [Previous Andrew Blasi Podcast Episode]: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/forecasting-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-global-trade-new-podcast/

Predicting Tariff Impacts on Industrial Business in 2020 [Previous Andrew Blasi Podcast Episode]: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/predicting-tariff-impacts-on-industrial-business-in-2020-new-podcast/

Manufacturer Interest in Reshoring, Hiring, and Apprenticeships Increasing During COVID-19 Pandemic [Report] [Thomas Insights]: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/manufacturer-interest-in-reshoring-hiring-and-apprenticeships-increasing-during-covid-19-pandemic-report/

Meet Chuck. He’s an autonomous, mobile robot designed to streamline millions of daily warehouse transactions through side by side collaboration with human employees. In utilizing Chuck, “you're not just creating a robotic system, you are creating a collaborative environment between human and robot,” explains Jerome Dubois, co-CEO and cofounder of 6 River Systems, the company behind Chuck and other technologies redefining the future of fulfillment. In today’s episode, Dubois talks with host Cathy Ma, head of audience development at Thomas, about the role of collaborative robotics in the workforce, how business leaders should strategically approach their industrial automation journeys, and the appeal of a“digital by design” workforce.

Additional resources from this episode:

Learn More About 6 River Systems: https://6river.com/

Meet Chuck: https://6river.com/meet-chuck/

Automation Is No Longer Optional — It's Inevitable [Thomas Insights]

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/automation-is-no-longer-optional-it-s-inevitable/

With $200 million in funding awarded annually to “high-risk, high impact” startups and small businesses, the congressionally mandated America’s Seed Fund program has been fueling innovative entrepreneurs for 40 years — without taking a stake in their cutting-edge businesses. In today’s episode, Program Director and Policy Liaison Ben Schrag sits down with host Tony Uphoff, Thomas CEO and President, to discuss the Fund’s forward-thinking mission, highlight innovative technologies on the horizon, and share recommended strategies for entrepreneurs interested in applying for financial support from America’s Seed Fund.

Additional resources from this episode:

Learn more about America's Seed Fund: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/

Read about groundbreaking innovations funded by America's Seed Fund: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/portfolio/

Looking for funding? Apply here: https://seedfund.nsf.gov/apply/

In the wake of COVID-19, 81% of business leaders now view the integration of technology as a higher priority than ever before. But while digital transformation is often discussed in the context of automation on the shop floor or digitization of sales & marketing, it’s less often recognized as an opportunity to streamline MRO. Ryan Chan, the CEO and founder of UpKeep, saw this as an opportunity to help industry professionals in both the front and back offices. UpKeep provides mobile-first CMMS software to enable maintenance and facilities operating teams to more effectively plan and respond to required maintenance events. Chan joins Thomas CMO Shawn Fitzgerald on today’s episode.

Resources From This Episode:

Learn more about UpKeep: https://www.onupkeep.com/

UpKeep Raises $36 Million to Advance Mobile Capabilities of Facilities, Maintenance Teams [Thomas Insights]: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/upkeep-raises-36-million-to-advance-mobile-capabilities-of-facilities-maintenance-teams/

New Podcast: Designed to Optimize Technician Workflow, VC-Backed UpKeep's CMMS "Takes the Work Out of Work Orders" [Thomas Insights]: https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/designed-to-optimize-technician-workflow-vc-backed-upkeep-s-cmms-takes-the-work-out-of-work-orders-new-podcast/

3 Expert Tricks to Optimizing Your Industry 4.0 Adoption [Thomas Insights]:

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/3-expert-tricks-to-optimizing-your-industry-4-0-adoption/

Shifting factors in the trucking industry — like fewer drivers, lower capacity, and rising demand — will likely result in 8-15% higher contract rates this year, according to U.S. Xpress. While this means more opportunity, it also means more paperwork. Will Chu, co-founder and CEO of Vector, a contactless pickup and delivery solution, is on a mission to simplify the logistics process by removing this physical paperwork from the supply chain. In conversation with host Tony Uphoff, Thomas CEO and President, Chu discusses the range of opportunities for innovation and how the pandemic has not only disrupted the freight industry but also created an opportunity for new technologies to transform the sector.

Watch the extended cut of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/apncjMGCOfU

Resources:

Learn more about Vector’s contactless pick-up and delivery solutions:

https://www.withvector.com/

What Is a Logistics Company and Should Your Business Hire One? [Thomas Insights]

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/what-is-a-logistics-company/

Teaming Up with the Machines: How Can Machine Learning Improve Logistics? [Thomas Insights]

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/teaming-up-with-the-machines-how-can-machine-learning-improve-logistics/

During a very busy eCommerce shopping season, there’s an equally busy system running behind the scenes: returns. Last year’s National Returns Day shattered previous records, with holiday shoppers returning 1.9 million packages. How did retailers prepare for this massive influx and what happens to your purchase once you’ve returned it? David Sobie, CEO and co-founder of Happy Returns, has all of the answers on this week’s episode. Join host and Thomas Director of Audience Development Cathy Ma for a deep dive into how Happy Returns is disrupting the logistics industry in efficiency, sustainability, and customer experience, especially in a new era of eCommerce fueled by COVID-19.

Resources:

Learn more about Happy Returns’ reverse logistics solutions:

https://happyreturns.com/

This Reverse Logistics Startup Wants to Make Returns Less Stressful [Thomas Insights]

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/this-reverse-logistics-startup-wants-to-make-returns-less-stressful-q-a-interview/

Returned Goods Have $350 Billion Impact on E-commerce (Report) [Thomas Insights]

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/ease-of-returns-process-has-major-impact-on-how-consumers-judge-companies/

From shutdowns to reshoring, 2020 leading into 2021 has been a uniquely challenging era for industrial businesses. However, Bead Industries CEO Jill Mayer took these challenges in stride, strategically mapping out her fifth-generation family business' response to the challenges the business faced at the peak of COVID-19. In conversation with host and Thomas Chief of Marketing Shawn Fitzgerald, Mayer discusses her rise through the ranks of her 5th generation family business, how she spearheaded digital transformation at the 109-year-old company, and the traits she looks for when hiring new team members to join her workforce.

Watch the extended cut on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/rzLnpm_XozU

Resources:

Learn more about Bead Industries’ manufacturing solutions:

https://beadindustries.com/

Guide to Federal & State COVID-19 Relief Programs for Small Businesses [Thomas Insights]

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/a-guide-to-federal-state-covid-19-financial-relief-programs-available-for-small-businesses/

7 Indicators It's Time for a New ERP System at Your Industrial Business [Thomas Insights]

https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/7-indicators-it-s-time-for-a-new-erp-system-at-your-industrial-business/