ASSEMBLY Audible

Are U.S. manufacturers mortgaging their future to cut costs? New research from EFESO Management Consultants suggests that many U.S. manufacturers may be undermining their long-term competitiveness through short-sighted cost-cutting strategies driven by tariffs, rising energy costs, and ongoing market pressures. Chuck Deise, Senior Partner at EFESO, joins the podcast to share insights from EFESO’s...

According to ABBYY, many manufacturing businesses are investing in GenAI solutions that promise more than they can realistically deliver, and in some cases, GenAI isn’t even the technology they need. To research, ABBYY commissioned the 2025 State of Intelligent Automation Report: GenAI Confessions, a survey examining how manufacturers are adopting GenAI, where they’re struggling, and what’s actual...

Industrial Rivet & Fastener Co., also known as RivetKing, won Product of the Year in the fastening category at the ASSEMBLY Show in 2025. We’re joined by Steven Sherman, vice president of engineering, to learn more about the award-winning product, the company’s history, and how it keeps an old-school product line modern. Sponsored By:

We’re joined by Adrian Sanchez, director of commercial and industrial sales at Starline Holdings LLC, to explore why flexible power distribution is no longer just a technical decision, but a strategic one. Sponsored By:

What happens when a STEM grant drops industrial CNC machines into a high school classroom, and the teacher has never machined a part? In this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible, we share an upskilling story about Jeremy Jennings, who began his journey in manufacturing as a teacher in Texas, whose classroom was grant-funded for an engineering design program. With no prior machining experience, Jeremy beca...

We connected with Ryan Lashley and Sota Ito with Panasonic, at The ASSEMBLY Show in Rosemont, IL, to learn about the evolution of the AccuPulse series, their new product offerings, and their emphasis on continuous improvement. Sponsored By:

Since taking effect in 2020, the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) has supported nearly US$2 trillion in annual trade, providing a stable framework for the duty-free movement of qualifying goods. Today, however, stricter rules of origin, evolving tariff policies, and geopolitical pressures are reshaping supply chains and raising new risks for manufacturers. As CUSMA approaches its 2026...

During The Assembly Show last fall, we sat down with Anthony Leo, president of IPR Robotics, to talk about new product development in the automation sector. Leo explains how he transforms a napkin sketch into a usable product that people want. We discuss the development of StackTrax, IPR’s new, modular seventh-axis system designed to extend robot reach and flexibility on the factory floor. Leo dis...

The demand for aerospace engineers is projected to grow 13% through 2031. Meanwhile, companies are under pressure to keep production, maintenance, and innovation on track while facing an industry-wide skilled workforce shortage. Michael Campbell, President of ACD Consulting, a division of Coltala Aerospace, joins us to discuss how ACD Consulting’s Solutions-Based Embedded Engineer program, a model...

In Aerotek’s latest Job Seeker Survey, nearly three-quarters of more than 2,400 respondents said they’re applying to manufacturing jobs, and 64% are optimistic about the industry’s future in North America. We connect with Stanley Johnson, Director of Business Development for Manufacturing and Logistics at Aerotek, to discuss findings from Aerotek’s job seeker survey, including why job seekers are...

You don’t usually hear “franchise model” and “manufacturing” in the same sentence, but Isembard is rewriting that narrative. The company’s plan to build a distributed network of software-driven factories across the U.S. and beyond is backed by full operational support, including machines and tooling, hiring, quality, and an integrated pipeline of customer orders. At the heart of it all is MasonOS,...

During the ASSEMBLY Show in Rosemont, IL, Russ Hughes, product marketing manager at Desoutter Tools, joined ASSEMBLY Audible to discuss his company’s new tightening platform, AXON. Hughes discusses how AXON solves assembly challenges, such as managing diverse tools that require backup controllers onsite, reducing downtime, enabling live data analytics, supporting sustainability goals, and shrinkin...

Cost estimation is becoming smarter, faster, and more predictive thanks to advances in AI, demonstrated by platforms such as Galorath's SEERai, a new agentic AI platform engineered to deliver secure, traceable, and audit-ready cost, schedule, and risk insights for manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and IT programs. In this episode, ASSEMBLY Audible welcomes Charles Orlando, Chief Strategy Officer...

