The Tool Belt

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, New Equipment Digest's Editor-in-Chief, Laura Davis, explores the differences between wireless bridges and access points, and why most facilities will need both to keep operations running smoothly. Listeners will learn how each technology works, when to deploy them, and the real-world benefits they deliver across industries from logistics to oil & gas. This episode is based on an article originally written by Henry Martel, a field applications engineer at Antaira Technologies.

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. In this episode, Joe discusses the importance of planned work coordination.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Robert Brooks speaks with Denny Williams of Co-Line Manufacturing and Doug Wood of Hexagon Production Software about the intersection of workforce development and technology in manufacturing. The conversation explores how Co-Line fosters a strong culture to attract and retain talent, the role of apprenticeships in bridging the skills gap, and the ways automation and robotics are being integrated to complement—not replace—workers. They also discuss how software, connected workflows, and emerging AI applications are shaping the future of efficiency and competitiveness in the industry.

Dave Blanchard, chief editor of Material Handling & Logistics and author of Supply Chain Management Best Practices, looks at how AI and other technologies are helping companies get smarter and more competitive with their supply chains. Learn what types of AI solutions retail giant Walmart is using to determine exactly what products its customers will want, and when they'll want them. You'll also find out why supply chain professionals need to get smarter at articulating the ROI of supply chain solutions.

We love our human-shaped robots in pop culture. From Lieutenant Commander Data to C3P0 to Baymax. But, are they any good at making things? At the Automate show this year, humanoid robots peppered the show floor, lifting boxes, walking around, picking up tools... slowly. Very, very slowly. For all of the promise of lifelike robots that can replace human workers on the assembly line, one-for-one, they aren't meeting that promise yet. Last year, Tesla caught flak for using human pilots to remote-control Optimus robots during a launch event.  Ujjwal Kumar, group president of Teradyne Robotics, says automated humanoids are cool, but they're not terribly practical. Why force a robot to stand on two legs when wheels could get them across a shop floor faster and with greater stability? Why create a standalone, human-like machine that needs batters when you could install an arm with a power source? In this formerly live conversation, we discuss why humans are so much better at some tasks and why a humanoid robot isn't a great solution. 

In this episode we'll discuss next-generation manufacturing use cases, implications around increased OT digitization, and the networking capabilities required to future-proof operations. This episode is sponsored by Cisco. 

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk is joined by Chris van den Belt and Berend Booms of Ultimo, an IFS company, for a conversation on the rise of agentic AI in enterprise asset management. The discussion explores how AI is moving beyond traditional copilots to become autonomous digital coworkers that enhance safety, streamline maintenance, and support frontline workers in dynamic environments. Together, they highlight real-world use cases, from improving incident reporting to optimizing preventive maintenance and inventory management.

Fastenal's Ryan Tucker and Sara Weaver share how the company has transformed and grown their workplace safety program over the past 12 years and what they're focusing on next. A preview of Safety Leadership Conference 2025, held Oct. 20-22 in Phoenix: www.safetyleadershipconference.com

There's more than a little bit of Tesla talk in Ford's announcement on Aug. 11, that it would invest $2 billion to retrofit its Louisville Assembly Plant to make a small electric pickup in 2027. It's a bold, ambitious plan that's equal parts going after Chinese competition, heating up leftover Tesla ideas and taking advantage of the scale of a massive global automaker.  Pieces of the plan touch on multiple aspects of the manufacturing industry that we care about at Endeavor B2B's Manufacturing Group -- safety/ergonomics, manufacturing procedures, casting technologies and what the vehicle factory of the future might look like. IndustryWeek Editor-in-Chief Robert Schoenberger, who spent four years earlier in his career writing about the Ford plant for The Courier-Journal in Louisville, discusses Ford's plans, where it's fudging the numbers a bit and how it hopes to create a new manufacturing paradigm in Kentucky, with a little help from Ford executives and engineers who spoke at the investment announcement.

When a forged part is labeled “capable of ASTM A388,” what does that really mean? And more importantly, what does it not mean? In this episode, we break down the difference between a part that could theoretically pass ultrasonic testing and one that's actually been tested. We'll look at why that difference matters in industries where safety and reliability are critical, explore common internal defects in forgings, and explain why proper surface preparation is key to accurate ultrasonic inspection. If you'd like to dive deeper into the details, you can read the full article here: https://www.newequipment.com/55279288

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. In this episode, Joe shares his leadership experience on turning maintenance mistakes into learning experiences.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Robert Brooks explores three key developments in non-ferrous metallurgy that promise to reshape industrial manufacturing. The discussion highlights breakthrough research from the Pacific Northwest and Ames National Laboratories, including advances in solid-phase alloying of aluminum scrap and the discovery of a new multi-element alloy for high-temperature turbine applications. Robert also examines Arconic's collaboration with spectroscopy experts to enhance real-time analysis of molten metals. Together, these innovations point to a future where metallurgical progress drives both performance and sustainability across sectors.

