Factory of the Future Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E55, Bridging the Gap: Non-Profit Partnerships & Next Generation Outreach Join us as we discuss:  - How manufacturing professionals can empower and engage the future workers of America  - The impact A.W’s Society of Maintenance and Reliability (SMRP) Chapter are having at local colleges and chamber of commerce events   - Why community engageme...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E53, Ocean and Space: The Future Locations of Data Center Join us as we discuss:  - Innovative data center locations (ocean, space, etc)  - China’s successful ocean data center pilot project and what it means for the rest of the world - Technological and environmental impacts of underwater data centers  - Job creation fueled by infrastructure requ...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E54, Happiness Hacks: End-of-Year Team Building Essentials Join us as we discuss:  - Fun ways to end the year   - Ways to reflect on accomplishments as a team  - Creative ways to show appreciation to your teams  And so much more. Register Now for our Upcoming Industry 4.0 Workshop - Spots are limited! Connect with A.W. Schultz Email: aw@awschultz....

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E52, Batteries, Breakthroughs & Bold Leadership with Dr. Asma Sharafi Join us as we discuss:  - Dr. Asma Sharafi’s career in advanced battery technology   - The importance of clarity, cadence, and context in leadership - Why mentorship is the ultimate catalyst for career growth  And so much more. Connect with A.W. Schultz  Email: aw@awschultz....

Send us Fan Mail Alexandria and A.W. Schultz explored the fundamental aspects of sustainability and how companies approach environmental responsibility, including discussions about greenwashing and misleading sustainability claims. They examined specific examples of corporate environmental deception and proposed radical ideas for improving sustainability practices, particularly regarding plastic p...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E50, The Failure of Bringing Tech before the People  Join us as we discuss:  - The overwhelming number of technology solutions available to organizations  - Why you should leverage the tech you have vs shopping for the new shiny solution - The importance of integrating technology - The future tech becoming niche specific vs broadly applicable    A...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E49, Humanoids by 2050: Manufacturing Revolution Join us as we discuss:  - The impact of humanoid robots on manufacturing and in the home   - Robot functionality, cost, and safety standards - Our predictions on how the humanoid robots will change the world as we know it  And so much more. Connect with A.W. Schultz  Email: aw@awschultz.org  Persona...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E48, **Special Episode** Ryan Conley (Senior Manager at PepsiCO): Mastering Line Balancing Optimization for Efficiency Join us as we discuss:  - Supply chain operations and continuous improvement efforts with Ryan Conley, Senior Manager at PepsiCo  - The evolving relationship between human behavior and technology in industrial environments  - The...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E47, Elon Musk's Manufacturing Mastery: Automation and Decision-Making Principles Join us as we discuss:  - Elon Musk’s innovative approach to manufacturing and problem solving - Efficient decision-making - Simplifying complex processes by removing the unnecessary steps - Skiptrace management   And so much more. Connect with A.W. Schultz  Ema...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E46, Challenging the Status Quo: Leadership and Autonomy in the Workplace Join us as we discuss:  - Leadership principles for leaders today and tomorrow - Challenging the status quo - Fostering employee autonomy - Applying behavioral science in the manufacturing world  And so much more. Connect with A.W. Schultz  Email: aw@awschultz.org  Personal...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E45, Next-Gen Pet Tech: Sensors, Sustainability, and the Future of Smart Homes Join us as we discuss:  - Evolution and technology behind robotic cat litter boxes   - The environmental benefits of automated litter boxes  - Transforming traditional consumer products through innovative manufacturing practices And so much more. Connect with A.W. Schul...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E44, Exploring the Hidden Factory with Paul Susalla Join us as we discuss:  - Advanced manufacturing processes and patents with a former Ford Automotive Executive Engineer  - Manufacturing transformation and improvements in workplace conditions  - Applying advanced technology to drive efficiency gains and reduce waste   - The impact automation has...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E43, A Celebration National Manufacturing Day Join us as we discuss:  - The origins of National Manufacturing Day   - National Manufacturing Day as a way to raise awareness and close the workforce shortage gap - How you can celebrate National Manufacturing Day as a consumer or fellow factory enthusiast  - The future of manufacturing: How AI and Au...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E42, Supply Chain Leadership Insights: Interview with Jim O’Rourke Join us as we discuss the Five E’s with Jim O’Rourke:  - Supply chain optimization and leadership strategies  - The Five E’s Framework in leadership - How Folgers Coffee Plant was restored in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina using the Five E Framework - The importance of structu...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E41, Industry 4.0: Digital Manufacturing Integration Join us as we discuss:  - What you need to know about Industry 4.0 and cybersecurity as a manufacturing professional  - Why workforce upskilling and ongoing training is a must for today’s manufacturing plants - The keys to a successful digital transformation And so much more. Connect with A.W. S...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E40, Automating the Future: Challenges and Strategies for Smart Factory Success  Join us as we discuss:   - The importance of technical maturity and maintenance capabilities when adopting advanced technologies  - Integrating automation and robotics in factories - How different manufacturing industries will have different adoption rates with automa...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E39, The Debrief: How Energy Demands and Tariffs Are Reshaping U.S. Manufacturing Join us as we discuss:   - Lessons Learned from recent Guests Drew Allen and Rosemary Coates  - Unintended consequences of the US energy policies - How Consumer choices and demand drive sustainability and supply chain strategies    And so much more. Connect with A.W....

