Manufacturing Happy Hour
Manufacturing Happy Hour is a podcast that explores the latest trends and technologies in modern manufacturing. Hosted by industry veteran Chris Luecke, each episode features interviews with makers, founders, and manufacturing leaders. The show provides tools, tactics, and strategies to help listeners advance their careers and businesses. It focuses on real-life applications and success stories, turning manufacturing challenges into profitable opportunities.
Episodes
293: Manufacturing Leadership That Works with Author and Geislinger CEO Jason Woodard
Your frontline team can only perform as well as the processes they're handed. So why are so many leaders still blaming the wrong people instead of listening to the ones closest to the problem? In this weeks’ episode Chris sits down with Jason Woodard, a 35-year manufacturing veteran, CEO of Geislinger Corporation, and author of Manufacturing Leadership That Works. Jason gets pretty candid about wh
292: What Manufacturers Can Learn from Silicon Valley: Mechatronics, Startups, and More (LIVE from San Jose, CA)
Growing your own machinists and orchestrating robots across four continents, is this what the future of manufacturing looks like? This live episode from Hapa's Brewing in the Bay Area features two panels of people who have built careers at the intersection of mechatronics, automation, and industrial innovation. First up, Vinod, Kevin, and Adam get into what it takes to build a skilled workforce
BONUS: Factory Orchestration: The Next Frontier of Manufacturing Operations with Harmoni Co-Founder David Caputo
What if the biggest efficiency problem in your factory isn't your machines, it's the dead time you waste before you even get to one.Workers queuing at ADP and ERP terminals every morning. A wing rib scrapped at the cost of $18,000 because the wrong work instruction was on screen. A program gone forever when the machinist who maintained it quietly for a decade retired to Poland. David witnessed all
BONUS: What Manufacturers Can Learn from Central Wisconsin's Workforce Strategy (LIVE from Wausau, WI)
What happens when manufacturers stop competing for talent and start working together to develop it?In this special LIVE episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris travels to Wausau, Wisconsin for a collaboration with the Central Wisconsin Manufacturing Alliance (CWIMA) to explore how manufacturers across the region are working together to strengthen workforce development, accelerate innovation, an
290: Why Danny Gonzales Thinks Manufacturing Has a Storytelling Problem
Content becomes forgettable when the key message isn't wrapped in storytelling.People don’t retain information anywhere near as well as they remember stories they hear, and this is where manufacturing is missing a trick.Manufacturers are battling false perceptions that the industry is dirty, dingy, not innovative and not creative. But what’s really happening is a failure to communicate the good st
289: Beyond the Hype: How Autonomy Is Scaling Across Critical Industries (LIVE from Pittsburgh)
20 years ago, automation was a pipe dream for industrial workers, 10 years ago it existed in research and development labs. Now it's fully operational in warehouses, production facilities and even mines.The companies driving robotics forwards are going one step further than developing smarter AI. They’re figuring out how to apply that advanced engineering to ‘gritty’ manufacturing – and there are
288: Inside the Sisterhood of Trades: Why Women Are Choosing Skilled Trades Careers
For women working in skilled trades, running into someone who knows what the work feels like doesn't happen every day, Sisterhood of Trades was founded to build that connection. Through platforms like Discord, LinkedIn and TikTok, the community is creating a space where women in the industry can connect with peers, share opportunities, find mentorship and grow their careers. Recorded live from Th
287: The Art of Precision Manufacturing: Why Humans Still Matter on the Factory Floor | Live from The Manufacturing Exchange in Rochester, NY (Powered by Fathom)
Full automation and AI on the factory floor are great, but the line still doesn't run without people who can feel a part click into place wrong or hear a tool burn.That space between what technology can repeat and what only an operator can sense is the art of precision manufacturing.Recorded live from The Manufacturing Exchange at ARTISANworks in Rochester, NY for the Rochester stop on the Rust Be
286: Why Local Execution Drives Regional Manufacturing Success: Live from Cleveland, OH