Rocky Rowlett, vice president of safety, and Alyssa Kwasny, wellness program director, explain how their energy and construction firm, Faith Technologies Inc., has become an exemplar of world-class safety excellence by developing a culture of care.

The problem sounds so simple: Manufacturers need large numbers of new employees to replace retiring Baby Boomers. Lots of Millennial and Gen Z young people want good jobs One reason why the sides aren't connecting, workforce watchers say, is that young people are often unaware of the opportunities being offered in factories and job shops nationwide. At least one plant is addressing that.  International Motors' commercial truck plant in San Antonio, Texas, has been working with greater:SATX, the city's economic development organizations, to encourage high school students to intern and the recently opened manufacturing facility. Several of those recent high school grads have since taken full-time positions at International.  Hear more about the program from students-turned employees, International's leadership team and from the people who are training and worth with those young people.

Industry 4.0 is still a vague term to many in manufacturing. To some, it's projects that fit the strict standards of the German consortium that developed the term. For others, it's synonymous with Industrial Internet of Things connectivity – systems that draw data from machines to optimize processes. Most agree, however, that it's a tech thing. Industry 4.0 advocates talk about the need to manage workers differently, but the thrust of the movement is machine learning, data collection, data-based decision modeling and data-driven process improvement. So, where do people have a say? To Sarah Tilkens, a former GE Healthcare lean guru who now runs the KPI Lab, that's why we need Industry 5.0. “The problem (with Industry 4.0) is with the focus so much on productivity and efficiency. People became really, really burned out and disengaged,” Tilkens said. “So, a lot of the systems became very rigid. They weren't as flexible. They weren't as creative. And I think that's what led to… Industry 5.0, which again is all around human led innovation.” Tilkens shared her thoughts with IndustryWeek editor Jill Jusko, someone who's spent 25 years writing about continuous improvement and operational excellence.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk, chief editor of Plant Services, sits down for a roundtable discussion with: Chris Hallum, UE Systems operations manager for North Europe Chad Coleman, Amazon senior reliability engineer Pat Caron, Amazon reliability engineering manager Jeremy Bey, UE Systems strategic accounts leader.  The discussion explores the evolution from isolated maintenance efforts to a unified, data-driven strategy that emphasizes standardization, training, and cross-regional collaboration. This episode offers practical insights for anyone navigating the complexities of reliability at scale.

Joining Smart Industry's Scott Achelpohl for this episode is Rajeev Shah, co-founder and CEO of Celona, who helps explain how manufacturers can overcome “legacy” infrastructure challenges—particularly their older OT—to harness the potential of AI-driven operations.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Rosemary Coates, executive director of the Reshoring Institute, shares insights on how companies are navigating the changing business environment and reshoring trends in 2025.

In this “in case you missed it” podcast, you'll learn why Travis S. McConnell, a construction attorney with Ready Legal, believes that implementing a comprehensive safety program is essential to preventing injuries and complying with OSHA's standards.  You can also read the full article here.

Armstrong World Industries set a goal, nearly a decade ago, to be an outlier, the kind of company that maintains 5% profit growth for five or more years. Those efforts have paid off with the ceiling-tile and architectural components making landing No. 2 in IndustryWeek's annual IW U.S. 50 Best Manufacturers list. Vic Grizzle, CEO of Armstrong, sat down with IndustryWeek's Robert Schoenberger to discuss the management philosophy behind that performance. Some key elements: Investing in the business: Armstrong dedicates more of its cashflow to operational improvements than many of its peers, part of an annual push to increase productivity by about 3% every year Championing stability: Customers and employees know what to expect from a company that has stable management and rarely changes big-picture strategies Adaptability: While it champions stability, Armstrong also looks for adjacent opportunities, experiments with new technologies and constantly updates its processes

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk, chief editor of Plant Services, is joined by Blair Fraser, the VP of technology at UE Systems to discuss how ultrasound tools are evolving. Many maintenance technicians use machine condition monitoring technologies for two related goals: detect a problem, and diagnose the root cause. However, Fraser argues that these technologies are evolving quickly to help teams achieve the next-step goal of deciding on the best corrective course of action that fits overall plant goals.

