Manufacturing Happy Hour

Before Silicon Valley, there was Pittsburgh in the early 1900s. Young entrepreneurs with serious capital flocked to the city, creating industries from the ground up. Plate glass. Oil drilling. Vulcanized rubber. Steel processes that would literally build America's skyline. But today, something incredible is happening in the Steel City again. The same superstructures tower overhead, but below, you’ll find robots solving automation challenges that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. We sit down with Jay Douglass, COO of the ARM Institute, inside the historic Mill 19 facility. The epic building sits beneath a 1,400-foot steel framework that once stored World War II ammunition. Only now, it houses one of our country’s most advanced robotics labs, and it’s all powered by the largest slope solar array in North America. This story is personal to Jay, too. We learn that his great uncle was the first head of workforce at the steel company that operated on this exact site back in 1883. Four generations later, Jay's tackling a problem as old as time: how do you help American manufacturers scale and stay competitive? In this episode, find out: How 450+ Pittsburgh companies are working together instead of against each other The truth behind America's manufacturing dependence (and why we'd be lost buying only US-made products) Why robotics seems like building the "Starship Enterprise" to small manufacturers, and the practical solutions that overcome this A compelling family story spanning 140 years at the same industrial site, from steel workforce supervisor to robotics leader How proper robotics risk assessments save expensive automation mistakes later down the line His formula for the future of domestic manufacturing: Robots + people = Scalability + skillset The history of the Mill 19 building from 1940, when it was constructed, to now 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:  “We created the industrial world 130 years ago, and now we're really pushing the robotics industry.” - Jay Douglass “We're not going to buy you a robot. We're gonna help you make a better decision.” - Jay Douglass “Another thing about small businesses; if they're not focused on cost, quality, and time to market, by definition they're going out of business.” - Jay Douglass Links & mentions:  Connect with Jay Douglass, Chief Operating Officer, ARM Institute on LinkedIn. ARM Institute operates as America's manufacturing robotics consortium, where 450+ companies from start-ups to Fortune 500 giants collaborate on automation projects. 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. 

Join Cassy Gardner, Corporate Development Director at eTech Group, and Chris Schleich, Director of Engineering, as they delve into the high-stakes world of industrial automation. They share a riveting case study on reviving a mothballed solar facility, revealing how overlooked automation can lead to disaster. Discover the critical role of Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) studies and why early automation planning is essential. With insights on fostering client trust and balancing rapid execution, their journey blends technical expertise with invaluable life lessons.

Manufacturers (not just the guys on the shop floor, but the C-suite behind them) are on a race to the finish line when it comes to automation. Most of us by now are pretty familiar with how AI and automation can play a role in manufacturing. But it looks like we’re heading to the next stage…In this episode, we hear from Chris Stevens, the SVP & GM of US Automation Business at Siemens Digital Industries. We grab a virtual drink and kick the episode off with an interesting paradox – twenty years ago, the push was to automate humans out of processes. But today, we’re figuring out how to bring them back.Chris talks about where we’re heading now with AI – from reactive tools to proactive partners with the rise of agentic AI. He talks about how the new and improved era of AI can make adaptive manufacturing a reality – imagine having one line but with multiple configurations.Digital transformation is a big theme in this episode, but it’s not just about tools and technology. Chris highlights the role of people in the new age of manufacturing too.In this episode, find out:Chris explains the biggest changes since he’s been in the industry and why the focus has moved on from just ‘lean manufacturing’A breakdown of what adaptive manufacturing is and how it ties into automation and AIHow the lines are blurring between IT and manufacturing rolesHow AI could help to bring humans back into the loop – internal and external use casesAgentic AI vs. reactive tools like Copilot and how manufacturers can use AI agents in real examplesThe top lightbulb moments around AI and why data contextualization is how we move one step forward as an industryDifferent ways adaptive production methods are changing manufacturing processesHow adaptive production ties into the trends around reshoringWhy more manufacturers need to use digital twin technologyCurrent digital transformation trends and why it’s not just about the technologyEnjoying 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 contextualization of data is extremely important. That's where the work's got to happen.”“Two decades ago, it was 'how can I take humans out of the loop?' Today it's 'how do I bring humans back in the loop?'”“There's a lot of digital transformation projects that fail, and it has nothing to do with the technology. It has everything to do with usability. Making sure that people like it and then how we implement it.”Links & mentions:Siemens Digital Industries, business platform that helps organizations digitally transform using software and hardware like digital twin technologyMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

