Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

Environmental phenomena, regulatory standards, expanding consumer demand - and disappearing generating capacity have combined to create an impossible dilemma for manufacturers that depend on electric utilities. 

Joe Kuhn, CMRP, former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant, is now president of Lean Driven Reliability LLC. He is the author of the book “Zero to Hero: How to Jumpstart Your Reliability Journey Given Today’s Business Challenges” and the creator of the Joe Kuhn YouTube Channel, which offers content on starting your reliability journey and achieving financial independence. In our monthly podcast miniseries, Ask a Plant Manager, Joe considers a commonplace scenario facing the industry and offers his advice, as well as actions that you can take to get on track tomorrow. This episode offers insight into how to get your team to support communication, accountability, and asking for help when they need it.

The IndustryWeek Operations Leadership Summit is approaching quickly. The inaugural event, slated for June 26-28, in Indianapolis, will address important topics from continuous improvement and smart technology adoption to workforce and leadership dynamics. In this episode of Production Pulse, we are joined by two of the conference speakers, who discuss their upcoming presentations in the Summit's Continuous Improvement track. GE Healthcare's Sarah Tilkens speaks on optimizing talent for operational excellence, while Mercury Plastics' Carl Livesay addresses the challenging task of sustaining lean gains. Both are keen proponents of continuous improvement and unlocking the potential of your employees to drive manufacturing success.  This episode also shares an overview of the complete Summit program. Register for the event by May 3 and save $200. Speakers are:  Sarah Tilkens, Sr Manager - Operational Excellence - GE Healthcare Carl Livesay, General Manager - Mercury Plastics Jill Jusko, Executive Editor - IndustryWeek Laura Putre, Senior Editor - IndustryWeek, moderated the conversation

From personalized 3D-printed bandages to robotic hair restoration, discover how cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing healthcare. Dive into the world of biomimetic robotics inspired by nature and the latest advancements in 3D-printed cranial implants. Read about this episode's inventions on our site: Skull Sculpting With World’s First 3D Cranial Implants Strand by Strand, Robots are Changing Painful Hair Loss Treatments Roll Up: Pangolin-Inspired Robot is Designed to Travel Within the Human Body 3D-Printed, Drug-Release Bandage Advances Treatment for Burn Patients

So far in April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued three major rulings on chemical producers that could have far-reaching impacts for manufacturers, food packaging and water infrastructure. And, more regulations are likely coming soon.  It's an election year, and the Biden Administration must get new rules finalized on the books well before November, or new rules will be easy for the next president to overturn if Biden loses his re-election bid. That's the view of Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Washington law firm Bergeson & Campbell PC.  Bergeson was a guest Thursday on a bonus episode of Production Pulse, IndustryWeek's live video series in which editors discuss important news topics with experts and manufacturing leaders. Typically, episodes run bi-weekly, but we wanted to get the regulatory episode in front of an audience right away, givien how active April has been. Speakers were: Lynn L. Bergeson with Bergeson & Campbell   Jon Katz, executive editor of Chemical Processing Andy Hanacek, senior editor of Food Processing Bob Crossen, editorial director for Water World and Endeavor Business Media's water group

Jake Hall is best known as the Manufacturing Millennial. A true industrial influencer, Jake talks about the latest technologies in the automation and manufacturing space, while making it engaging for all audiences. He has more than a decade of experience working with manufacturers, system integrators, and distributors, and he understands the importance of advocating for smart automation, robotics, and skilled trades. Jake recently spoke with Plant Services editor in chief Thomas Wilk about manufacturing's need for companies to attract and mentor the future skilled workforce.

Michael Bearman is the chief customer and administrative officer and general counsel at Vecna Robotics. For the Waltham, Massachusetts-based company he manages customer deployments and helps ensure the successful adoption of autonomous mobile robots. Before Vecna, he served as the chief operating officer at Vecna Technologies and is a member of the ASTM Committee 45 on Robotics, Automation and Autonomous Systems Executive Subcommittee. He joined Smart Industry’s managing editor, Scott Achelpohl, to talk “robot wranglers” and how Vecna’s Pivotal Command Center and other products like it can remotely monitor the machines 24/7/365 and almost eliminate the need for humans to intervene in plants and warehouses, drawing people toward other, higher-value tasks and away from all that “wrangling.”

Whether you're a small business or a large industrial operation, choosing a compressed air service provider can significantly impact your efficiency, productivity, and bottom line. This sponsored podcast chat features Tony Montalto, the Director of Technical Product Management at FS-Curtis, as he reveals practical tips and strategies to help you navigate the selection process with confidence and make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and requirements.

For our bi-weekly Production Pulse series, Smart Industry managing editor Scott Achelpohl spoke with Dale Tutt, VP of Industry Strategy at Siemens, and Aaron Merkin, CTO at Fluke Corporation, about where to draw the line with AI as a tool or an overlord.

EHS Today’s editors analyze current workplace safety trends and developments, including a review of the 2024 Ohio Safety Congress, robot safety, and lessons learned from the Baltimore bridge disaster.