David Brown, vice president and CTO of Transportation Solutions at TE Connectivity, shares how AI is driving faster product design, smarter factories, and a better-trained workforce. From generative design to predictive maintenance, learn how TE's AI strategy keeps them ahead in a rapidly evolving industry. Visit te.com for more information. Read TE's 2025 Industrial Technology Index here.

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 explains some of the problems that can go wrong when you are starting your reliability journey, and what folks should be on the lookout for along the way. Key takeaways Prioritize reliability by choosing where to excel—get a C on less critical tasks to focus on what truly drives plant performance. Reliability success demands active operations ownership—learn failures, engage on the floor, and earn credibility. Promote small wins visibly—selling reliability outcomes prevents loss of sponsorship and ensures long-term buy-in. Without structured problem-solving, best practices fall short—embed it into your process to triple reliability results.

In this episode, American Machinist editor in chief Robert Brooks analyzes the current state of the additive manufacturing (AM) sector, after several years of organizational turmoil among the top suppliers of AM systems. Brooks argues that this turmoil had virtually nothing to do with AM processes or technology developments, arguing that investors have been impatient with the rate of worldwide AM adoption. 

Chris Williams, executive director of the Voluntary Protection Programs Participants' Association (VPPPA), offers a preview of the upcoming Safety+ Symposium, to be held August 11-14 in St. Louis. This annual event provides attendees with the opportunity to see safety from all angles and better understand its role in the modern workplace. EHS Today's Safety Leadership Conference is an official media sponsor of this event.

In this sponsored episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk, chief editor of Plant Services, is joined by Maureen Gribble, North American sales enablement leader for UE Systems, and John Gould, director for global business development for condition monitoring at Flir. Ultrasound and infrared thermography tools are increasingly used together by maintenance teams that want to get a fuller picture of asset health. In this podcast episode, sponsored by UE Systems, Tom talks with Maureen and John about the ways these tools are being used in the field, including hybrid tools like acoustic imagers, as well as what the future hold for the partnership between Flir and UE Systems.

Fluid sealing is critical to the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of industrial equipment across industries like oil and gas, petrochemical, power generation, and manufacturing. In this podcast, we'll explore how fluid sealing practices have evolved to meet modern demands for environmental compliance, equipment longevity, and cost-effectiveness. We'll discuss the latest material advancements, emission-reduction technologies, and digital monitoring tools that are reshaping the landscape. Listeners will gain insights into how companies are balancing traditional reliability practices with the push for sustainable solutions, such as low-emission mechanical seals, advanced gaskets, and innovative air seal designs. We'll also touch on common challenges end users face today — from supply chain constraints to skills gaps — and how industry leaders are adapting their approaches. Whether you're an engineer, maintenance manager, or reliability professional, this episode offers a practical look at the future of fluid sealing.

Cam Mackey, president & CEO of the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), explains why every heat-related death in the workplace is preventable, and offers some tips on how to best protect workers from heat stress.    https://www.osha.gov/emergency-preparedness/guides/heat-stress

The Eastern half of the United States is experiencing record high temperatures. It's summer and all, so some heat is to be expected, but that doesn't make it any easier for the workers in factories or the people trying to maintain the national power grid. Discussing worker safety and power availability in the hot summer are: Dave Blanchard, editor-in-chief of EHS Today Robert Schoenberger, editor-in-chief of IndustryWeek Jeff Postelwait, managing editor of T&D World We discussed how to spot signs of heat stress and how the nation's obsession with ChatGPT may lead to blackouts.

The company's chief engineer and transformation leader Bradly Walker joins Smart Industry's Scott Achelpohl and IndustryWeek's Dennis Scimeca to chat about Texas Pride's technology renaissance and how it's helped the manufacturer evolve its sales, warranty, and production processes from legacy Excel spreadsheets and paper-based systems.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk, chief editor of Plant Services, is joined by Brian Hronchek, principal trainer and consultant with Eruditio, to discuss a topic in the air these days: PM optimization. These efforts start with the question, “What is the outcome that you want?” And that outcome is for the seasoned technician and the new technician to be able to return exactly the same results when they do the same inspection on a mechanical asset. Key takeaways PM optimization starts with clear goals: inspections should yield identical results from both seasoned and new technicians. Many PMs lack value—use metrics like PM/PdM yield to identify and improve or eliminate ineffective tasks. Aligning maintenance with planning and scheduling reduces downtime and prevents reactive repair chaos. Trimming bloated PMs and focusing on useful inspections can boost uptime, cut stress, and streamline production.

John Dony, CEO and co-founder of What Works Institute, explains why policies, procedures and other accommodations for neurodivergent workers can make work safer for everyone. 

