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PODCAST

Manufacturing Happy Hour

Welcome to Manufacturing Happy Hour, the podcast where we get real about the latest trends and technologies impacting modern manufacturers. Hosted by industry veteran Chris Luecke, each week, we interview makers, founders, and other manufacturing leaders that are at the top of their game and give you the tools, tactics, and strategies you need to take your career and your business to the next level. We go beyond the buzzwords and dissect real-life applications and success stories so that you can

technology careers

All Episodes

46:18

252: Adaptive Production, Resilient Manufacturing,...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/09/09

Manufacturers (not just the guys on the shop floor, but the C-suite behind them) are on a race to the finish line when it comes to automation. Most of us by now are pretty familiar with how AI and automation can play a role in manufacturing. But it looks like we’re heading to the next stage…In this episode, we hear from Chris Stevens, the SVP & GM of US Automation Business at Siemens Digital Industries. We grab a virtual drink and kick the episode off with an interesting paradox – twenty years

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33:11

251: What is a Corporate Venture Studio? An Interview...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/09/02

We just can’t stay away from Pittsburgh’s robotics scene! So we’re back, this time turning the spotlight on the business and startup angle with Premier Labs. Premier Labs is a corporate venture studio, a relatively new model that changes how technology comes to market.President Joel Reed joins the episode to give real examples and explanations about how a corporate venture studio works. In short, Premier Labs starts with real problems and works backward to create solutions that actually fit.Finding

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51:15

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/08/26

As manufacturers are under pressure to do more with less and somehow fill roles in an increasingly smaller talent pool, unlocking your “hidden factory” could be the solution.To celebrate episode 250, Chris Luecke returns home to St. Louis to meet with some of his early career mentors from Rockwell Automation – now heading up Tri Tech Automation.Ryan Williams, Director of Innovation and Solution Sales, Adam Ruebsam, President, and Luke Manier, Managing Director, sit down at Urban Chestnut Brewing

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28:05

BONUS: How is the Manufacturing Industry Doing...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/08/19

What happens when you put five podcasters in a room together at one of the biggest events of the year for innovative industrial tech? A super broad view of what’s happening in the industry and what we’ve got to look forward to.Recorded live from Hexagon’s 2025 event, we welcomed four friends of Manufacturing Happy Hour, returning to the show to talk about the innovations we were most excited to see at the event. But for the main part of our conversation, we do a mid-year check-in on the industry to

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49:23

249: Why Pittsburgh has been Successful...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/08/12

Pittsburgh’s success in the robotics space didn’t happen overnight. It’s been over 40 years in the making, with education, business, and new innovations all coming together to make the city one of the big robotics hubs alongside Boston and San Francisco.The Pittsburgh Robotics Network has been a key player in that success, giving individuals, companies, and universities the opportunity to collaborate on projects and business opportunities. Executive Director, Jennifer Apicella, joins us on the

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17:49

The State of Robotics in 2025: Live from the Robotics...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/08/05

What will it take to get humanoid robots out of the experimental phase and into our daily lives? A lot of us always dreamed of having our own C-3PO at the ready, but how close are we really?Well, it’s a little more complicated than simply getting them on a production line. If we want robots to make an appearance not just in the manufacturing space, but also in healthcare, construction, public spaces, and even at home, there’s a whole lot more work to do.In this episode, we bring you a two-part

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55:14

248: Reindustrialization and Building in the Midwest...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/07/29

The reindustrialization movement is fully underway, and cities like Detroit are leading the charge. But how do we accelerate the timescale it takes to get America back to the ‘golden days’ of manufacturing?The key, as you’ll hear in this episode, isn’t to keep looking back at the past. It’s to use the tools and resources we have today with a healthy dose of industry collaboration.Joining this episode is Chris Nolte, Co-Founder of Bloom, an operations-as-a-service platform created in Detroit to help

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01:05:19

247: Lessons from a Serial Entrepreneur: Mark...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/07/22

