Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, McKenna Schutty, safety, health and environmental manager at TDIndustries, a Texas-based facilities services and mechanical construction company, discusses how her company brought AI into its safety organization. 

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Ilana Preuss, a champion of small-scale manufacturing and founder of Recast City, discusses the importance of raising the visibility of small-scale manufacturing, whose impact on the larger economy is being overlooked from lack of data and lack of awareness. While large manufacturers attract lots of attention, a strong domestic manufacturing base requires mapping and connecting networks of smaller suppliers that support these larger entities. Preuss presents tools that can help the cause, as well as a model for regional collaboration. In addition, the ReCast City founder dives into ways in which small and large manufacturers can help raise awareness themselves, such as hosting pitch competitions, holding and sponsoring meetups, and more.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Smart Industry's Sarah Mattalian talks with Mike Fedorov, COO and co-CEO of Applied AI Labs, who discuss why AI implementations often fail to deliver expected results. They explore how manufacturers can work with the muddy waters of imperfect data, establish effective governance, and design AI solutions around measurable business outcomes.  The conversation concludes with a look at AI as a tool for amplifying human capabilities rather than replacing them.

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 explores maintenance shortcuts and the role of reliability culture.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Nicole Stempak speaks with the current and previous two presidents of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) -- Monique Parker, Linda Tapp and Pam Walaski -- about strategies safety leaders can use to stay energized, the importance of mentorship, and how embracing change and diversity can lead to more effective safety initiatives.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek's Laura Putre speaks with Emily Domenech about efforts to streamline federal permitting for large manufacturing and critical minerals projects. They discuss how the Fast-41 program coordinates agencies to reduce project delays, improve transparency, and accelerate approvals while maintaining environmental and safety standards. The conversation also explores critical minerals processing, domestic supply chain resilience, and the growing role of AI and digital tools in modernizing the permitting process.

On this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, New Equipment Digest Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis rounds up four new products worth a closer look: a passive exoskeleton that eases shoulder strain during overhead work an AI-powered device that keeps forklift-based inventory tracking accurate in real time a connected ultrasound platform built for multisite reliability programs, a new inline coding system designed for the packaging industry's shift to GS1 2D codes.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Jennifer Ferdinand-Stong, corporate safety manager at construction firm Gaylor Electric and recently named Health and Safety Professional of the Year by the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) for 2026, shares her thoughts on how to create a realistic and sustainable safety culture. 

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek's Anna Smith speaks with Clay Martin, CEO and founder of Isla Talent, about innovative approaches to solving manufacturing workforce shortages by recruiting skilled workers from Puerto Rico. They discuss strategies for expanding talent pipelines, supporting employee relocation, and improving retention through communication, training, and workplace culture. The conversation also explores long-term labor trends, the impact of AI on the workforce, and practical steps manufacturers can take to build stronger, more resilient teams.

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 plays reliability mythbusters about leadership's role in culture and the importance of best practices and technology.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Scott Achelpohl is joined by Nick Hasselbeck and Matt Martin of E Tech Group to discuss the challenges legacy OT systems create for digital transformation and AI adoption. The conversation explores why siloed data, limited network visibility, and outdated equipment remain major obstacles for manufacturers. They also examine practical strategies for connecting older assets, evaluating the value of stranded data, and balancing equipment replacement with lower-cost modernization approaches. The episode offers a grounded look at how manufacturers can build a stronger data foundation for AI and other advanced operational initiatives.

Employers have an obligation to protect workers from all jobsite hazards, including the summer heat and humidity. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, learn the current regulations, signs of heat stress and what you can do to help workers be comfortable—and safe—this summer from Corey Stringer Institute’s Maggie Morrissey.

Computed tomography (CT) has a parallel life beyond its service in diagnostic medicine. From aerospace and automotive to defense and electronics, it’s one of manufacturing's most powerful quality assurance technologies. By creating detailed three-dimensional views of both external and internal part features without destructive testing, CT allows manufacturers to detect defects, verify dimensions, and improve product performance. Now, artificial intelligence and machine learning are accelerating those capabilities even further, making inspections faster, more accurate, and increasingly practical for production environments. In this episode of the Great Question Podcast, Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence Technical Sales Engineer Roger Wende details how AI-enhanced CT scanning is reshaping non-destructive testing, metrology, defect analysis, and the future of digital manufacturing.