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E36, The Eight Steps for Implementing Gen AI in your Factory  Join us as we discuss:  - How to implement generative AI in business  - What needs to be done before a company can consider implementing new tech  - How data quality contributes to tech success (and failure)  - Job transformation in the wake of AI   And so much more. Connect with A.W. S...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to a SPECIAL EPISODE of Factory of the Future, E37, Reindustrializing America: Automation, Skills, and the Future of Manufacturing with guest Drew Allen  Join us as we welcome our first guest to discuss:  - The reindustrialization of America and the challenges at hand - The role energy production plays in manufacturing - How workers and companies can begin to think about a...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E38, The History of Offshoring and Emerging Global Reshoring Trends with Expert Rosemary Coates  Join us as we discuss:  - The History of Offshoring and Current State of Reshoring Efforts - Hundreds of CEO’s Approach to Dealing with Tariffs  - What Executives and Supply Chain Professionals need to consider when exploring reshoring to the US And so...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E35, Unpacking US Management Trends: Size, Effectiveness, and Surprising Insights Join us as we discuss:  - Trends in US Management and Organizational Practices  - Correlations between organizational size and management effectiveness  - Some statistics that are what you would expect, and others will give you pause And so much more.  Connect with A...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E34, Mastering the Mix: Six Essential Leadership Styles Join us as we discuss:  - Six types of leadership executives are championing  - Our perceived leadership styles - How to bring this conversation to the workplace to foster commeradery  And so much more. Connect with A.W. Schultz  Email: aw@awschultz.org  Personal Website: https://www.awschult...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E33, Digital Twins Unraveled: Revolutionizing Supply Chains and Sustainability Join us as we discuss:  - Digital Twin use in Supply Chain Network Scenarios - Digital Twin use in New Investments  And so much more. Connect with A.W. Schultz  Email: aw@awschultz.org  Personal Website: https://www.awschultz.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/a...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E32, Adapting on the Fly: Lessons from a TPM Workshop Down Under Join us as we discuss:  - Total Productive Maintenance and Management   - Implementing Autonomous Maintenance  - Workforce Integration  And so much more. Connect with A.W. Schultz  Email: aw@awschultz.org  Personal Website: https://www.awschultz.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.co...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to Factory of the Future, E31, Top Manufacturing Trends Forging the Future Join us as we discuss:  - Tariff's Impact on US Manufacturing   - How Smart Factories, AI, and Robotics can close the gap on the workforce shortage - Using Digital Twins to Plan for Supply Chain Constraints  And so much more. Connect with A.W. Schultz  Email: aw@awschultz.org  Personal Website:...