Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

2024 was been a year of remarkable growth and innovation for the manufacturing sector, with global supply chain challenges and innovations in smart manufacturing pushing companies to adapt and rethink their strategies. But what's in store for 2025? In this podcast, the editors from Endeavor Business Media’s Manufacturing Group look forward at the trends they will be keeping their eyes on in the ne...

Interest rates help determine when and how much manufacturers and machine shops invest in new machinery, systems, and consumables. Now that the Federal Reserve Bank has cut interest rates for a third time – should manufacturers be ready to invest? What other factors are shaping their choices in 2025? Chris Chidzik, chief economist for AMT – the Association for Manufacturing Technology, explains it...

2024 has been a year of remarkable growth and innovation for the manufacturing sector, with key trends making lasting impressions on the industry. Automation, AI, and advanced robotics have gained traction, while sustainability initiatives have become a central focus for many manufacturers. Additionally, global supply chain challenges and innovations in smart manufacturing have pushed companies to...

Anna Townshend is managing editor of Plant Services and has been a journalist and editor for almost 20 years. In addition to writing and editing thousands of articles in her career, she has been an active speaker on industry panels and presentations. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, she reads her latest  Maintenance Mindset article, where each week one of the Plant Servi...

IndustryWeek Senior Technology Editor Dennis Scimeca discusses which plant technologies are cool and fun to discuss, and which ones offered the best, measurable real-world results for manufacturers in 2024. Joining him are: Paul Miller , VP and principal analyst, Smart Manufacturing & Future Mobility, Forrester Research Ryan Martin , senior research director for Digital Transformation, ABI Res...

Learn everything you need to know about machine vision, its components, and its use in industrial applications.  About the Article What Is Machine Vision? Learn the difference between computer and machine vision, the four types of machine vision systems, and the importance of lighting in imaging applications. Written by John D. Thrailkill Read by Laura Davis Read the article

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 this episode, we break down how Doss has streamlined Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) and Order-to-Cash workflows to meet the needs of machinery and industrial companies. Traditional ERP systems often fall short for real-world teams in these industries—demanding lengthy setup times, high costs, and extensive customization. Doss’s Adaptive Resource Platform (ARP) takes a different approach, providi...

If 2024 was the year when the hype cycle for industrial AI hit its peak, what is in store for industry in 2025? Plant Services recently sat down with Aaron Merkin , Chief Technology Officer of Fluke Reliabilit y, to get his insights and predictions on where manufacturing is headed. Merkin brings more than two decades of experience developing enterprise software across a variety of industries and m...

A discussion with Diversified Fall Protection’s Philip Jacklin on what OSHA’s Top 10 most common violations of FY2024 reveals about the safety of working at heights, what it doesn’t tell us and what safety professionals can do to create safer workplaces.

Chris van den Belt is the head of product management at IFS Ultimo, and his colleague Berend Booms is the head of EAM Insights. Chris and Berend recently spoke with Plant Services editor in chief Thomas Wilk about how can software (CMMS and EAM) help companies move to more proactive maintenance modes, and which parts of the workday to focus on when they start making that change.

For a very long time, computer-aided manufacturing – CAM – was contingent with CAD, computer-aided design. The parts and the programmer defined the manufacturing process. Now the world of programming is venturing into a new landscape in which artificial intelligence and digital twins are defining the production process for engineered parts. Olivier Thenoz, Product Manager for CAM with Hexagon Manu...

With last week’s election of Donald J. Trump to a second term in the White House, the big question for the manufacturing community is what to expect in trade policy. On the campaign trail, Trump made higher tariffs, especially in Chinese imports, a centerpiece of his agenda. Supply chain and legal experts say companies should prepare for a different trade environment, but don’t try to be clever or...

Plant turnarounds are tricky, overwhelming, and daunting. But they don’t have to be. Here are seven actionable steps you can take to ensure a plant turnaround for a chemical plant or refinery goes as smoothly as possible which include working with your vendor and setting clear requirements. About the Article How to Make Your Plant Turnaround Smooth and Effective These 7 tips will help make your ch...

Anna Townshend is managing editor of Plant Services and has been a journalist and editor for almost 20 years. In addition to writing and editing thousands of articles in her career, she has been an active speaker on industry panels and presentations. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Anna reads a piece that is part of our new Maintenance Mindset feature, where each week o...

Smart Industry's Scott Achelpohl and Industry 4.0 thought leader Jeff Winter delve into a two-part chat on imagination in digital transformation ... how to dream about what's possible but also be mindful of what's practical. An intriguing discussion about mindset in manufacturing technology.

Joe Kuhn , CMRP, is a former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant, and he is now president of Lean Driven Reliability. 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 ind...

Even if you're listening to this after Halloween, please enjoy this special treat of a group discussion around all things candy. Where does our candy come from? What are people eating these days? Why do kids like gummy candy instead of recognizing that chocolate is the only thing worth eating?  Most importantly, what's coming up from food manufacturers in the future? What great product will add in...

Ryan Magee, newly appointed CEO of Cority, shares his thoughts on the impact that technology, particularly AI, is having on workplace safety, and what the future looks like for EHS professionals hoping to leverage new technology.

Greg Martin is founder at Equip LLC Automation Consulting , a software and electrical service provider in South Bend, Indiana, that works specifically with automated systems. Greg was in Chicago recently to explore the  IMTS 2024 trade show , and met up with Thomas Wilk , chief editor of Plant Services , to trade their observations and reflect on the past 10 years of systems integration.

Editors Scott Achelpohl, Tom Wilk, and Dennis Scimeca sit down with Andrew Burton, the enterprise cloud software vendor's global industry director of manufacturing, about the IFS conference in Orlando, why the company wants to trailblaze with artificial intelligence and how, as its CEO said at the show, IFS wants to be the "undisputed leader in industrial software."

Nevermind machine learning … Andrew Halonen, founder of Amatrium and the AmatriumGPT tool, argues that LLMs offer multiple paths for manufacturers to expand their capabilities and extend their market reach.

Almost everyone's seen some version of this: You've got a great system in place that's producing measurable improvements, but your company gets a new division head or president or CEO, and some new shiny object becomes the focus.  Ever wanted to ask an implementation person how they handle that? At the IndustryWeek Operations Leadership Summit this summer, an audience member put the question that...

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Laura Davis, editor-in-chief of New Equipment Digest, sits down with Mark Harris, CEO of HeroWear, to explore the cutting-edge world of exosuits. These innovative wearable devices are changing workplace safety and productivity, particularly in industries where manual material handling is a daily challenge. Harris shares insights into the...

Trevor Joelson is an energy and decarbonization service account executive at Trane. Over the past ten years, Trevor has held various roles in corporate energy and sustainability management and has become an expert in the energy markets and how the supply-side of energy connects to the built environment. In his current role, Trevor works with manufacturers to help them establish strategies and prog...