American manufacturing’s next chapter is being written one region at a time, and Northeast Ohio is one of the places setting the standard. In a region like theirs, the institutions and programs are moving in sync, and that builds into something bigger than any plant could pull off alone. That’s why we’re hitting the road on the Rust Belt Renaissance tour to find more places where modern technolog
BONUS: Purpose-Built AI for Manufacturing: How AI Agents Are Transforming Workflows on the Factory Floor with Apprentice CEO Angelo Stracquatanio
General-purpose AI can answer almost anything, but that flexibility becomes a liability on the factory floor.In this bonus episode, Chris sits down with Angelo Stracquatanio, CEO of Apprentice, a purpose-built AI company for manufacturers and the creator of A1: The AI Agent for Manufacturing Teams.Angelo has spent 12 years building software for the people on the shop floor, starting in the pharma
285: Why Offshoring Looks Cheaper (But Isn’t): The Real Math Behind Reshoring with Harry Moser
For years, reshoring was a fringe idea. Now, it’s one of the most talked-about topics in manufacturing.Even though the conversation is now in vogue, there’s still a challenge. Many companies are still making the same mistake when deciding where to manufacture. They’re looking at price, not total cost of ownership (TCO).In this episode, Chris sits down with Harry Moser – Founder of the Reshoring In
BONUS: From Spreadsheets to MRP: How SMB Manufacturers Are Improving Visibility to Inventory and Costs with MRPeasy
How do you know when your current setup has stopped working, and what to do with it when it does?In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris sits down with Shane Dubbelman, Head of Partnerships at MRPeasy, and Sara Duff, Managing Director at Smart Manufacture, to talk about what happens at that point, when the lack of visibility into inventory, costs, and operations starts to hold a b
283: From Craft to Manufacturing: How Crafted Glory’s Kwadwo Som-Pimpong Is Scaling a Furniture Business While Working the Night Shift
Kwadwo Som-Pimpong started making furniture in 2015 because he bought a house with no furniture and decided to build his own. A decade later, he runs Crafted Glory, a small-batch luxury furniture brand blending West African artistry with Scandinavian design, while working 10-hour shifts at Eaton as a fabrication supervisor. In this episode, Chris sits down with Kwadwo to trace the journey from th
282: Inside a Warehouse Automation Project: How Sumitomo Drive Technologies Is Transforming Logistics and Reshoring Operations
Running out of warehouse space doesn’t always mean you need more of it. For Sumitomo Drive Technologies, it meant rethinking the whole operation from the ground up.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris sits down remotely with Tony Barlett and Shawn Lambert from Sumitomo Drive Technologies for an inside look at a live warehouse automation project underway at their Chesapeake, Virginia
281: How AI-Powered Predictive Maintenance Enhances Operational Reliability with Colin Morris of MaintainX
AI-powered predictive maintenance has been on the radar for years, but for most facilities, it still hasn’t fully landed.Chris sits down remotely with Colin Morris, Senior Director of Solution Consulting at MaintainX, the AI-powered maintenance and asset management platform built for the industrial frontline. Colin has spent eight years working in this space, long enough to have watched maintenanc
280: How to Create a Manufacturing Ecosystem of Support with Matt Bogoshian, Executive Director at the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC)
Most regions have pockets of manufacturing strength. Very few have a manufacturing ecosystem. Matt Bogoshian has spent 15 years trying to change that.In this episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, host Chris Luecke sits down remotely with Matt Bogoshian, Executive Director of the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative (AMCC) – the nation’s only designated National Manufacturing Community o
279: The Creative Process: Building Relationships and Businesses That Last, Live from The Argo in Milwaukee, WI
What happens when a multimedia entrepreneur and a concert venue owner sit down for a live podcast? A good conversation – with a couple beers – about creativity, grit, and what it really takes to build something that lasts. In the first live episode of the year, recorded at The Argo in Milwaukee as part of Manufacturing Happy Hour’s 10-year anniversary, host Chris Luecke sits down with two longtime