We just can’t stay away from Pittsburgh’s robotics scene! So we’re back, this time turning the spotlight on the business and startup angle with Premier Labs. Premier Labs is a corporate venture studio, a relatively new model that changes how technology comes to market.President Joel Reed joins the episode to give real examples and explanations about how a corporate venture studio works. In short, Premier Labs starts with real problems and works backward to create solutions that actually fit.Finding product-market fit is usually the biggest hump for new product companies to get over. But that’s only an issue if you start with the product first. Premier Labs’ approach starts with the problem first and then builds a solution and a company around that. Joel explains how this pretty much guarantees product-market fit, plus how businesses are already succeeding through Premier Labs. In this episode, find out:Why Pittsburgh is the capital of robotics in the USHow Premier Labs is solving startup problems with its corporate venture studio modelThe product-market fit challenge and why the studio model basically eliminates itDifferences between service vs product-based companies and why Premier Labs decided to stay separate from the robotics companyReal examples of companies the studio has helped to support and growWhy Premier Labs is looking out for operational leaders rather than just tech founders to head up the new companiesHow Pittsburgh has been crucial to Premier’s successJoel tells us why he chose Premier Labs for the next stage of his careerEnjoying 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:“There's this mentality called break-fix, which is when things break, we'll fix them. But we really can get ahead of that."“You get to learn a customer's problem before you actually start designing the solution.”“We validate that product-market fit, and then we look for people with credibility with the customers who might have some execution or operational experience to be able to build those companies.” Links & mentions:Premier Automation, an industry leading engineered solutions company focused on providing best-in-class automation, drive, robotics, electrical control, and morePremier Labs, a corporate venture studio that creates purpose-built companies to solve business problems using automation, robotics and artificial intelligenceThe Abbey on Butler Street, a trendy, spacious cafe serving espresso, craft beer and cocktails, plus new American cuisine in Pittsburgh, PA’s Lawrenceville neighborhoodMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Join Adam Ruebsam, President of Tri Tech Automation, Luke Manier, Managing Director, and Ryan Williams, Director of Innovation and Solution Sales, as they explore the intriguing concept of the 'hidden factory' in manufacturing. The trio discusses how to unlock untapped potential in existing resources and address invisible inefficiencies. They also highlight the importance of mentorship in fostering career growth and share valuable insights about learning from unexpected sources, like the Savannah Bananas, to enhance customer experiences.

Nikki Gonzalez, Director of Business Development at Weintek USA and co-founder of the Automation Ladies podcast, joins a panel of experts for a lively discussion on the state of manufacturing in 2025. They dive into groundbreaking innovations like 3D printed body parts and sustainable surfboards made from ocean plastic. The conversation emphasizes adapting to market changes, fostering worker skills, and the vital role of community in driving progress. Expect inspiring insights on overcoming challenges and the importance of investing in relationships and technology!

Jennifer Apicella, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network, shares insights into Pittsburgh's evolution as a robotics hub over 40 years. She highlights how the city's unique strengths have fostered innovation without imitating Silicon Valley. The discussion covers the importance of community collaboration, the role of education, and how successful commercialization drives technological advancement. Apicella also touches on the significance of engaging local talent and resources in building a thriving robotics ecosystem.

In this engaging conversation, Aaron Prather, Director of Robotics & Autonomous Systems Program at ASTM International, dives into the pivotal role of safety standards in robotics. He discusses the complex hurdles preventing humanoid robots from entering daily life, emphasizing the need for tailored regulations across various industries. The talk unfolds exciting possibilities for robots in healthcare and personal care, underlining the importance of collaboration between technical experts and social scientists to navigate challenges ahead.

Chris Nolte, Co-Founder of Bloom and an Iraq war veteran, discusses the reindustrialization movement in Detroit, emphasizing its potential to revive American manufacturing. He shares how COVID exposed vulnerabilities in global supply chains and the urgent need for localized production. Chris advocates for leveraging new technologies and inter-industry collaboration to accelerate progress. The conversation highlights Detroit's transformation into an innovative hub, attracting talent and fostering a community-centric approach to manufacturing.

What if accepting failure was the key to entrepreneurial success? Mark DeSantis has built and sold multiple companies over the years and like any entrepreneurial journey, it’s been a mixture of ups and downs, failures and successes. But in this episode, we hear that acknowledging the possibility of failure is what gave him the courage to keep on going.Mark shares his entrepreneurial story – why he began it, how he stays motivated, and some of the best lessons he’s picked up over the years. One of the top points he makes in this episode is to be problem-focused, not solutions-focused. When building tech solutions, it’s easy to get lost in the tech itself and lose sight of the real problems you want it to solve. But to make anything commercially viable, especially something as “new” as robotics, it needs to solve real problems.Mark also sings the praises of Pittsburgh, which he says is one of the best cities for robotics innovation today. He’s seen the city decline and grow over the years into what’s now a college town that’s thriving in the tech space.In this episode, find out:Mark shares what he’s been up to recently, after seeing Bloomfield Robotics acquired by Kubota CorporationThe challenge of living with uncertainty as an entrepreneur and the story that inspired him to embrace fearWhy entrepreneurship is like climbing Mount Everest in that you should look in front of you, not at the summitMark’s secret to enjoying the journey of entrepreneurship and the moment he decided he wanted to do this for the rest of his lifeWhy AI and robotics are perfect for the “big and boring” problems in our livesWhy we might need a Henry Ford-style revolution to take robotics to the next levelHow Pittsburgh is growing in the tech and robotics spaceWhy asking if someone wants to buy your solution is the wrong question for an entrepreneur to askEnjoying 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:“Where technology, particularly AI, can make a difference is in the big and boring problems. The places where nobody thinks to take an advanced technology."“Go where everyone else isn't with advanced solutions and make sure the problem's big enough where you can make a difference.  “If you’re frozen with fear because you're worried about the failure of the company, or your personal failure and the humiliation that that might bring, you're not going to make good decisions. You're gonna fail. It's like playing not to lose in sports. Entrepreneurship’s all offense, no defense.”Links & mentions:Mark DeSantis, his bio is stackedBloomfield Robotics, combining plant-level imaging and deep learning to assess the health and performance of every plant, at any scale continuouslyKubota, manufacturing and assembling Kubota lawn tractorsPittsburgh Robotics Network, facilitating commercial business growth and economic development opportunities for the Greater Pittsburgh region's robotics, autonomy, and AI clusterWatch this episode on YouTubeMake sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.