Manufacturing Happy Hour

“The hardest part of robotics isn't actually doing robotics. It's providing a solution that solves a real customer problem.” Melonee Wise’s quote from this episode is a good summary of what we talk about in this episode – practical, real-world applications of the technology we see hyped.Robotics, AMRs, humanoid robots, automation, AI – all of these things are hot topics in manufacturing. But the truth is that these solutions may not always result in the most exciting or sexiest applications. But when they’re eliminating boring, laborious tasks, it’s a huge opportunity across the industry.For part two of our Automate 2025 special episode, we hear from five incredible people, all from different areas of manufacturing, automation and robotics.We kick things off with Melonee Wise from Agility Robotics who you may have heard on the show before. She talks about the practical applications of using humanoid robots and where the industry is headed, while also talking through the biggest concern of adopting this new tech – safety.We kick things off with Melonee Wise from Agility Robotics who you may have heard on the show before. She talks about the practical applications of using humanoid robots and where the industry is headed, while also talking through the biggest concern of adopting this new tech – safety.Glen Guernsey from JR Automation talks about the biggest changes in warehouse automation today – including the ability to handle random SKU palletization. We chat with Zoie Rittling of OnLogic and Michael Maxey from ZEDEDA, about how right sizing AI at the edge is about eliminating boring work. And finally, Robert Ponsonby from Arduino talks about the interoperability and open-source solutions that drive innovation. All are slightly different takes on automation’s new capabilities but offer truly great insights for anyone working in manufacturing thinking about the future. In this episode, find out:Melonee talks through Agility Robotics’ humanoid demo and the practical applications of this techWhy Agility Robotics focused on bulk material handling at the beginning and takes a tiered approach to complexity  Why robots performing individual tasks isn’t what’s important – it’s how this connects to other systems and solves overall problemsWhere the humanoid market is likely headed compared to AMRsWhat the new safety standard means for humanoid implementation and how we could realistically see cooperatively safe humanoids working alongside humansGlen talks about the biggest changes we’re seeing in warehouse automation, including the ability to handle random SKU palletizationWhy the labor shortage will need to be supplemented with automationPractical applications of AGVs and AMRs in warehouse operationsWhat the warehouse of the future will look likeZoie and Michael describe edge architecture and how it applies to managing applicationsHow the industry can right-size AI at the edge and how this will look different from using cloud applicationsWhy you need to prioritize integration when looking for the best AI partnersRobert defines interoperability and Arduino’s approach to open-source softwareHow interoperability in open source allows for innovation, empowering teams, and rapid deploymentEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"The most innovative thing that's out there has to do with random SKU palletization... up until recently with the advances in AI and advances in vision systems, this was not something that was easily done." – Glen Guernsey"We've seen on average for rollouts on projects, a 70% reduction in timeline. Instead of a six-month project, all of a sudden, you guys are done in a month and a half.” Robert Ponsonby"The hard part is not actually doing robotics. It's providing a solution that solves a customer problem." Melonee Wise Links & mentions:Arduino, a leader in open-source hardware and softwareAgility Robotics, a leading manufacturer of humanoid robots and automation solutionsJR Automation, intelligent automated manufacturing and distribution technology solutionsOnLogic, industrial computers engineered for IoT edgeAutomate, the biggest automation trade show, this year held in Detroit, Michigan Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Welcome to Part 1 of our two-part Automate 2025 recap series. In this episode, we dive into current trends in automation and robotics, including cobots, open operating systems, and more. The interviews were recorded as part of A3's Automate LIVE series of interviews and include insights from the following industry leaders:Jerry Perez, FANUC America CorporationBernd Raithel, Director Product Management & Marketing, Siemens Factory AutomationShawn Donahue and Brian Darling, Raymond CorpKen Crawford, Sr. Director of Automation, WeidmuellerStay tuned for Part 2 covering the latest trends in warehouse automation, AI at the edge, and more coming out later this week.

Ted Fertik, VP of Manufacturing & Industrial Policy at BlueGreen Alliance and a PhD in Economic History, shares insights on bridging industrial history and modern sustainability. He discusses lessons from Brazil and the UK, emphasizing the evolution of manufacturing and the significance of public investment. Fertik highlights the pressing need for a low-carbon economy and the electrification of industries, advocating for sustainable practices that attract talent and ensure community benefits, all while meeting rising energy demands.

