Automation Chat

** Named Best Podcast 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence. In this episode, we’re doing something a little different. Occasionally, we like to share a guest episode from another great podcast. This episode is from our sister publication Control magazine and its podcast called, “Control Intelligence.” Control magazine’s Editor in Chief Mike Bacidore explains the dif...

** Named “Best Podcast” for 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence. In our award-winning “Automation Chat" podcast, “Automation & Manufacturing News, October 2024,” learn about the $2 million IEEE Medal of Honor, and Food Traceability Innovator and World’s Most Ethical Companies award winners; and the ISO and UNDP’s international guidelines for organizations to ex...

** 3 Consecutive Awards for Best Podcast, 2022 - 2024 APEX Awards of Publication Excellence. In this episode, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck brings the written word to life by reading the article, “HMI Helps With the Heavy Lifting.” It’s written by Susan Burtch, Lead Commercial Portfolio Manager of, Visualization Software at Rockwell Automation. You’ll learn how modern human-machine...

** Named “Best Podcast” for 3 Consecutive Years! 2022-2024 Apex Awards of Publication Excellence. In this episode of “Automation Chat," Executive Editor Theresa Houck reviews news in industrial automation and manufacturing.  Learn about market trends in OT cybersecurity and in ultrasonic flowmeters; the role of AC drives for energy savings; and what skilled trades workers think about digital tools...

In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck tells you what topics we’re covering in the next edition of The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine — our October issue. Our print magazine mails October 15, and our digital issue launches October 26. Learn about upcoming stories on: How to modernize plant operations. What’s coming at the 2024 Automation Fair event. How t...

In this episode of our “Automation Chat” podcast, Executive Editor Theresa Houck chats with Todd Gilliam, North American CPG Industry Leader at Rockwell Automation, and Monté Vander Velde, Senior Project Manager with CRB Group. Both companies recently released comprehensive reports: one about the consumer packaged goods industry, and one focused on the food and beverage industry. This conversation...

In this episode of our “Automation Chat” podcast from The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine, Executive Editor Theresa Houck chats with Ashley David, Product Marketing Manager for Level and Pressure Equipment at Endress+Hauser USA. They discuss: What exactly “smart instrumentation” is in process automation. Where the industry is headed with smart instrumentation and w...

In this episode of “Automation Chat," Executive Editor Theresa Houck highlights news in industrial automation and manufacturing. Learn about the size of the U.S. manufacturing industry; trends in the oil & gas, modular robotics, batch control systems and industrial networks markets; and how companies are using AI. Also learn about achievements by EOSYS, FANUC Robotics, Hammond Power Solutions,...

In this episode, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck brings the written word to life by reading the case study, “How a Craft Brewery Switched from Bottles to Cans.” It explains how Lakefront Brewery used updated PLCs, drives and HMIs to switch its operation to cans while also improving visibility and production. Resources from this episode: Read the article online: “ How a Craft Brewery S...

In this episode of our “Automation Chat” podcast from The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine, Executive Editor Theresa Houck chats with Dave Kang, Advisory Solutions Architect at Dragos and Kamil Karmali, Senior Global Commercial Manager, Cybersecurity Services at Rockwell Automation. Get nuts-and-bolts, practical information about strengthening cybersecurity for indu...

In this episode, The Journal’s Managing Editor Amanda Joshi brings the written word to life by reading the article, “10 Electrical Safety Mistakes to Avoid,” from Fluke Corp. Get tips about personal protective equipment (PPE), electrical testing tools, testing leads, fuses, lockout/tagout (LOTO) and more. Resources from the episode: Read the article online: “ 10 Electrical Safety Mistakes to Avoid...

What do Abraham Lincoln, children’s literacy and the Chicago Bears have to do with manufacturing? In this episode of “Automation Chat," Executive Editor Theresa Houck highlights news in industrial automation and manufacturing. Learn about trends in U.S. automotive aftermarket; an Illinois law providing tax incentives to quantum technology companies; and a California rule with incentives for manufa...