278: How Second-Chance Hiring Changes Lives and Helps Manufacturers Find and Develop Talent with Marcus Sheanshang, President of JBM Packaging
Most of the time, applications from candidates with a felony record end up in the garbage can. The problem is, by overlooking people from what are seen as ‘problematic’ talent pools, you could be denying yourself access to untapped talent.Second-chance hiring means giving people the chance to showcase their talent, hone their skills, and start again. When you do that, great things can happen for t
277: The Future of CAM Software and Elevating the Status of Manufacturing Jobs with Mastercam President Russ Bukowski
AI is reshaping what it means to be a modern manufacturing professional.When a 30-year veteran retires, decades of expertise used to leave as well. How they ran a machine, which feeds and speeds worked, and all the practical knowledge that separated good from great. Now, Mastercam’s AI co-pilots can capture that information and make it instantly accessible. The learning curve that used to take yea
276: 2026 Automation Industry Outlook, Live from the A3 Business Forum
Fear is expensive. In 2025, manufacturers delayed billions in capital projects because anxiety, not data, drove business decisions.But 2026 is different. Tax incentives expire mid-year, borrowing costs are down, and the hard data shows CapEx accelerating at 3-4%. The companies acting on facts while others remain frozen are the ones positioned to gain market share, capture expiring tax benefits, an
275: Building a Brand New Manufacturing Company in the US with Andrew Johnson, Co-Founder of HeavyTech
There’s a commonly held belief in manufacturing: big ideas need big money, fast growth, and outside control to survive. But that playbook doesn’t work for every business or every industry.Andrew Johnson, co-founder of HeavyTech and CEO of ShelfAware, joins the show from Everywhere Beer Co. in Anaheim, California, to talk through how he and his partners built HeavyTech, a hybrid and electric big ma
274: The Auto Rescue, Critical Minerals, and Moving Manufacturing Forward with Representative Haley Stevens
What do smartphones, batteries, defense systems, and solar panels all have in common?They all depend on critical minerals like lithium, graphite, gallium, and polysilicon. Access to these resources affects how people, businesses, and governments communicate, generate power, and operate.In this episode, Chris sits down with Representative Haley Stevens from Michigan’s 11th district to discuss her p
273: The Only Podcast Ever Recorded in an Open-Pit Mine featuring Imerys' Ken Rasmussen
Loud, dusty and far removed from innovation. We often think of mining as separate from modern manufacturing, but our visit to Imerys West Hub in this episode challenges that idea.The conversation was recorded on site at the largest diatomaceous earth mine in the world, in Lompoc, California. During the recording, a sonic boom from a nearby SpaceX launch cuts across the background, a reminder of ho
272: Working Capital: The Hidden Constraint to Sustainable Manufacturing Growth featuring Klear Co-Founder & CEO Chris Hale
A lot of manufacturing companies can build insanely complex and intricate things, but far fewer are set up to handle what happens once customers start buying. So, what happens when those products start selling at scale, contracts get longer, and customers get bigger?In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Hale, CEO and Founder at Klear, to uncover a side of manufacturing that often gets overlooked:
271: Preparing Manufacturers for the Semiconductor Boom: Insights from SEMICON West and Beyond
Chips are the new oil. And that's not just a catchy line, it's the lens through which national security, supply chain strategy, and trillion-dollar investments are being made right now. With a hundred-plus fabs going up globally and the industry sprinting toward a trillion dollars by 2032, the semiconductor boom isn't coming. It's here.This episode comes to you from SEMICON West 2025 in Phoenix, w
270: How Packaged MBRs are Revolutionizing Wastewater Treatment with Troy Ellison, Co-Founder & CEO of Cloacina
In this episode, Chris sits down with Troy Ellison of Cloacina to talk about what it takes to build infrastructure that works in the real world, not just on paper. Troy explains what membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are in a way that you and I can understand, then pulls back the curtain on why so many systems fail the people who have to run them.A big theme here is end-user experience. Troy makes the c
269: Entertainment Meets Automation: How andyRobot is Leveraging Robotics for Lady Gaga, Drake, and More