Large language model (LLM) AIs have captured the world's attention with their ability to interpret plain-language and convert simple queries into machine language. But, the big advances in manufacturing design and execution are going to rely on updated hardware, says Deb Golden, chief innovation officer at Deloitte.  At Siemens recent Realize Live event in Detroit, Golden sat down with IndustryWeek Editor-in-Chief Robert Schoenberger to talk about where companies can leverage manufacturing technologies to gain an edge. And at just about every turn, the conversation returned to hardware.  AI is giving companies a better view of their operations? “We're in such a rush to make humans think better, faster, quicker. The only way we could do that is with compute time and space,” Golden said. “We have to know the health of the actual hardware that [manufacturing processes are] operating on. I don't care where that [compute] hardware is, if it's sitting on prem, if it's sitting in the cloud, if it's sitting literally in outer space on the satellite.”

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 explains why running time-based and condition-based maintenance in parallel is a costly mistake. Key takeaways Condition monitoring won't be perfect at first—expect a learning curve and commit for long-term gains. Avoid running time-based and condition-based maintenance systems together—it wastes resources. Pair condition monitoring with root cause analysis to drive real business impact. Protect condition monitoring resources from daily disruptions—require plant manager approval to reassign.

In this episode, listeners will gain insights into how air seal technology is revolutionizing the plastics film industry to reduce waste, save money, and promote more sustainable manufacturing processes. Addressing things like: Environmental and sustainability concerns, waste and housekeeping improvements and enhanced plant safety initiatives.

Electricity demand is soaring around the world, and in the U.S. electric supply is dwindling. Manufacturers may not have realized this – but they will, and very soon, as electric utilities begin to apply capacity charges to their supply costs. In this installment of the Great Question podcast, energy consultant Brian Reinke – author of a new article – diagnoses the problem and suggests how manufacturers might prepare themselves to address the surging electricity costs. 

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) at Work for Manufacturing, launched by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, is a series of four courses designed to improve mental health literacy among employees and leaders in the manufacturing industry. Lynn Burke Hennighausen and Rob Vallentine, national trainers for the program, joined IndustryWeek during Mental Health Awareness Month to discuss mental health challenges in manufacturing and how the MHFA training program can lead to a safer and more productive work environment.

For this episode, Tobii's director of products and solutions, Keith Bartels joins Smart Industry's Scott Achelpohl for a conversation about how visual data is helping teams streamline onboarding of employees, reduce errors, and strengthen standard operating procedures—all without adding complexity to day-to-day work.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk, chief editor of Plant Services, is joined by Christine Nishimoto, director of asset management software at IBM, for an insightful discussion on how AI agents are reshaping data-driven asset management. Together, they explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in improving productivity, sustainability, and safety across manufacturing sectors. From tackling long-standing data challenges to envisioning multi-agent systems that can automate complex workflows, the conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI tools in industrial environments. Christine also emphasizes the importance of transparency, data integrity, and regulatory compliance as organizations adopt these technologies. Key takeaways Clean, accessible, and accurate data is critical for effective AI-driven asset management. AI agents can automate multistep tasks like work order creation, boosting efficiency. Tailored AI tools must respect industry-specific privacy and compliance standards. Adoption of AI across sectors is accelerating, revealing untapped optimization potential.

Suketu Gandhi, partner and chair of strategic operations with Kearney, offers advice on how to deal with supply chain disruptions in this new era of tariffs.

Hey, have you heard that this AI thing is a big deal? That companies are slapping AI labels on every product they sell? That our benevolent robot overlords will favor those humans who speak highly of them now before they take over?  There was a lot of talk about that at Automate in Detroit this week, the annual trade show for industrial automation in which we imperfect biological organisms really do sit in awe of our technological superiors. Really, this is love, not fear. Sharing their observations on how much they look forward to this utopian future in which we'll be sure the keep the machines oiled and the software patched were: Mike Bacidore, Editor-in-Chief of Control Design Rehana Begg, Editor-in-Chief of Machine Design Robert Schoenberger, Editor-in-Chief of IndustryWeek and Editorial Director of Endeavor Business Media's Manufacturing Group Sharon Spielman, Technical Editor for Machine Design Linda Wilson, Editor-in-Chief of Vision Systems Design

Glen Powell is a senior engineering analyst with Hydro, Inc.'s Global Engineering division. He has nine years of experience in centrifugal pumps, vibration analysis, machinery reliability, and 3D simulation and design. Glen recently spoke with Thomas Wilk, chief editor of Plant Services, about the evolving challenges of workforce development in the maintenance and reliability space. The conversation also touches on the role of emerging technologies like AI in reliability workflows and dives deep into vibration analysis, including its limitations and advanced applications for diagnosing issues like resonance. Key takeaways Formal training alone isn't enough—intentional, hands-on experience accelerates workforce readiness. Bridging generational gaps requires clear career paths and trust in leadership follow-through. AI tools should support, not replace, critical thinking and field expertise on the plant floor. Modal analysis and motion amplification are powerful tools to diagnose and fix elusive resonance issues in aging equipment.  