For IndustryWeek’s Smart Manufacturers video series, Senior Editor for Technology Dennis Scimeca visited four different plants to inquire about a specific technology deployment at each. He spoke 5G with John Deere, talked MES development with Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, discussed brownfield sites and corporate responsibility with battery manufacturer Viridi and dodged a fleet of robots on the shop floor of an LG plant. This week's podcast episode looks at the series as a whole, and shares key insights gleaned from each video.

NED Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis breaks down four machining and metalworking products from the latest issue, covering 3D laser cutting for job shops, solid carbide taps for high-volume threading, multi-operation precision grinding, and high-pressure coolant toolholding for difficult-to-machine materials. Laser Next Core 3D Laser Cutting Machine TC180 Supreme & TC280 Supreme Solid Carbide Taps Landis TTG 3000 Twin-Turret Grinder Jetstream Tooling M-Clamp Toolholder System

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk speaks with Tito Warren of Red Wing about the challenges industrial facilities face in protecting workers from heat stress during the summer months. Their conversation explores the role of hydration, environmental controls, PPE, and emerging wearable technologies in supporting worker health and safety. They also discuss how footwear affects fatigue, endurance, and overall physical performance, while highlighting the importance of training, teamwork, and proactive safety cultures. The episode offers practical insights for manufacturers seeking to improve worker well-being and operational performance in demanding environments.

In this special National Forklift Safety Day podcast, hear what OSHA's David Keeling and Logisnext Americas' Carl Modesette have to say about the need for situational awareness from everybody who comes near a forklift, not just the operators. And ENEROC USA's Max Khabur explains why standardized forklift battery testing is essential for safety.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, sponsored by Hydro Inc., Thomas Wilk speaks with Ares Panagoulias and Robert McCowan about building effective condition monitoring programs that reduce maintenance firefighting and improve asset reliability. The discussion explores the foundational steps organizations should take before deploying sensors, including defining goals, assigning responsibilities, and focusing on critical assets. They also examine the role of AI and machine learning in condition monitoring, and finish with practical advice on managing alerts, driving action from insights, and maximizing ROI from predictive maintenance investments. This episode is sponsored by Hydro, Inc.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Patrick Childress, an international trade and disputes attorney at Holland & Knight, shares an update on how negotiations are proceeding with USMCA—also known as the United States, Mexico, Canada agreement—a trilateral trade agreement that comes up for its required six-year joint review on July 1. It's an agreement that has significant implications for manufacturers, particularly in the automotive industry.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, every OT and IT journey is different, but two SMEs from Lincoln Nebraska-based Huffman Engineering join the podcast with some tips and to share some positive summer vibes from their clients.

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 of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Joe Kuhn of Ask a Plant Manager discusses leadership habits that strengthen maintenance and reliability.

Lorraine Martin, CEO of the National Safety Council, explains why the NSC first developed National Safety Month in 1996—and what workplace safety issues they’re focusing on this year. 

In this episode of Great Question, IndustryWeek Senior Editor Laura Putre talks with Frank McKay and Graham Scott, Supply Chain Officer and Chief Procurement Officer at Jabil respectively, about how they transformed procurement to a cost driver at the global contract manufacturer—offering their own optimized supply-chain technology to customers as a service. They also discuss how they’ve tackled recent procurement challenges—such as tariffs and memory constraints in the AI market—and built a pipeline to develop procurement talent.

New Equipment Digest (NED) Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis breaks down five additive manufacturing products from the June issue, spanning multimaterial prototyping, magnesium-capable metal AM, continuous FFF production, ultra-large-format powder bed fusion, and high-performance polymer printing for aerospace. J850 Core PolyJet 3D Printer PA-300 LPBF Metal Printer Funmat Pro 310 Apollo FFF Printer EP-M3050 Metal 3D Printer Argo 500 Hyperspeed Mission Ready 3D Printer

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Plant Services chief editor Thomas Wilk speaks with Andy Foster, Chief Product Officer at IOTech, about the growing use of edge AI across discrete manufacturing, process manufacturing, and energy operations. The conversation explores how manufacturers are using AI for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, production optimization, and distributed energy resource management. They also discuss why organizations are moving AI closer to the edge to improve latency, reliability, and data security in mission-critical environments. In addition, the episode examines the evolving governance, lifecycle management, and workforce responsibilities required to safely scale industrial AI systems.