Industrial robots on a factory floor can be difficult, to say the least. Industrial robots on a concert stage, in front of 20,000 people, on a two-minute setup clock are a whole different challenge.In this episode, we talk with Andy Flesser - computer animator turned “robot animator,” whose work has helped bring robotics into live entertainment and film - about what that kind of pressure does to h
BONUS: More Than Iron City Beer: A Look Inside Pittsburgh Brewing Company
In true Manufacturing Happy Hour style, we head back to Pittsburgh, PA to drink the region's most iconic beer - Iron City - in an iconic Pittsburgh manufacturing facility. We sit down with Alex Gonzalez, Plant Manager at Pittsburgh Brewing Company. Part of our Made Here Series with the Industrial Solutions Network.Mentioned in this episode:Industrial Marketing Summit 2026The Industrial Marketing S
268: Reindustrialization in the Heartland, Live from +Venture North 2025
Reindustrialization isn’t going to be driven by a single mega factory or a headline-grabbing announcement on the coasts. It’s going to be built region by region, by places that already know how to make things and are willing to evolve how they do it.This episode was recorded live at +Venture North in Milwaukee, bringing together investors, founders, and operators to talk candidly about what it rea
267: How Meaningful Work, Optimism, and Relationships Drive Manufacturing Excellence, An Interview with Kathy Miller, Author of MORE is Better
Manufacturing leadership is more than just charts, tools, and process maps. It requires people who understand the routines, pressures and drivers within a factory, and how to bring out the best in the people behind it. In this episode, keynote speaker, certified leadership coach and business transformation advisor, Kathy Miller returns to the show to share some ideas from her latest book, MORE is
266: A Century of Cookware Manufacturing and the Impact of Automation and Reshoring with David Duecker, President of SynergyOps
A century ago, two cookware companies were born 12 miles apart in Wisconsin. One was bought right after World War II by a door-to-door salesman who converted it back to cookware after it had been repurposed for munitions. Today, those two companies have merged into SynergyOps, a 115-year-old legacy manufacturer with first through fourth generation employees still walking the factory floor.David Du
(Almost) COAST TO COAST Tour Recap and Preview of Manufacturing Happy Hour's 10-Year Anniversary
1 more event in 2025. Dozens of events ahead in 2026. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.
265: How SMB Manufacturers Can Leverage AI, Live from Waukesha County Technical College
Forget the hyperscalers replacing tens of thousands of jobs. For manufacturers with 20 or 50 employees, AI isn’t about cutting headcount, it’s about finding ways to get ahead when you can’t necessarily afford to scale your team. As Dr Richard Barnhouse, President and CEO of Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC) puts it: figure out the things you hate to do and apply AI to that. This episod
264: Inside Automated: Asking the Right Questions about Robotics and AI with Brian Heater, Managing Editor at A3 and Host of the Automated Podcast
Two podcast hosts walk into a recording studio and explore what it actually takes to get real stories out of robotics pioneers, why humanoids might not need to do everything to be useful, and where the real optimism in automation lies.Brian Heater, Managing Editor at A3 and host of the Automated podcast, joins the show to share what he's learned from candid conversations with industry pioneers lik
263: Change Management and Making Robotics More Digestible for the Workforce featuring Ben Perlson and Jason Gryszkowiec
Robots are becoming more and more mainstream in manufacturing, but most organizations still think of them with sci-fi imagery rather than everyday tools. The gap isn't in the technology, it's in how we prepare people to work alongside it.Jason Gryszkowiec from St. Onge Company and Ben Perlson from ABB Robotics join us to discuss why successful automation deployments focus on making robotics more d
BONUS: How Manufacturers Should Prepare for an AI Implementation featuring CADDi's Aaron Lober
Many manufacturers are taking the wrong approach to artificial intelligence, picking the wrong implementation partners, and in general, not preparing their data effectively.In this interview, Aaron Lober - VP of Marketing at CADDi - is going to share what AI can realistically do for a manufacturing company and how to properly prepare for an AI implementation.