Get ready for a front-row seat to Europe’s biggest automation event! In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, host Chris Luecke and Jake Hall – The Manufacturing Millennial – share their excitement and preview what’s ahead at Automatica 2025, taking place June 24–27 in Munich, Germany.Chris and Jake discuss:What makes German manufacturing a global powerhouse in automation and vocational trainingWhat to expect from Automatica: major exhibitors, international tech showcases, and epic trade show boothsWhy this event is a must-attend for anyone in robotics, smart manufacturing, and industrial automationPlus, they crack open a special "Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty" IPA, brewed just for the occasion, and share some of their favorite Munich spots to check out between sessions. Whether you're attending the event or watching from afar, this episode sets the stage for one of the year’s most important industrial showcases.🎥 Don’t forget: Daily video recaps and a full post-show episode will follow!

We’re seeing a huge leap in potential when it comes to what AI can accomplish in industrial settings. Not only can it catch errors, it can provide intelligent insights to prevent them in the first place, reduce waste, save costs, and improve processes.  Recorded live from Automate 2025, we sat down with Alvin Clark, Senior AI Engineer at NVIDIA, to discuss AI agents in manufacturing and how they’re reshaping industrial inspections. We hear about all the different use cases of AI agents, including error detection and understanding the root cause of errors, saving costs, and even supplying training data to patch the gaps in “tribal knowledge” of manufacturing processes.  You’ll hear real examples of how AI agents have saved costs and reduced errors drastically when monitoring SOPs and how they can provide multimodal maintenance assistance. Alvin also takes us through how NVIDIA’s Metropolis works at helping developers create visual AI agents and why the next few years will see visual AI inspections take off in manufacturing.  In this episode, find out: Alvin shares his background in the AI space and why he saw potential in AI earlier than most  Why 2012 was the real AI boom and how we saw a shift from the algorithm being king to data being king Alvin’s explanation for what an AI agent does in four stages  How AI agents are evolving beyond capturing data to providing intelligence in industrial settings How vision inspection can perform not only real time error detection but also real time failure analysis Use cases for AI agents and examples of how Alvin has seen them most successful How AI agents could also address the skills gap and replace the multimodal “tribal knowledge” we’ll lose when people start retiring Alvin breaks down how Metropolis works to help developers build visual AI agents How simulation, training and data transform what AI agents can accomplish Alvin’s perspective on where manufacturers are in their industrial AI journeys The role of systems integrators in leading the AI revolution What the next phase of AI agents will look like   Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: “Metropolis is a combination of models and tools that are used to build what we call vision analytics. So anytime you're looking at video images and you want to extract information from that, these are the tools that can help you do that.” - Alvin Clark “It's not really the ability to catch the error, it's the ability to, as quickly as possible understand the genesis that caused the error.” - Alvin Clark  ”If I had to kind of describe an AI agent, it is a collection of one or more models that can perceive, reason, and potentially plan and then execute.” - Alvin Clark Links & mentions: NVIDIA Metropolis, automating physical spaces and infrastructure with interactive visual AI agents and services AlexNet, a convolutional neural network architecture developed for image classification tasks, like identifying a cat Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Dunchadhn Lyons, Director of Engineering at Spot AI, shares insights on how AI agents are changing the manufacturing landscape. These 'AI teammates' monitor safety, catching near-misses and ensuring proper PPE usage. They not only enhance safety but also reduce incidents by up to 40%. Dunchadhn discusses their role in preserving workers' knowledge as many retire, addressing manufacturing's skills gap. Learn how this technology transforms operational practices and empowers teams to focus on strategic tasks rather than tedious monitoring.

Without customer buy-in, even the most innovative robotics automation products can fall flat. But the approach most manufacturers take with new products is to build them first, then get feedback. In this episode, you’ll hear how one company flipped the script and did robotics product development the other way around.   Joining this episode is Anthony Leo, President of IPR Robotics, a robotics automation company, to explain how a customer advisory board became invaluable for uncovering exactly what customers need – before they even built the product. You’ll also hear Mandy Dwight, Founder of Dwight & Company, a marketing and sales company that works with automation companies to tell and sell their story to customers. While they come from different areas of the sales cycle, both Mandy and Anthony share great insights into how products are transformed from ideas to implemented solutions. We hear about how to avoid customer prevention and friction in the sales cycle, how larger companies can act like startups, and the secrets to selling based on value, not just technical specs.  In this episode, find out: We talk about all the important food places and bars in the Boston and Detroit areas our guests come from   How Anthony and Mandy first met and decided to start working together Why companies need to fully support those in R&D to drive product innovation  How IPR’s Sawyer robot brought something new to the market at the time as a two-armed humanoid robot  The different strengths that Mandy and Anthony bring to the manufacturing and product innovation space   The top lessons they’ve learned from their previous experiences in the industry that they still use in their roles today  Why the most important lesson Mandy learned as a marketing business founder is to listen to customers  The importance of telling a company’s value story and selling beyond the tech spec sheets  Why all stakeholders in the sales cycle need to understand the value story and how that can look different for each one  Why Anthony built an advisory board of customers to get feedback and insights before starting development How large companies can use startup style tactics to fast-track product innovation What a “customer prevention team” does to remove friction from the buying process  Why you sometimes need to build an ecosystem of partners to reduce friction  The secrets to a great product innovation team and why silos in a company should be avoided Mandy explains more about what IPR Robotics does from her perspective as a marketer Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going! Tweetable Quotes: "Instead of burning a bunch of cash trying to go through development, let's go find three to five customers that we think fit in the wheelhouse of the problem we think we found and ask them if they wouldn't mind being involved in the development of the product." – Anthony "A lot of founders tell the technical story... But a customer wants to hear value. How is this automation going to show up in my facility and really be a game changer." – Mandy "People buy from people at the end of the day. Some people are willing to spend more money with people they trust and solve problems... compared to saving 10, 20% and dealing with headaches the whole way through." – AnthonyLinks & mentions: IPR Robotics, robotics solutions provider of peripheries, robot grippers, RTUs and more Dwight & Company, sales and marketing company for automation innovators and industry Detroit “Coney Wars,” decide whether you prefer Lafayette Coney Island or American Coney Island, and don’t miss Mudgie’s Deli while you’re in The D. Beantown Pub, classic American pub based on the famous Freedom Trail in downtown Boston Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

