The Wrench Factor

Machine health is no longer just about catching failures before they happen. In this episode of The Wrench Factor, host Nick Haase sits down with Elan Greenberg, CEO of Augury , to discuss how machine health, industrial AI, and workforce intelligence are reshaping the future of manufacturing. Drawing from Augury's experience supporting manufacturers across 40 countries, Elan explains why the...

Walker Reynolds, President of 4.0 Solutions, has spent 26 years in the trenches of industrial transformation — from salt mines and steel plants to tier one automotive and large-scale enterprise consulting. He's built one of the most active communities in the Industry 4.0 space with 14,000 students at IIoT.University and 8,000 members in his Discord server. And he just wrapped the second year...

In this episode of The Wrench Factor, guest host Jake Hall (“The Manufacturing Millennial”) sits down with Audrey Van De Castle, Sr. Director of Operational Excellence Technology at Stanley Black & Decker , to explore what it actually takes to make digital transformation deliver value on the plant floor. As manufacturing teams become more comfortable with data and digital tools, the challenge...

In this episode of The Wrench Factor, host Nick Haase sits down with Isabel Jardine, Manager of Solution Consulting at MaintainX, to break down the real patterns behind maintenance performance. After working with teams at every stage of maturity, Isabel has seen what separates reactive organizations from high-performing ones — and it’s rarely what people expect. Together, Nick and Isabel explore:...

In this episode of The Wrench Factor, guest host Jake Hall, The Manufacturing Millennial, sits down with John Weiler, Associate Director of Sales at Boston Dynamics, to explore where robotics truly fits inside modern maintenance operations. Maintenance leaders today face mounting pressure: labor shortages, aging assets, increasing safety expectations, and relentless uptime demands. Traditional ins...

When companies have a new product idea, the path from concept to production isn’t always clear—and the decisions made early can make or break success. In this live episode, Jake Hall (The Manufacturing Millennial) sits down with Rush LaSelle , CEO of Fathom Digital Manufacturing , to unpack how ideas actually make it onto the manufacturing floor—and ultimately into the hands of customers. As one o...

The maintenance and reliability landscape is evolving fast, and few people have a clearer pulse on the industry than Greg Christensen, host of CMMSradio. In this episode of The Wrench Factor, host Nick Haase sits down with Greg to unpack what’s really happening across the CMMS and maintenance technology ecosystem. Drawing from his many conversations with vendors, practitioners, and industry leader...

Predictive maintenance has changed more in the last decade than in the previous forty. In this episode of Wrench Factor, host Nick Haase sits down with Ryan Bowman, Chief Revenue Officer at Waites, and David Porter, Director of Reliability Services at Waites, to unpack the state of vibration monitoring today—and why it’s becoming a foundational tool for modern manufacturing. Waites provides indust...

On this episode of The Wrench Factor, guest host Jake Hall (The Manufacturing Millennial) sits down with Chen Su, Senior Technical Product Marketing Manager at NVIDIA, to explore how AI and robotics autonomy are redefining safety on the factory floor. With more than a decade of experience across industrial automation, enterprise software, R&D, and product management, Chen brings a rare, cross-...

Manufacturers know the tension well: Operations needs modern tools to run efficiently, while IT is tasked with protecting the enterprise, managing risk, and preventing tech-stack sprawl. Sometimes, when those priorities collide, digital transformation stalls. On this episode of Wrench Factor, host Tyler Hufstetler sits down with Blaine Bryant, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President at...

Nick Haase sits down with Will Lehrmann, SVP of Product at MaintainX and former Procore Technologies product leader, for a candid conversation about what industrial teams actually need from software today. Drawing from experience across both construction and manufacturing, Will breaks down the challenges he’s hearing from operators, the opportunities product teams should be building toward, and wh...

Jake Hall , The Manufacturing Millennial , talks with Remus Pop , Partner at Concept Reply, about the current state of digital transformation — and where the biggest shifts are happening on the plant floor. They break down what’s actually shifting on the plant floor as AI becomes more embedded, why maintenance teams are essential to successful digitalization, and what leaders should be thinking ab...

Industry 4.0, minus the buzzwords. On this episode of #TheWrenchFactor, co-founder Nick Haase sits down with Jake Hall (The Manufacturing Millennial) to demystify what a real digital transformation flywheel looks like, ERP vs. MES vs. data lakes and IoT, and how AI (perception, generative, and agentic) is moving maintenance from reactive to truly predictive. Plus, why early adopters win and how a...

Join Nick Haase, Co-Founder of MaintainX, on 'The Wrench Factor' as he hosts Jeff Winter, Vice President of Business Strategy for Critical Manufacturing and an Industry 4.0 & Digital Transformation Enthusiast.  In this episode, they delve into the latest trends in IoT, AI, and Maintenance 4.0. Learn about the evolution of maintenance from preventative measures to data-driven, predict...

AI dominates the conversation around industrial innovation, but how are frontline maintenance and reliability teams actually using it? In this episode of The Wrench Factor, we break down findings from the 2025 State of Industrial Maintenance Report and explore what AI adoption really looks like inside the four walls of a plant. Read the full report here: https://www.getmaintainx.com/state-of-indus...

Jake Hall ("The Manufacturing Millennial") and MaintainX co-founder, Nick Haase, explore the urgent intersection of education, generational knowledge transfer, and digital transformation reshaping manufacturing's future. As the industry loses decades of irreplaceable expertise to retirement, it will reveal how forward-thinking organizations are turning this challenge into an opportu...

On this episode of The Wrench Factor, we explore how modern maintenance culture is moving away from reactive checklists and compliance-driven workflows toward empowerment, ownership, and collaboration. Learn how to build a culture that drives a lasting impact.

On this episode of The Wrench Factor, MaintainX co-founder Nick Haase sits down with Willem Sundblad, CEO of Oden Technologies, to discuss the state of AI inside digital transformation programs—and why the bar for ROI has shot through the roof. 

In this episode, we explore the transformative power of real-time data sharing, including how manufacturers and OEMs can leverage data to reduce downtime, optimize inventory control, accelerate innovation, and foster collaboration. 

MachineMetrics, a leading provider of machine data collection and analysis solutions, shares how you can extract valuable insights from their maintenance data, driving improvements in sustainability, quality, productivity, and capital planning.  Learn how this data-driven approach can help you achieve operational excellence and optimize manufacturing processes.

In this episode, we look into the transformative impact of technology on workplace safety, featuring insights from Cintas’ approach to tech-enabled safety solutions. We examine how data-driven tools and innovative strategies empower teams, enhance operational efficiency, and foster a culture of safety across industries.

In this episode, we dig into the critical connection between asset performance, maintenance strategies, and cash flow. We explore how proactive maintenance and real-time data can reduce downtime, optimize asset performance, and significantly impact a company’s financial health.

Learn how LeverX revolutionizes maintenance and operations through SAP-driven solutions. From predictive maintenance and real-time analytics to seamless IT/OT integration, we’ll discuss how businesses can optimize workflows, reduce downtime, and maximize asset performance.

From paper-based chaos to missing parts at the worst possible time. With real stories from the field, the team brings to life the everyday challenges maintenance pros face. Whether you're leading a well-oiled machine or constantly in firefighting mode, this episode is packed with practical insights.

This special episode of The Wrench Factor explores excellence in leadership across industrial sectors. Our live panel discussion features Katherine Schifani and Shari Maxwell Patrick, pioneering leaders who are transforming maintenance and manufacturing through strategic innovation. This timely conversation coincides with International Women's Day and highlights how diverse perspectives are a...