262: Reimagining Manufacturing: How a Return to First Principles is Reshaping Factories, Hard Tech, and Venture Capital with Eclipse Ventures' Charly Mwangi
It’s rare to find someone whose career spans 18 years in automotive manufacturing and venture capital, but Charly Mwangi, Partner at Eclipse Ventures, has done exactly that. His journey from the factory floor at Toyota, Nissan, Tesla and Rivian to backing hard tech companies gives him a perspective many VCs don’t have.We sit down with Charly to explore how first principles thinking (questioning as
261: Energy Transition Explained: How Manufacturers Can Save Energy and Build a Sustainable Future featuring Veregy’s Eric Spink & Shiva Subramanya
Sustainability goals are everywhere in manufacturing; net-zero by 2030, carbon neutral by 2035. While many manufacturers have set ambitious targets, the gap between goals and execution remains a challenge, especially when sustainability projects compete with production priorities for capital.Eric Spink and Shiva Subramanya from Veregy join the show to talk about energy transition and what it looks
BONUS: Gaps in the Manufacturing Industry (and what to do about them), LIVE from Fathom's Manufacturing Exchange in Hartland, WI
What's better than a live podcast? I live podcast AND a factory tour. For today's episode, we dove into Fathom Digital Manufacturing's Hartland, WI facility before a discussion with industry experts.
260: Innovations Transforming Automotive Manufacturing featuring STÄUBLI, RAM Solutions, and More
The automotive industry has come a long way from three-piece suits and mechanical production lines. Twenty-five years ago, manufacturers weren't thinking about EVs, tool changers, or the complexity we see today. Those who weathered 2008 will tell you: when the next downturn comes, it won't be your sales pitch that saves you, it'll be whether you were a true partner to your customers.This episode w
259: Data Centers, Modularity, and Mission Critical Manufacturing featuring Keith Hutchens of BW Design Group
Data centers are popping up all over the country, and for good reason. Capacity is doubling every three to four years, equipment is booked years out, and the race for AI computing power is creating opportunities that didn't exist five years ago.Keith Hutchens from Barry-Wehmiller Design Group joins us to discuss how data centers are driving manufacturing activity across the entire supply chain. He
258: Mentorship, Mid-Career Entrepreneurship, and Inspiring Women in Manufacturing with Patti Nowak, Owner of Control+M Solutions
Patti Nowak is a business leader in tech with stories so inspiring you’ll want to take notes. In this episode of the Manufacturing Happy Hour, we grab a beer with Patti, Owner of Control+M Solutions, to talk about mid-life entrepreneurship, mentoring women in manufacturing, and what it takes to build a thriving tech business. Patti started her career in accounting but quickly found her passio
257: Thinking Differently About Access to Capital in Manufacturing featuring CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)
What does it really take to help manufacturers grow? It’s not just about cutting costs or chasing margins. It’s about understanding how capital really moves through your business. In this episode, we’re sitting down with Erik Skie, Jon Hughes, and Aaron Traut from CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) for a roundtable chat over beers (in spirit, if not literally).We talk about why profitability is a decision,
256: Timeless Industrial Marketing Strategies and New Ways Manufacturers Can Reach Their Ideal Customer featuring Wendy Covey of TREW Marketing and Joe Sullivan of Gorilla 76
It's been five years since Wendy Covey, CEO and Co-Founder of TREW Marketing, and Joe Sullivan, Founder of Gorilla 76, first joined Manufacturing Happy Hour, back when everyone was scrambling to figure out digital marketing during the pandemic.We sit down with them to explore which marketing fundamentals still deliver results and what new tactics manufacturers can't afford to ignore. The core trut
BONUS: The State of Robotics in 2025: Investing in the Next Wave of Automation with Sanjay Aggarwal of F-Prime Capital (sponsored by RoboBusiness)