How does a startup scale? It all starts with a great product that solves a real problem. And sometimes that means taking the slow and steady road to startup success.Recorded at Trillium Brewing in Boston, we sit down with Adi Dalvi, the VP of Sales at OSARO, a company that specializes in robot piece-picking and machine learning solutions to automate warehouse tasks. With minimal marketing in the early days, OSARO managed to grow and scale operations to deliver holistic systems to solve real warehouse challenges. The secret? Rather than rushing technology and products to market and hoping someone bites, OSARO spent years perfecting products before deploying. We hear about how its founders, with backgrounds in industry, achieved calculated growth and targeted the right customers from the beginning. Adi shares his view on the four types of people you need on your startup team, how OSARO set 3-step criteria for finding the right customers, and Adi’s approach to getting great case studies from customers. In this episode, find out:Adi gives a breakdown of what OSARO does – developing vision software and machine learning to integrate with articulating arm robots in the warehouseWhat “calculated growth” means at OSARO and the importance of taking the time to develop products before deploying Why Adi wouldn’t describe OSARO as a startup anymore and instead a company in early-stage growthWhy companies shouldn’t rush to get products out when they’re still in the research project stageThe benefits of having founders come from industry The three-step criteria OSARO used to pick the right customers in the beginningHow startups can extend their runway and keep investors updated with the progress Adi’s method for getting customer case studies in the early negotiation stages with customers What four types of founder backgrounds bring to a startup and why you benefit from having them allHow OSARO managed to achieve growth without marketing in the early days by focusing on perfecting the product Adi’s advice for startups just trying to get early customers so they can grow and scale successfullyThe best part about running this podcast and how things have changed since going down the entrepreneur routeEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"Really testing your product, making sure it's robust with actual products that you're going to pick is very important as you move from very early company to somebody that can scale.""They wanted to have a deployable product before they actually deployed to a customer site... You don't want to deploy a research project into your customers’ warehouses where they're actually fulfilling orders for their customers.""What [someone with a VC background] brings is they’ve seen a lot of competing technologies and understand what those technologies are doing well and what they're not doing well."Links & mentions:OSARO, manufacturer of robot piece-picking and machine learning solutions to automate warehouse tasksAdi’s Pittsburgh brewery crawl, including Grist House, Dancing Gnome, Pittsburgh Brewing Co., and CinderlandsRow 34, seafood restaurant found in Boston’s historic Fort Point neighborhood in the renovated Boston Wharf Company’s old warehouseTrillium Brewing, brewing company operating across multiple locations around New EnglandJoe Fenti, Boston-based standup comedianMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