Small and medium-sized manufacturers have a skilled labor shortage - and the last solution proposed to address that (automation and robotics) is about to encounter the next proposed solution: agentic artificial intelligence.  A recent article introduces they interesting possibility that “Agentic AI Could Make Robots Affordable for Small Businesses.” In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, American Machinist's Robert Brooks talks with IndustryWeek's Dennis Scimeca about whether this new approach to programming change how manufacturers program their robots and cobots. Will AI reduce the complexity of implementation, or introduce new risks to their organizations?

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Virginia Tech's E. Scott Geller muses on how workplace safety has improved—and worsened—over his 50-plus year career.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek's Anna Smith speaks with Ben Johnston, COO at Kapitus, about the new tariff refund portal launched by U.S. Customs and Border Protection following the Supreme Court’s ruling on IEEPA-related tariffs. They discuss how manufacturers, importers, and customs brokers can navigate the refund application process, including key documentation requirements and common filing mistakes to avoid. The conversation also explores the potential financial impact of tariff refunds across the supply chain and the continued uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policy and future tariff enforcement.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk meets up with Rosemary Coates of the Reshoring Institute to catch up on how current events are impacting manufacturers who were already shifting their reshoring strategies. Despite geopolitical conflict and energy shortages, Coates identifies are few sectors that are thriving (semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and plastics) and emphasizes the importance of community colleges in preparing workers for a new, more volatile manufacturing normal. 

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Nick Haase of MaintainX explores the challenges manufacturers face as workforce retirements and labor shortages collide with the push for AI adoption. He discusses how disconnects between leadership and the shop floor can lead to ineffective technology and stalled implementation. The conversation highlights the importance of capturing tribal knowledge, improving system interoperability, and prioritizing frontline-friendly tools. He also outlines practical steps for building a digital foundation that enables successful AI use in industrial operations.    This episode is sponsored by MaintainX.

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 considers five different common maintenance scenarios, and he decides: fact or fiction.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Jason Moreland of AlertMedia explores how changing weather patterns and climate trends increase risks for workers and organizations, and explains why proactive planning, communication and training are vital to mitigate impacts of extreme weather events across seasons.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek's Dennis Scimeca and Machine Design's Rehana Begg talk all of the walking robots at Hannover Messe, the massive trade show that took place in Germany in late April. Amongst the automation equipment, software, machines and controllers were a lot of upright, humanoid robots. In nearly every hall at the show, robots walked arounds. Some danced, some picked up small objects and put them in a box, some waved to passersby and some did things that looked like they might be marginally useful on a manufacturing shop floor.  Dennis and Rehana discuss the pros and cons of our new robot overlords with some help from Kal Mos, executive vice president for research & development at Siemens. If Dennis Scimeca is a skeptic on the need for robots to look like us, Mos is the opposite -- a believer that we've built the world for people and robots should adopt our form factor to get around. 

"Local manufacturing marketplaces" are regional networks in which value is created and retained - as opposed to being distributed outside the local economy. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, management consultant Chris Bassett explains that manufacturers’ drive for efficiency in their decision-making causes them to pass by opportunities that involve less time and fewer communication challenges, and bring faster problem resolution and smoother product-quality management. 