This episode is brought to you by RoboBusiness 2025, the preeminent show for learning about the business of robotics and catching up on the latest engineering advancements in the field.Robotics has moved beyond pilots. it’s scaling for real. In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, host Chris Luecke sits down with Sanjay Aggarwal, Partner at F-Prime Capital, to explore the State of Robot
255: How AI is Reshaping Security and OT Network Requirements featuring Felipe Sabino Costa, Sr. Product Manager for Networking & Cybersecurity at Moxa
It’s been over a year since we’ve talked about cybersecurity on Manufacturing Happy Hour, and with AI changing the game completely, we’re overdue for a refresh. Around 80-85% of the global industry doesn’t have basic defense at the edge of their networks; that’s a sobering statistic.Felipe Sabino Costa, Senior Product Manager for Networking and Cybersecurity at Moxa, joins the show to break down w
254: From Steel City to Robotics Powerhouse: Pittsburgh’s Industrial Legacy featuring Jay Douglass, COO of ARM Institute
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,
253: Rapid Execution in Industrial Automation: From FEED Study to Recommissioning in Five Months featuring Cassy Gardner and Chris Schleich of E Tech Group
Manufacturers know that automation is table stakes in 2025, and yet it’s still a bit of an afterthought for some. You'd think something that can make or break a facility would be everyone’s number one priority. And as you'll hear in this episode, overlooking automation can sometimes have disastrous consequences. In this episode, we sit down with Cassy Gardner and Chris Schleich from E Tech G
252: Adaptive Production, Resilient Manufacturing, and "Lightbulb Moments" in AI featuring Chris Stevens, SVP and GM of US Automation Business, Siemens Digital Industries
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 I
251: What is a Corporate Venture Studio? An Interview with Joel Reed, President of Premier Labs
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,
250: How to Uncover Your "Hidden Factory" and Extract More Value from the Plant Floor featuring Tri Tech Automation
As manufacturers are under pressure to do more with less and somehow fill roles in an increasingly smaller talent pool, unlocking your “hidden factory” could be the solution.To celebrate episode 250, Chris Luecke returns home to St. Louis to meet with some of his early career mentors from Rockwell Automation – now heading up Tri Tech Automation.Ryan Williams, Director of Innovation and Solution Sa
BONUS: How is the Manufacturing Industry Doing Halfway through 2025? Recorded at Hexagon LIVE 2025
What happens when you put five podcasters in a room together at one of the biggest events of the year for innovative industrial tech? A super broad view of what’s happening in the industry and what we’ve got to look forward to.Recorded live from Hexagon’s 2025 event, we welcomed four friends of Manufacturing Happy Hour, returning to the show to talk about the innovations we were most excited to se
249: Why Pittsburgh has been Successful Commercializing Robotics with Jennifer Apicella, Executive Director of the Pittsburgh Robotics Network
Pittsburgh’s success in the robotics space didn’t happen overnight. It’s been over 40 years in the making, with education, business, and new innovations all coming together to make the city one of the big robotics hubs alongside Boston and San Francisco.The Pittsburgh Robotics Network has been a key player in that success, giving individuals, companies, and universities the opportunity to collabor
The State of Robotics in 2025: Live from the Robotics Summit & Expo in Boston, MA
What will it take to get humanoid robots out of the experimental phase and into our daily lives? A lot of us always dreamed of having our own C-3PO at the ready, but how close are we really?Well, it’s a little more complicated than simply getting them on a production line. If we want robots to make an appearance not just in the manufacturing space, but also in healthcare, construction, public spac
248: Reindustrialization and Building in the Midwest with Chris Nolte, Co-Founder of Bloom
