Connecting The Lines

If the global supply chain shut down for just 48 hours, what would happen? It's difficult to imagine, but the impact would be almost immediate — empty shelves, halted production, delayed power restoration, and so on. The world runs on movement, and most of us never think about it… until it stops. Today, we’re joined by two veteran problem-solvers who live in that world every day. They’re the peopl...

Over the last few decades, solar power has gone from being a niche technology to one of the fastest growing and most widely discussed energy sources on the planet. But beyond the familiar image of solar panels lying across fields and rooftops, there's an incredible amount happening within the industry. Technological breakthroughs, new applications, evolving policies, and big questions about how so...

With billions on the table and a nation to connect, can a "tech-neutral" approach deliver on the promise of high-speed broadband for all? On this episode of "Connecting the Lines," industry experts David Malfara and Dan Levac join us to discuss the BEAD program's dramatic shift from a "fiber-first" approach to a newly announced "tech-neutral" free-for-all. We'll explore what this pivot and other p...

Everything we touch, buy and use has some form of engineering and product development behind it. Whether it's a simple doorstop or a complex bullet train, the process starts with an idea that then undergoes multiple iterations and testing before it finally makes it to market. Engineers combine inventiveness, knowledge, and problem solving skills and of course, talent to bring an idea to life. Toda...

Today we’re diving into a world where machines and humans coexist, no it’s not the future, it’s the world of today’s high-tech manufacturing plants that utilize industrial robotics and advanced automation. We’ll explore the systems, business cases, philosophy, and overall impact of today and tomorrow’s SMART factory. Joining me to discuss these topics are two people who have a combined 60+ years o...

The original fiber optic networks began to be deployed in the 1970s. Since that time, workforce training for technicians, building and maintaining these systems has grown greatly and evolved. Now, with over $40 billion of broadband infrastructure funding about to enter the U.S. market, the new challenge will be to fill demand for properly trained field technicians to support all of this new fiber...

Natural disasters and extreme weather events cause a massive amount of destruction every year. But while it can take years to completely rebuild communities, power and communication networks are typically restored relatively quickly within days or weeks—because they need to be. These are critical services that individuals and businesses rely on, not just to thrive, but also, in some cases, to surv...

From extreme weather events to the ever-increasing demand for electricity, today's utilities face a complex set of challenges that continually threaten the resiliency of the electrical grid. But utilities are fighting back with efforts to "harden the grid." But what exactly is grid hardening? In this episode of “Connecting the Lines,” we talk to two industry experts with a wealth of engineering an...

Today's electric utilities are increasingly focused on regularly inspecting infrastructure assets to help ensure their networks operate safely and at peak efficiency. But what exactly does this entail? In this episode of "Connecting the Lines," we talk to PLP Inspection Services team members Adam Deel and Mark Tryon to understand what asset inspections are and why they are so critical for the indu...

Companies continually talk about how they strive to create a great and memorable customer experience, and that they want to “wow” their customers. But what exactly does this mean? How important is being “wowed” to customers? And what role does traditional customer service play in this concept, particularly when dealing with technical products and technical audiences? In this episode of "Connecting...

Utility lineworkers have one of the most demanding jobs: constructing, maintaining, and repairing the world's electric power grid, oftentimes during extreme weather conditions. Ensuring that safe, reliable power is delivered to homes, businesses, and communities. So, in this episode of "Connecting the Lines," we’ll explore what it means to be a lineman, how the profession has evolved over time, an...

"Innovation" is one of those most overused corporate buzzwords, but what does it actually mean to be innovative? Can it be taught, or is it simply a personality trait? And how can individuals and companies achieve true innovation? We explore these topics and many more in this latest episode of "Connecting the Lines." Call them industrial creatives or product innovators; just don't call them unimag...

Electric vehicles continue to grow in popularity, but can the charging infrastructure and electrical grid expand fast enough to keep up with the rising demand? In this episode of Connecting the Lines, we talk to two industry experts to find out about the current and future state of EV charging around the world.   Episode Guests: • Martin Spayes – Business Development Director, EMEA • Patrick Cunni...

Widespread access to reliable, fast, and inexpensive broadband is an essential need for today's interconnected world and for future technological advancements. So, how exactly are new deployment strategies and government funding initiatives such as the U.S. BEAD Program helping to expand the critical infrastructure needed to support next-generation networks such as 5G? Two broadband experts weigh...