Connected Shopfloor Podcast

Nuno Silva joins us on the Connected Shopfloor podcast to break down the strategies behind managing a global industrial group with seven distinct business units. He explains why management principles are universal and why technical expertise matters less than accountability, rigor and a deep obsession with client delivery. We explore the concept of structural resilience and how diversifying into s...

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, we welcome Robert Moak, a veteran who truly understands the meaning of "command and control" in both a literal and industrial sense. Bob spent 22 years in the US Navy before transitioning into the trenches of manufacturing, bringing a unique perspective on leadership, discipline, and the high-stakes reality of shopfloor operations. The...

In this episode, Marco Tschan sits down with Júlio Leite, Operations Manager at WEDRONE , a company that is redefining the intersection of tradition and innovation. Established in 2020 as an R&D powerhouse, WEDRONE made waves in 2022 by acquiring a legacy firm with 70 years of aluminum die-casting expertise. Julio brings a fascinating "full-circle" perspective to the table: from star...

After 30 years as a high-level executive for global giants like Unilever, Barry Callebaut, and Bunge, Maurizio decided to take a leap of faith during a global pandemic. In this episode, we dive deep into his decision to acquire Alojas, a potato starch and pulse processing factory in Latvia, and how he transformed a company on the brink of bankruptcy into a thriving business. Maurizio shares invalu...

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast , host Marco Tschan welcomes a specialist who truly understands what happens when the high-level theory of the boardroom meets the gritty reality of the machine. Mike Lane is a veteran of the manufacturing world with over 17 years spent in the trenches of management consulting. Having optimized operations for global giants like Accenture and Hitac...

In this episode, we sit down with Miguel Félix, Production Director at Prenso-Metal, to explore the front lines of industrial transformation. From its roots in 1992 to becoming a Tier 1/Tier 2 powerhouse in the automotive sector, Prenso-Metal represents the pinnacle of Portuguese precision engineering. With a background in International Trade and a Master’s in Business Management, Miguel brings a...

Masha Vis-Mertens, currently CHRO at Corbion, is a "Career Chameleon" with over 20 years of leadership at Cargill and Barry Callebaut. Her expertise spans the high-pressure world of Global Sales to the complexities of Supply Chain and HR across the EMEA region. With an academic background in International Supply Chain Management and European Studies, she bridges technical strategy with human-centr...

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, Marco Tschan welcomes Luis Moreno, the Plant Manager at Megapack in Peru, for an in-depth discussion on the transformation of the flexible packaging industry. The conversation centers on a significant milestone for the sector: the successful remote digitization of a manufacturing plant located thousands of miles away from the technical support te...

𝗜𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆’𝘀 "𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿" 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲? In this keynote from the 3rd Connected Shopfloor Summit, Marco Tschan, CEO of proGrow, challenges industrial managers to bridge the "visibility gap" that still haunts many production lines. Using the Age of Discovery as an analogy, Marco explains that just as sailors needed the Polaris star to navigate, modern factories need a relia...

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast , Marco Tschan sits down with Rui Cernadas , the Chief Operating Officer at Adalberto Textile Solutions , to explore the intersection of high-level strategy and the reality of the factory floor. Rui’s career is a masterclass in operational evolution. From his early days at the Kaizen Institute to the high-stakes world of entrepreneurship and his c...

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, we explore the essential bridge between precision engineering and strategic business vision. We are joined by João Rodrigues, Business Development Lead at IDentPrint, for an in-depth conversation on how identification and mobility systems are shaping the future of industrial operations. João shares his unique perspective as an engineer-turned-sal...

In this presentation, Rui Baptista, CEO of WEDRONE, details the company's strategic journey to modernize industrial operations and move away from manual processes. The session focuses on the transition from paper-based management to a fully connected digital ecosystem dedicated to producing complex aluminum components for automotive industry leaders such as Porsche, Bentley and Volkswagen. Thr...