The generative AI trend based on large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT has for years dominated the conversation about artificial intelligence. When something like agentic AI enters the conversation it’s easy to conflate terms, confuse agentic with generative, and not get the full picture. On this episode of Production Pulse we spoke with Ron Norris, former Director of Innovation at Georgia Pacific, and Nagadithya Nookala, product manager for data analytics and AI-related products and Sanjay Ahire, data scientist, both from Ford Motor Company. AI Agents Versus Agentic AI Nookala explains the difference between AI agents and agentic AI using the metaphor of a Google search. If you ask Google about a topic it provides you with links and materials, after which you’re on your own. Agentic AI would not only identify the links and materials but also digest the material to provide summaries, recommendations, essentially do the research and draw the appropriate conclusions for you. Ahire uses the metaphor of GPS systems used for navigation. Google maps provides directions on how to get somewhere. Agentic AI would not only identify the best route, it would also drive the car itself, using multiple data streams for guidance and navigation. Norris says the ability to learn differentiates agentic AI from regular agents. Agentic AI not only suggests action but also understands cause and effect and can therefore explain why to take an action. Are You Ready for Agentic? Companies that adopted generative AI have already purchased software, on-prem or cloud servers and other infrastructure to serve the new technology. Do those investments also prepare companies to adopt agentic AI tools? The answer, thankfully, is yes you’ve invested in compute and software to support generative AI you have a leg up on adopting agentic AI. Agent development kits can integrate with existing systems and applications. You may need more stringent guardrails, however, to make sure humans always provide final authority before giving agentic AI permission to act.

This month, New Equipment Digest Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis shares her April picks—five products that caught her attention for solving real problems in manufacturing and industrial environments. On the list: the RUN coordinate measuring machine for shopfloor inspection, the MasterMover MasterHandler electric tugger for moving heavy wheeled loads in tight spaces, the Tormach 770MX CNC mill with upgraded motion control, the Goodwell Technologies VAC-DIV2-CAMKIT overhead inspection camera, and the RDI Technologies Iris aiOne motion amplification and vibration analysis platform. Learn more about the products in this episode: RUN CMMs: https://newequipment.com/55338529 770MX CNC Mill: https://www.newequipment.com/55352795 MasterHandler electric tugger: https://www.newequipment.com/55353154 VAC-DIV2-CAMKIT: https://www.newequipment.com/55343245 Iris aiOne platform: https://www.newequipment.com/55353288

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Plant Services chief editor Thomas Wilk talks with Adrienne Meyer, CEO of the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA), about the evolving role of system integrators and the growing importance of automation in today’s manufacturing landscape. They explore how the ongoing skills gap is accelerating the adoption of automation, shifting its purpose from cost savings to maintaining operational continuity. Meyer also shares insights into how system integration is transitioning toward long-term partnerships and lifecycle services to better support digital transformation.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, EHS Today's Nicole Stempak talks with experts from BSI (www.bsigroup.com) about the current landscape of ESG, sustainability, and environmental regulations, emphasizing practical strategies for businesses to navigate complex compliance and leverage sustainability for business value.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek's Jill Jusko speaks with Bryan Croft about how a small, family-run business unexpectedly became part of the Artemis II space mission. They explore how HC Brands’ Simply Stamps division was discovered through digital marketing efforts and tasked with engineering a highly specialized product to meet strict aerospace requirements. The conversation highlights the challenges of rapid prototyping, lightweight design, and meeting precise specifications under tight timelines. Along the way, they also reflect on the broader themes of innovation, company culture, and how even niche manufacturers can play a role in groundbreaking projects.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Jennifer Szkatulski of Immersive Labs talks with Smart Industry's Sarah Mattalian about why manufacturers are prime targets for cyberattacks, particularly ransomware, and the far-reaching impact on operations and supply chains. She breaks down how attacks occur—from phishing and credential theft to system infiltration—and how even IT breaches can disrupt production environments. The conversation also highlights emerging risks tied to AI, insider vulnerabilities, and interconnected supplier networks.

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 explores how to spot a fake reliability program.