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis explores how automation can help manufacturers navigate economic downturns, labor shortages, and rising operational costs. Based on insights from Wauseon Machine's Scott Anair, this episode covers the real-world benefits of automation—from labor cost reductions to consistent product quality and scalable systems that grow with your business. About the Article How to Use Automation to Recession-Proof Your Business Discover how automation isn't just about cutting costs—it's becoming a vital strategy for businesses to survive and thrive during economic downturns. Written by Scott Anair Read by Laura Davis Read the article

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 tips on how to create a safe space for spirited debate in industrial operations. Key takeaways Superficial harmony in meetings delays critical decisions—candor leads to better outcomes. Leaders should hold back opinions to foster open, fact-based team input. Clear decision-making processes prevent debates from becoming unproductive conflicts. Professional disagreement is vital—silence in meetings and complaints in hallways hurt reliability.

The clock is running toward 2035 – the deadline for businesses to neutralize their carbon liabilities, whether or not the technology or resources are available to do that.  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Robert Brooks, editor in chief of Foundry Management & Technology and American Machinist, explores the evolving pressures on the manufacturing supply chain as carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions targets accelerate industry-wide. With a focus on the metal casting and machining sectors, he highlights the emerging concept of carbon liability and its implications for manufacturers. A notable case study features Mazda's development of carbon-neutral cupola melting using biomass fuels, underscoring how environmental goals are reshaping production strategies.

The size and scope of upcoming and existing tariffs on imported goods and components is changing rapidly as President Donald Trump's administration makes bold announcements followed by pauses and policy changes as it negotiates with targeted countries. While administration officials say the rapid changes should benefit manufacturers in the long term by making it cheaper to produce things internally instead of importing them from overseas, the constant upheavals make planning difficult for manufacturers in the U.S. that rely on materials and components from foreign suppliers. Discussing how companies can manage their supply chains during the back-and-forth of changing policies from Washington and abroad are: Darrell Edwards, a University of Tennessee System supply chain professor and a former chief supply chain officer and chief operating officer at La-Z-Boy Incorporated Ji Li, a supply chain advisor for J&J Investment and Consulting and a former supply chain director for Boeing Laura Putre, IndustryWeek's senior editor for leadership topics

Mahdi Jamshid, director of market intelligence for leading AM observer Wohlers Associates, joins Smart Industry's Scott Achelpohl to detail Wohlers' brand-new annual report on the additive landscape and chat up the latest maneuvers of industry player Nano Dimension.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Tom Wilk, the chief editor of Plant Services, talks with Jose Rivera, the CEO of the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA). In December, Jose announced he would be stepping down after a decade of dedicated leadership and strategic vision. Under Jose's guidance, the CSIA has seen significant modernization, increased resilience, and a strong financial position. We spoke with Jose when he joined the CSIA 10 years ago and it's my privilege to talk with him one more time to look back over the past 10 years, and then look ahead at next steps for both Jose and the CSIA, including the launch of the the CSIA Learning Hub.

This sponsored episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast focuses on building AI that works for manufacturing teams, and features two key thought leaders with MaintainX, a maintenance and asset management platform purpose-built to help frontline industrial teams run more efficient, resilient, and safer operations. Nick Hasse is the co-founder of MaintainX, and has spent thousands of hours on the factory floor helping manufacturing and industrial leaders transform their operations with frontline-friendly software and AI. Roshan Satish is the lead product manager for applied AI at MaintainX, who is leading the development of AI-powered maintenance tools including MaintainX Copilot. 

IndustryWeek Editor-in-Chief Robert Schoenberger and Senior Technology Editor Dennis Scimeca talk 5G in this episode, taken from our Production Pulse livestream series. IndustryWeek recently launched a documentary-style video series, looking at how large manufacturers tackle significant technology challenges. For the first episode, we feature John Deere's work in Waterloo, Iowa -- using private wireless networking systems to manage massive data flows needed to build tractors. 

Maria DeLorenzis Reyes, CEO of Training Innovations/MDR Brands, explains why a workplace culture is most successful when it encourages interactive feedback and takes a long-term view for safety training.