The reindustrialization movement is fully underway, and cities like Detroit are leading the charge. But how do we accelerate the timescale it takes to get America back to the ‘golden days’ of manufacturing?The key, as you’ll hear in this episode, isn’t to keep looking back at the past. It’s to use the tools and resources we have today with a healthy dose of industry collaboration.Joining this epis
247: Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur: Mark DeSantis on Startups, Robotics, and Commercializing Tech
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
246: automatica 2025: Exploring Innovation, Robotics, and Startups Across Bavaria, Germany, and Europe
You’ll want to grab yourself a pilsner for this episode. Manufacturing Happy Hour heads overseas to sample some fine German beer in the city of Munich…and we also headed to automatica 2025 while we were there.Europe’s biggest AI and automation event is a must-visit if you can get over there. But if not, this episode has you covered.Between event talks, demos, and trips to the beer garden, we met s
245: A Grassroots Approach to Shaping the Future of American Industry with Bret Boyd, CEO of Sustainment
You might be surprised to learn what the biggest challenge manufacturers say they’re facing right now. The talent gap comes up a lot on this podcast, but early survey findings from the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA), show that “access to capital” is really what holds most mid-market manufacturers back.In this episode, we sit down with the CEO and Co-Founder of Sustainment, a software comp
244: Automate LIVE 2025: Warehousing Innovations, AI at the Edge, and Interoperability
“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 t
243: Inside Automate 2025: Robotics, Automation Trends, and Expert Insights from Automate LIVE
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 Manage
242: Industrial History and the Low-Carbon Economy of the Future with Ted Fertik, VP of Manufacturing & Industrial Policy at BlueGreen Alliance
When we talk about building a more productive and competitive manufacturing industry, talk of AI, automation, and other new tech usually crops up. But let’s not forget the basics – the way we power, staff, and build sustainable practices. That stuff’s also important.We’re in an era of transformation right now, but it’s definitely not the first time the US has gone through this. In fact, we get a l
BONUS: Automatica 2025 Preview: Inside Germany’s Premier Automation & Robotics Showcase
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
241: How NVIDIA and AI Agents Are Transforming Industrial Automation with Alvin Clark
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
240: How AI Agents are Revolutionizing Safety and Operations in Manufacturing with Dunchadhn Lyons of Spot AI
Imagine having a tireless teammate watching your back 24/7, never missing a beat when it comes to keeping you safe. That’s exactly what AI agents in manufacturing are capable of today. Spot AI uses cameras and AI agents to spot safety issues, send alerts, and collect data that can improve safety training in the future. Yes, a human could do all that. But who wants to spend 8 hours a day
239: How to Build a "Customer Advisory Board" and Create a Frictionless Customer Experience with Mandy Dwight (Dwight & Co.) and Anthony Leo (IPR Robotics)
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,
238: Scaling Smart: Warehouse Automation and Calculated Growth at Startups with Adi Dalvi, VP of Sales at OSARO
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 e
237: How Higher Education Is Shaping the Future of Manufacturing with MIT's Dr. John Liu
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
236: The Power of Decisive Leadership in Modern Manufacturing with Paperless Parts' Co-Founder & CEO Jason T. Ray
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
235: How to Find Automation Talent Anywhere with Kyle Mahan, VP & GM of Wauseon Machine
What does it take to find the best talent in the manufacturing industry these days? When it comes to automation, you can use location (or lack of location) to your advantage. In this episode, Kyle Mahan of Ohio-based Wauseon Machine takes us through their approach to securing the best automation talent. We'll also hear some history on the organization, learn about Kyle's career, and share strategi
234: From Pro Football to Craft Beer with Katie and Brandon Fields of Inside the Five Brewing Co.