Kay Yoder of Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits describes the evolution of EHS into a people-centered, technology-enabled discipline, emphasizing inclusive leadership, employee engagement, sustainability, and continuous learning as key drivers of safer, more proactive workplace cultures.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Laura Putre speaks with Richard Demirjian of heavy-truck components manufacturer TCCI about the impact of Section 232 tariffs and the USMCA on his business. They explore how Section 232 tariff rebates are influencing sourcing decisions, sometimes favoring overseas production over domestic manufacturing. The conversation also examines supply chain localization challenges, uncertainty around USMCA, and the evolving mix of ICE, electric, and hybrid vehicles. Additionally, they discuss innovation investments, workforce development, and the impact of refrigerant regulations on future product design.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk speaks with Tony Peterson and Jeff Shiver about a three-phase approach to preventive maintenance optimization and its impact on manufacturing performance. The conversation explores how improving PM accuracy, leveraging tools like P&IDs and CMMS data, and engaging technicians can shift operations from reactive to proactive maintenance. They also discuss common pitfalls in PM programs, including low-value tasks and scheduling challenges, along with strategies to improve compliance and efficiency.

Most grownup professionals are smart people, but that doesn't mean we don't do some really stupid things from time to time. Think about your last expense report. Between filling out the forms, supervisors checking them, accounting reviewing them again (and sending them back five times because you used the wrong code for the rental car company), companies spend vast sums of money every year in hopes of preventing someone charging a bottle of cold medication back to their employer. Procurement in manufacturing is similarly penny wise and pound foolish. At the Grainger Show in Florida in March, one poster showed how the average company uses seven people and $100 in approvals and management time to buy a $17 hammer. Sound familiar? In a series of wide ranging conversations at the show, IndustryWeek's Robert Schoenberger and New Equipment Digest's Laura Davis spoke with: Sam Johnson, group vice president for Customer Solutions at Grainger Barry Greenhouse, senior vice president of Merchandising and Supplier Management Rick Sigler, vice president of Onsite Services Stan Solowski, vice president of Value-Added Solutions Derek Hamilton, vice president of Onsite Operations Full disclosure, Grainger did not sponsor this episode, but the company did cover travel costs for editors to attend their customer event.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Plant Services chief editor Thomas Wilk and Eruditio principal trainer and consultant Brian Hronchek discuss how many organizations underutilize their CMMS systems and miss opportunities for efficiency. They explore practical strategies to unlock more value, including standardizing preventive maintenance activities and leveraging built-in functionality for corrective work. The conversation also highlights how better resource planning can improve outage execution and reduce costly conflicts.

Smart Manufacturing is the label that has emerged to describe production systems that incorporate digital technologies, real-time data, and interconnected systems to make manufacturing processes more automated, adaptive, and efficient. It involves sensors, data analytics, artificial intelligence, and connected machines that monitor, optimize, and automate manufacturing processes in real time. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, and prompted by the developer’s recent State of Smart Manufacturing report, we asked Evan Kaiser, Rockwell Automation vice president for Global OEM and Emerging Industries to tailor the insights there for small and midsized manufacturers, to help them understand the smart manufacturing investments, practices, and strategies, that will help them get connected and stay competitive.

Connected procurement integrates all stages of the source-to-pay process, providing real-time visibility and enhancing organizational agility. In this "In Case You Missed It" podcast, based on an article from two Accenture procurement experts, you'll hear how organizations are shifting from reactive procurement processes to connected, data-driven workflows that enhance agility, resilience and strategic value amid global disruptions.

IndustryWeek's Dennis Scimeca recently hosted a roundtable discussion at Fluke's annual Xcelerate conference, an event centered around industrial maintenance and asset protection. Joining Dennis were three professionals from three very different industries: Jason Hahn, Amsted Automotive Lee McClish, NTT Nathan Kibert, Eaton In the session, the panel discussed the impact of AI on supply chains, maintenance and production. 

With artificial intelligence (AI), mass customization and shrinking lot sizes changing expectations in manufacturing, companies need new skills and abilities from those who they hire. So, where do you find an entry level engineer with years of experience and training in how to deal with the constantly changing needs of production? In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Kettering University President Robert McMahan says getting students experience while in school is key. The former General Motors Institute (a private university, separate from the automaker since the early 1980s) has long used factory floors and design centers as training grounds for student education. Current GM CEO Mary Barra is among the school's alumni who got their first taste of manufacturing while studying engineering there.  In this episode, McMahan talks to IndustryWeek's Anna Smith about the school's educational co-op model and how schools need to collaborate with manufacturers to prepare the next generation of industrial leaders.