Software companies are building a new manufacturing stack that includes four layers: ERP, MES, Connected Worker, and AI. Dan McKiernan, principal product manager with Epicor, joins us at the ASSEMBLY Show to talk about the success that arises when these systems work together in a stack rather than a patchwork of tools. Sponsored By:

Next-generation connectivity is emerging as a powerful solution to meet sustainability goals and enhance operational efficiency. In this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible, we speak with Michael Weller, Global Practice Leader in Manufacturing, Energy, and Utilities at Verizon Business. Did you know, for every million linear feet of copper cabling, manufacturers require significant amounts of energy-inten...

At the 2025 ASSEMBLY Show, we sat down with Ben Brakenwagen, Account Executive, to explore how Dirac’s BuildOS automated work instruction platform transforms complex CAD models into clear, repeatable, and scalable work instructions, creating the digital thread that connects design, production, and quality. By automating and standardizing this critical step, manufacturers can accelerate digital tra...

A new report from Deloitte, From Vision to Value: A Roadmap for Enterprise Transformation in Manufacturing with Agentic AI, reveals that more than a quarter of manufacturers are already exploring how agentic AI technology can transform everything from the back office to the factory floor. We explore the report's implications with the AI & Data Principal at Deloitte, Patricia Henderson, breakin...

Explore the technology ecosystem behind John Deere’s award-winning factories, such as Davenport Works, which was named ASSEMBLY Magazine’s 2025 Plant of the Year. Jason Wallin, Senior Principal Architect, TechStack at John Deere, shares how an engaged workforce supported by the right digital tools drives the quality John Deere customers expect. We dive into the company’s use of AI, digital twins,...

According to Kearney’s latest Supply Chain Navigator 2025 H2 Outlook, global supply chain costs are projected to rise from 4 to 7% above inflation by Q4 2025. We examine disruption-led cost inflation and what "designing for disruption” really means in today’s manufacturing landscape. Our guest, Rupal Deshmukh, Partner, Kearney, explains the intent behind the Supply Chain Navigator and what the fin...

Join us for an interview that covers a new report from Infor, How Possible Happens: Overcome the ‘Value Void’ Through Technology-Driven Productivity. Andrew Kinder, SVP Industry Strategy, explains the findings, sharing insights into the challenges manufacturers face when adopting new technology. Learn what the “value void" is in the context of advanced manufacturing settings, how to avoid it, and...

Intricon specializes in designing, molding, and assembling some of the smallest and smartest components in the medical device industry. Our guest, Jay Tavakolian, Operations Program Director at Intricon, shares insights into the precision, scalability, and innovation behind building micro medical devices that serve critical applications in surgical navigation, wearables, diagnostics, and therapeut...

Dive into the latest insights from Sikich’s 2025 Manufacturing & Distribution Industry Pulse survey. According to the study, despite persistent challenges like inflation, supply chain disruptions, and tariff pressures, more than half of U.S. manufacturing executives remain moderately optimistic about the year ahead. Jerry Murphy, Principal and Manufacturing Services Leader at Sikich, joins us...

What does it really mean to be consumer-driven in today’s manufacturing landscape? Traditional production models based on forecasts can’t keep pace with shifting demand, volatile tariffs, and rapid market changes. In this episode, we welcome Liya Getachew, Principal at Sendero Consulting, to explore how manufacturers can transform their operations to stay agile and competitive. Liya shares her exp...

This joint episode of ASSEMBLY Audible and Quality Magazine’s Q-Cast spotlights the collaboration between SMTA and The ASSEMBLY Show 2025. Hosts Jennifer Pierce and Michelle Bangert welcome Greg Vance, principal engineer at Rockwell Automation and president of SMTA’s board of directors, to discuss how electronics manufacturing has evolved over the decades, from miniaturization to the latest develo...

This conversation with Foster Ferguson, Vice President of Industrial Business, explores how Stratasys, a leader in aerospace manufacturing R&D and additive manufacturing, is innovating 3D printing to advance part production, materials, and processes. Advanced additive manufacturing enables parts to be printed in a single, optimized design, thereby reducing supply chain complexity and improving...