In this episode of the Connected Shopfloor Podcast, Marco Tschan talks with Francisco Duarte, professor at the University of Minho and affiliated researcher at CCG. They share essential advice for engineering students, explore shopfloor innovation, and discuss the technologies transforming the industry. The conversation highlights the importance of staying curious, questioning assumptions, critica...

On October 23, 2025, at the Connected Shopfloor Summit 2025, Ricardo Tschan Carvalho, COO at proGrow, moderated a roundtable discussion on Artificial Industry or Industrial Intelligence? with industry leaders Filipe Silva, COO at Coloplast, Pedro Maia, COO at Ferral - José Luís & Co. Ltd, and Gonçalo Barata da Rocha, COO at MCF & Palsystems. The discussion explored the critical intersectio...

Are We Prepared to Go 5.0? In the second episode of Season 2, we sit down with Oscar Sroor, Senior Manager of Business Transformation & Continuous Improvement at STERIS, to explore what truly drives progress in a world accelerating toward Industry 5.0. From continuous improvement to cultural adaptation, Oscar shares how people, culture, and mindset shape transformation long before automation e...

Are we truly prepared to rethink how we lead our industrial teams? In this opening session of the Connected Shopfloor Summit 2025, Ignacio delivers a powerful message: technology alone doesn’t transform factories, people do. This talk dives into the mindset, clarity and leadership needed to drive real change on the shopfloor. It’s not just about data or digital tools, but about inspiring ownership...

Where Craftsmanship Meets Technology… Is the Furniture Industry Ready for the Future? In the first episode of the new season we sit down with Margarida Silva, COO at AM Furniture Group, to explore how leadership, innovation and people are driving change in the furniture industry. When tradition meets technology, transformation happens. From craftsmanship to technology, Margarida shares her perspec...

Neste episódio do Connected Shopfloor Podcast, Henrique Marçal, CEO do Reshape e do The Lean Six Sigma Company, partilha como o Lean tem evoluído e se adaptado às novas necessidades da indústria. A conversa aborda como superar a falta de tempo para melhorar processos, as novas tecnologias no contexto Lean e como envolver as pessoas na melhoria contínua. Também se discute como garantir resultados s...

No primeiro episódio de 2025, Angelo Sousa, Diretor Técnico da Atepeli, revela os segredos por trás da produção de componentes de marroquinaria para a maior marca de luxo do mundo. Descubra como a Atepeli mantém a essência e a qualidade artesanal, mesmo com a digitalização dos seus ateliers, cultiva a importância da qualidade num mercado tão exclusive e forma e retém artesãos altamente especializa...

Neste episódio com Manuel Gaspar, Diretor Industrial da J.C. Ribeiro, ouça uma conversa fascinante sobre as aprendizagens acumuladas nos diferentes setores, como o alimentar, o têxtil e a cortiça, e onde se explora como o passaporte digital do produto pode transformar a transparência nas cadeias de valor e como as regulamentações europeias estão a influenciar o setor. Além disso, como surfista, Ma...

Diogo Costa é o nosso terceiro convidado no Connected Shopfloor Podcast! Não perca este episódio enriquecedor, onde discutimos as crescentes exigências das organizações industriais: agilidade, execução com qualidade e rapidez. Exploramos como estas características são fundamentais para equipas de alta performance, as mesmas que as operações industriais procuram para alcançar o sucesso.

Neste segundo episódio, Pedro Cardoso, CEO da Quantal, partilha a sua trajetória na indústria metalomecânica e revela os desafios e vitórias no processo de internacionalização de uma PME. Além de abordar a "sorte" ao longo da sua carreira, Pedro oferece insights valiosos sobre como aumentar a eficiência e impulsionar a inovação organizacional.

No episódio de estreia, temos uma conversa fascinante com Domingos Pinto, CEO da Simoldes Plásticos. Exploramos o futuro da indústria automóvel, discutindo as mudanças no comportamento do consumidor, a evolução dos carros como serviço e o impacto ambiental dessas transformações. Além disso, mergulhamos nas tecnologias emergentes, incluindo a IA, e seu impacto no setor. Não perca este episódio repl...