What role does higher ed play in making sure manufacturing thrives? Universities and other higher ed hubs are playing a leading role in shaping the future of this industry. And MIT is a prime example of this, with specialist courses to help graduates and professionals get the skills they need to bring new innovations to life. We’re joined by the Principal Investigator of MIT’s LEAP Group (Learning Engineering and Practice), Dr. John Liu. As someone deeply involved in building much-needed programs, including the MicroMasters and TechAMP, we asked for his take on manufacturing today, what we can learn from history, and higher ed’s role in revitalizing the industry. We also talk about the hot topic of globalization and offshoring and what research says about the impact on the U.S. as an innovator economy. In this episode, find out:An introduction to LEAP Group and Dr. John’s role in researching and leading programs to help the future of manufacturing leaders How John’s career pivoted to the manufacturing side of techWhat people should know about MIT’s history in manufacturing, including innovative practices and technologies we still use todayWhat can we learn from history that applies to manufacturing in today’s AI-driven world? The impact of globalization and the conclusions that an MIT report came to about its impact on an innovator economy How manufacturing has changed since the report was published and what John would add that’s relevant today What is MIT doing to help educate and drive innovation across manufacturing and techDr. John explains his involvement in the MicroMasters program as its founder The four principles of manufacturing that remain universal and timelessHow MIT’s programs differ from trade or regular tech schools How the TechAMP program differs from MicroMasters as a program for professionals already in the industry Dr. John gives an overview of MIT’s collaborations with the DoD and Manufacturing USA The important role that higher ed plays in reindustrialization Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"If we just continue to set up walls, we'll never learn and innovate. And so how do we, instead of setting up walls, reach across walls and learn from all the innovation that's happening?""We lose our ability to innovate if we produce elsewhere. Why? Because when you actually are forced to go from prototype to make a lot of these things, the design changes in all these sorts of ways... That's a whole type of innovation that is not as celebrated in our country today.""No matter what age, what company, you always have to be able to control four things: manufacturing processes, manufacturing systems, the supply, the people and finances. Always these four."Links & mentions:The Machine That Changed the World, a book written by MIT professors about finding success in automotive manufacturing, which led to the popularity of lean manufacturingMaking in America: From Innovation to Market, a book written by MIT scientists, engineers and social scientists about rebuilding the industrial landscape in the U.S.TechAMP, a 12-month program at MIT LEAP Group to bridge the gap between technicians and engineersMITx MicroMasters, a program to accelerate your Master’s degree at MIT165: Unlocking the Full Potential of Frontline Operations, Lean Manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 with Natan Linder, a previous episode with Natan Linder of Tulip InterfacesMiracle of Science Bar + Grill - Cambridge, situated next to MIT is a longtime local favorite known for its laid-back vibe, standout burgers, and rotating selection of craft beersMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Sometimes indecision costs more than a wrong decision. Making decisions is a leader’s bread and butter, but during times of uncertainty or crisis, they often become more cautious and hesitant. The danger here is getting left behind while more confident, proactive leaders charge ahead. Jason T. Ray, Co-Founder and CEO of Paperless Parts, is a regular on Manufacturing Happy Hour, so we compare some of the insights he made when he was last on the show to what he’s seeing in the industry today. One of the big ones was on the skills gap – or “leadership gap” as Jason calls it. The good news is that this seems to be closing, with more manufacturing leaders taking advantage of the vast amounts of information and industry insights out there in the form of articles and podcasts. We hear Jason’s approach to great leadership in manufacturing and the positive changes he’s seen in the industry lately. We also chat about scaling effectively, complying with CMMC, and how to avoid getting lost in the AI hype cycle. In this episode, find out:The four pillars that are leading Paperless Parts to greatness and successful expansion Why the leadership gap (which Jason said last time was responsible for the skills gap) seems to be closing Positive changes Jason’s seeing when it comes to preparing younger professionals for leadership positionsHow to navigate through uncertain times and the important lesson he learned in the Navy that he still uses todayThe power of decisive leadership and what happens when leaders are overly cautious The leading indicators in the industry that Jason watches closely to help him make great long-term decisions The gap between data and information and why data alone is not enough to make good decisions How small to medium manufacturers can win government contracts and become CMMC compliantThe common mistake shop leaders make about AI and why leaders should start with the low-hanging fruit that we know AI is great for The easiest ways to scale in today’s market and how to get your team onboard with a growth mindset Jason’s thoughts on the opportunities of reshoring and why we need to meet the right balance between global collaboration without dependenceJason talks about the Cutting Through the Noise videos series and why he aims to highlight the truly important insights in the industry for busy manufacturing leaders Enjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It’s feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:“I think they're putting young people in their organizations in positions of responsibility. I think more and more they're realizing that these young professionals are ready to take on that responsibility and those folks are bringing new ideas in.”“I think it is such an important understanding of what the right level of global collaboration is where you have not fallen into dependence.”“When you're leading through a period of uncertainty that tends to lead folks to indecision. And that can waste a lot of people's time and shatter your team's confidence in your ability as a leader. The folks that are most successful at leading through a crisis lead with very decisive action.”Links & mentions:Paperless Parts, quoting software for manufacturers to help part manufacturers streamline the quoting process Cutting Through the Noise, a new video series run by Jason that gets straight to the point on manufacturing trendsThe Tip Tap Room, Boston pub that serves a wide range of beers and inventive dishes NIST 853, Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations, resources for CMMC compliance Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.