Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott welcome back Steve Nichols, head of the Public Sector and Defense Group at Razorleaf. Together, they unpack the foundational steps government agencies need to take to successfully implement digital engineering (DE) practices—whether you're in the Department of Defense, NASA, Homeland Security, or any...

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott are joined by David Ewing, Director of Mission Integration at SAIC and architect of the award-winning Ready One digital engineering platform. Together, they tackle the myths and misconceptions surrounding digital twins. They explore the difference between digital models and true digital twins, the importa...

In this foundational episode, we kick off a two-part conversation with renowned MBSE thought leader David Long, former president of INCOSE and long-time advocate for model-based systems engineering. Hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott explore the role MBSE plays in enabling Digital Twins, especially in early lifecycle phases, and clarify how MBSE supports—not replaces—high-fidelity simulation a...

How do simulations truly integrate into the world of digital twins—and what role do surrogate models and AI play in driving smarter design? In this episode, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott continue the Digital Twin Series with a deep dive into simulation, featuring guest expert Shawn Freeman from Vias3D . With over 30 years of experience in CAE and simulation-driven product development, Sha...

In this episode, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott are joined by Patrick Harrigan, VP of Partnerships at Caddi, to explore the transformative role of AI in unlocking the potential of unstructured data in manufacturing. While most conversations in digital engineering focus on structured data—PLM, ERP, and CAD—this episode dives deep into the massive (and often untapped) world of unstructured d...

In this special 25th anniversary episode, we’re taking a trip down memory lane with Razorleaf’s CEO and co-founder, Eric Doubell. Hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with Eric to reflect on the pivotal moments, lessons learned, and guiding values that shaped Razorleaf’s journey from a scrappy startup to a global digital engineering leader. 💡 In this episode, we cover: The founding sto...

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , we go beyond the product digital twin and dive into the transformative world of virtual twins for manufacturing processes. Juliann and Jonathan are joined by Kevin Sullivan of Dassault Systèmes to explore how leading manufacturers are using process twins to simulate, optimize, and future-proof their factory operations. You’ll learn:   ✅ The d...

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott welcome back Dr. Patrick Hillberg for his fourth appearance on the show. A professor and thought leader in PLM, systems thinking, and digital transformation, Dr. Hillberg joins the conversation to explore powerful and practical use cases for digital twins across industries. From Hollywood film sets and fo...

What really goes into building a digital twin that delivers value? In this episode, Juliann and Jonathan welcome industry veteran Dan Miklovic to unpack how digital twins are evolving to encompass not just the product, but the process that creates it. With over 50 years in manufacturing—from the plant floor to analyst firms like Gartner—Dan brings unparalleled insight into what it takes to build a...

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott continue their Digital Twin series—this time focusing on software digital twins. While hardware digital twins often dominate the conversation, software-based twins are playing an increasingly vital role in modern engineering and manufacturing. Juliann and Jonathan break down what software digital twins ac...

In this episode, Juliann and Jonathan dive into insights from the CIMdata PLM Roadmap and PDT Conference , held May 7–8 in Tysons Corner, VA. With this year’s theme—“PLM’s Integral Role in Digital Transformation: From Strategy to Execution”—they reflect on the event’s most powerful takeaways and presentations that explore how PLM can evolve from a tech initiative to an enterprise-wide business ena...

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott are joined by renowned PLM thought leader and sustainability advocate, Jos Voskuil, co-founder of the PLM Green Global Alliance. Together, they unpack the evolving role of sustainability within the world of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and digital engineering. From the European Green Deal to the grow...

Hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with Bob Maffia of BAE Systems to unpack what it really takes to manage large-scale PLM systems. From supporting thousands of users to navigating digital engineering, Bob shares practical lessons from the front lines. 💡 Highlights Real-world challenges of enterprise PLM at scale Balancing customization with vendor capabilities Strategies for digital...

In this episode of Stay Sharp , hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott are joined by Michael Craffey and Kip Speck from Razorleaf to unpack the highlights from COExperience 2025, held in Reno, Nevada. COExperience—originally the CATIA Operators Exchange—is one of the largest gatherings in the PLM community, showcasing the latest in Dassault Systèmes’ 3D EXPERIENCE platform. Takeaways: AI and AR ar...

In this episode of Stay Sharp, Jonathan and Juliann continue their deep dive into the world of digital twins—this time focusing on the hardware component and how Product Data Management (PDM) systems provide the backbone for version control, configuration management, and more. Together, they unpack: How PDM supports managing fast-changing hardware designs The difference between MCAD and ECAD data—...

In this future-focused episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , co-hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with special guest Rob Ferrone—product data expert and founder of Quick Release—to unpack Agentic AI and its disruptive role in the world of digital engineering. 🔧 What You'll Learn: What agentic AI is—and how it goes beyond traditional AI Why autonomy, adaptability, and r...

In this special episode of Stay Sharp , Jonathan and Juliann are joined by Milan Obradovic to unpack the biggest takeaways from the ARAS ACE 2025 event in Boston—celebrating ARAS’ 25th anniversary as a disruptor in the PLM space. From reflections on the early days of ARAS to its current momentum in innovation, the team dives into key developments including: The evolution of ARAS' image—from “...

Welcome to the launch of a special Digital Twin series on Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering ! In this foundational episode, co-hosts Juliann and Jonathan break down the ever-confusing world of digital twins, virtual twins, digital models, and more. They kick things off by asking a core question: What is the real purpose of a digital twin in your organization? From there, they explore the language,...

In this episode, we take a deep dive into the geeky world of product structures in PLM systems. Joining us is Michael Welti, General Manager of Razorleaf UK, who brings over 24 years of experience working with Dassault Systèmes products and various PLM platforms. Michael helps us unravel the complexities of data models, schema structures, and the evolution of Dassault's Unified Product Struct...

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with Dan Eslinger , Global IT Program and Innovation Manager at BWI Group . Dan shares his hard-earned insights on managing a global PLM implementation , the challenges of aligning teams across multiple cultures and time zones, and the lessons learned along the way. Key Topics Covered: Challenges...

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , we take a fresh look at Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) through a unique lens—breaking it down into its core capabilities and exploring how it can be applied in unexpected ways. What happens when PLM is used beyond its traditional role in product design and manufacturing? Join us as we dive into these unconventional applications and rethink...

Selecting the right Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system is a crucial decision for engineering and manufacturing companies. In this episode, Juliann and Jonathan welcome Derek Neiding to discuss essential factors to consider when evaluating PLM systems. From common mistakes to integration challenges, this conversation will help you navigate the selection process with confidence. Key Takeaways...

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott are joined by Rob McAveney, Chief Technology Officer at ARAS, to explore the evolving landscape of the digital thread. They discuss why every company’s digital thread is unique, the role of adaptability in PLM systems, and how AI is shaping the future of connected data. The conversation unpacks key concep...

In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott are joined by their colleague Pat Coulehan to discuss the intersection of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). They explore the challenges of managing models and data across systems, the role of configuration management, and best practices for successful MBSE-PLM i...

In this bittersweet episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering , we say goodbye to longtime co-host Jen Ferello as she steps away from the podcast. Joining hosts Jonathan Scott and Juliann Grant , Jen reflects on her journey with the show—sharing personal growth, memorable guests, and key lessons learned from the digital engineering space. Jen also gives a glimpse into her next chapter at Siemen...