It’s not every day that a former NFL player joins the podcast. And it’s not every day you see one make such a dramatic career pivot from pro football to craft brewing and small business ownership.But that’s exactly what Brandon Fields did. When he was winding down his football career, he found his passion in brewing, starting out with a home brewing kit. He teamed up with his wife Katie and opened
233: Manufacturing 101, On-The-Job Training, and Finding Fulfillment in Engineering Featuring Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
Manufacturing and engineering are full of talented, passionate people. Just listen to literally any of these episodes for proof of that. But what is it that keeps people in this space motivated and fulfilled? Ask 10 different people, and you’d likely get 10 very different answers. For this episode, we posed the question to three guests – Steve Ilmrud, VP of Operations for North America at Hexagon
232: AI Agents for Manufacturing 101 Featuring Composabl CEO & Co-Founder Kence Anderson
An AI agent can create. It can predict. It can analyze data. But for it to really drive change and enhance operations, it needs to take action. That’s the next step of machine learning and AI, says Kence Anderson, CEO of Composabl, a company that helps manufacturers create multi-agent AI systems.Our discussion with Kence is probably one of the most important you’ll hear on the podcast lately. AI h
BONUS: MEPs are at Risk of Losing Funding and Need Your Help
Today's bonus episode is all about MEPs, and actually a very urgent issue related to MEPs. For context, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions by helping small and medium-sized manufacturers grow, make operational improvements, and reduce risk.To put it in more simplified terms - MEPs provide resources to small- a
231: Why VCs and Startups Are Betting on Manufacturing and the Midwest Featuring Drive Capital and Path Robotics, Live from Columbus, OH
What’s getting VCs to look beyond Silicon Valley in the tech startup scene? The Midwest is not just an up-and-coming place for investors to watch. It’s now a region that more investors are betting on. With companies like Path Robotics, the Midwest is taking its status as a manufacturing hub and merging it with the kind of innovative tech traditionally associated with the coastal cities. For this e
230: Shark Tank, Advanced Prosthetics, and How PSYONIC's Ability Hand is Driving Accessibility for Humans and Robots Featuring PSYONIC CEO & Founder Dr. Aadeel Akhtar
Robotics is a cool field, no doubt about that. But what’s cooler than using it to change people’s lives?When he was seven years old, Aadeel Akhtar met a girl in Pakistan with a missing leg. This kickstarted a fascination with helping people regain control over lost limbs and a decision that pivoted his planned career in medicine to robotics and prosthetics. Today, he’s the CEO and Founder of PSYON
229: Manufacturing Leadership in Indiana and Beyond: Live from Indianapolis, IN
We’ve been on tour for the past couple of months, recording live episodes in some of the manufacturing hot spots around the country. Indiana is our current stop, where Guggman Haus Brewing hosted us for an episode all about innovation, technology, culture, and, of course, Indiana’s manufacturing prowess. Manufacturing makes up a huge portion of Indiana’s economy and culture, so we look behind the
228: Industrial Marketing from SMBs to the Enterprise, Live from the 2025 Industrial Marketing Summit in Austin, TX
Manufacturers up and down the country are doing great work and naturally, you want the world to know about it – especially your potential customers. So we turn the spotlight on marketing in this episode to take a look at the folks who get the name out there for manufacturing companies big and small. Recorded live from the 2025 Industrial Marketing Summit in Austin, TX, we sat down with…Rachel Coss
227: Are the Challenges Facing Rural vs. Urban Manufacturers Really That Different? Live from the Midwest Manufacturers Trade Show & Conference
When you imagine a rural versus an urban manufacturing company, that picture might look a bit different. But some things are the same. Both types of manufacturers face challenges, but do they face different ones? The good news is that there are some incredible people and businesses in the industry who are on a mission to bridge connections, build up local communities, and train future talent to so
226: Building a Community of Machine Shop Entrepreneurs Featuring Russell Winter, Founder of US MFG
When like-minded entrepreneurs sit down to swap stories, advice, and connections, it’s a major win for everyone. This is one of the great things about manufacturing because this industry thrives on collaboration, not just competition.In this episode, we hear from Russell Winter, Founder of US MFG, who’s on a mission to connect entrepreneurs in the machine shop space together, while also acquiring
225: From Enterprise Engineering to Owning a Small Manufacturing Business Featuring Amorphic Brewing Founder Ron Hockersmith and a BROADcast For Manufacturers, Live from Milwaukee, WI
What happens when a former engineering leader decides to open a brewery? In the true spirit of Manufacturing Happy Hour, we talk all about beer in this episode. Recorded live from Amorphic Beer in Milwaukee, WI, we sit down with the Founder, Ron Hockersmith, to learn about what makes their beer special and the company a success even as the hype around craft beer fades. We’re also joined by the bri
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