In this episode of our “Automation Chat” podcast from The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine, Executive Editor Theresa Houck chats with Brian Deken, North America Commercial Manager of Networks & Cybersecurity Services at Rockwell Automation. They talk about cybersecurity challenges and outcomes manufacturers are trying to achieve and how to attain them. Also lear...

In this episode of “Automation Chat," Executive Editor Theresa Houck highlights news in industrial automation and manufacturing. Learn about the NIST Cybersecurity Framework2.0; a new GenAI prescriptive maintenance work-order software; research about digital services and about global supply-chain conditions; Endress+Hauser’s new Pennsylvania facility; Rockwell Automation plans for an India facilit...

In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck tells you what topics we’re covering in the next edition of The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine — our July 2024 issue. Our print magazine mails July 16, and our digital issue launches July 31 by email. Learn about upcoming stories on: Using automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning to get past the smart...

As advancements in cybersecurity have improved detection and response capabilities, managing the immense amounts of data required by AI-based cyber solutions remains a challenge. So, in this episode, we chat about how edge computing can enhance cybersecurity. Executive Editor Theresa Houck is joined by Valerie Schneider, Business Development Manager and Mike Wurster, Director of Strategic Alliance...

In this episode, we’re sharing a guest episode from the “Chemical Processing Distilled” podcast from our sister publication Chemical Processing, hosted by its Editor-in-Chief Traci Purdum. She describes eight happy and fascinating accidents that ended up having profound effects on the chemical industry and on humanity. Even if you’re not in the chemical industry, you’ll enjoy this look at unintend...

In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck talks with Greg Jackson, COO of SmartSights. Greg explains how WIN-911 Software acquired SyTech and rebranded the company as SmartSights, and what that means for its offering of analytics, reporting and notification solutions. Learn how the larger team allows the company to support a broader solutions portfolio and a full ecosystem, a larger R&D...

In this episode of “Automation Chat," Executive Editor Theresa Houck highlights news in industrial automation and manufacturing. Learn about new research on IT spending growth, enterprise adoption of GenAI, and an increase in both manufacturing jobs and facilities and how companies are dealing with the worker shortage. You’ll also get news on: How the EPA’s Clean Air Act air-monitoring ruling will...

In this episode, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck brings the written word to life by reading the article, “The Basics of Industrial Gateways,” from Spectrum Controls. You’ll get a quick tutorial on gateways and the types of common industrial communication protocols, and how they can be used in mixed-protocol environments.  Resources from this episode: Read the article online: “ The Bas...

In this brief episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck tells you what topics we’re covering in the next edition of The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork magazine — our May issue. Our print magazine mails May 14, and our digital issue launches May 22. Learn about upcoming stories on: Protecting OT systems from aggressive cyberattacks. A case study about how a craft brewery swit...

In this episode of “Automation Chat," Executive Editor Theresa Houck reviews news highlights in industrial automation and manufacturing. This month, we cover an impactful robotics and simulation collaboration between READY Robotics, NVIDIA & Toyota for the automaker’s aluminum hot forging production. We also report on important cybersecurity reports from Fortinet and Dragos Inc.; a cybersecuri...

In this episode, The Journal’s Executive Editor Theresa Houck brings the written word to life by reading the article, “Why Plant Managers Care About Outcomes, Not AI.” It's written by Mike Bacidore, contributing editor of The Journal and Editor in Chief of our sister publication Control Design. You'll learn the difference between and automated and autonomous system; how they're changing industrial...

Manufacturing is now the #1 target for hackers. Smart, connected devices on the plant floor are high-value cyberattack targets because of the intellectual property they contain — and just one day of downtime can cost millions. In this episode, Executive Editor Theresa Houck talks with Richard Springer, Director of Marketing, OT Solutions at Fortinet, about findings of its revealing study, “Advanci...

We’re bringing you a surprise this episode of “Automation Chat” by providing a guest episode from our sister publication Control magazine. Rockwell Automation just released its 9th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report, and for its “Control Intelligence” podcast, Control VP and Group Publisher Keith Larson interviewed Gerry Abbey, Rockwell Automation Manager of Analysts, Relations and Insight...