What if accepting failure was the key to entrepreneurial success? Mark DeSantis has built and sold multiple companies over the years and like any entrepreneurial journey, it’s been a mixture of ups and downs, failures and successes. But in this episode, we hear that acknowledging the possibility of failure is what gave him the courage to keep on going.Mark shares his entrepreneurial story – why he began it, how he stays motivated, and some of the best lessons he’s picked up over the years. One of

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01:24:30

246: automatica 2025: Exploring Innovation, Robotics,...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/07/15

You’ll want to grab yourself a pilsner for this episode. Manufacturing Happy Hour heads overseas to sample some fine German beer in the city of Munich…and we also headed to automatica 2025 while we were there.Europe’s biggest AI and automation event is a must-visit if you can get over there. But if not, this episode has you covered.Between event talks, demos, and trips to the beer garden, we met some amazing people behind robotics and AI companies in Germany and beyond. Chris Luecke and Jake Hall

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56:14

245: A Grassroots Approach to Shaping the Future of...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/07/08

You might be surprised to learn what the biggest challenge manufacturers say they’re facing right now. The talent gap comes up a lot on this podcast, but early survey findings from the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA), show that “access to capital” is really what holds most mid-market manufacturers back.In this episode, we sit down with the CEO and Co-Founder of Sustainment, a software company that helps manufacturers manage supplier data, sourcing, and procurement in one centralized

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42:09

244: Automate LIVE 2025: Warehousing Innovations, AI...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/07/04

“The hardest part of robotics isn't actually doing robotics. It's providing a solution that solves a real customer problem.” Melonee Wise’s quote from this episode is a good summary of what we talk about in this episode – practical, real-world applications of the technology we see hyped.Robotics, AMRs, humanoid robots, automation, AI – all of these things are hot topics in manufacturing. But the truth is that these solutions may not always result in the most exciting or sexiest applications. But

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41:44

243: Inside Automate 2025: Robotics, Automation...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/07/01

Welcome to Part 1 of our two-part Automate 2025 recap series. In this episode, we dive into current trends in automation and robotics, including cobots, open operating systems, and more. The interviews were recorded as part of A3's Automate LIVE series of interviews and include insights from the following industry leaders:Jerry Perez, FANUC America CorporationBernd Raithel, Director Product Management & Marketing, Siemens Factory AutomationShawn Donahue and Brian Darling, Raymond CorpKen

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50:57

242: Industrial History and the Low-Carbon Economy of...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/06/24

When we talk about building a more productive and competitive manufacturing industry, talk of AI, automation, and other new tech usually crops up. But let’s not forget the basics – the way we power, staff, and build sustainable practices. That stuff’s also important.We’re in an era of transformation right now, but it’s definitely not the first time the US has gone through this. In fact, we get a little history lesson in this episode from Ted Fertik, VP of Manufacturing & Industrial Policy at

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15:07

BONUS: Automatica 2025 Preview: Inside Germany’s...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/06/20

Get ready for a front-row seat to Europe’s biggest automation event! In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, host Chris Luecke and Jake Hall – The Manufacturing Millennial – share their excitement and preview what’s ahead at Automatica 2025, taking place June 24–27 in Munich, Germany.Chris and Jake discuss:What makes German manufacturing a global powerhouse in automation and vocational trainingWhat to expect from Automatica: major exhibitors, international tech showcases, and epic trade

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36:06

241: How NVIDIA and AI Agents Are Transforming...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/06/17

We’re seeing a huge leap in potential when it comes to what AI can accomplish in industrial settings. Not only can it catch errors, it can provide intelligent insights to prevent them in the first place, reduce waste, save costs, and improve processes.Recorded live from Automate 2025, we sat down with Alvin Clark, Senior AI Engineer at NVIDIA, to discuss AI agents in manufacturing and how they’re reshaping industrial inspections. We hear about all the different use cases of AI agents, including

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24:04

240: How AI Agents are Revolutionizing Safety and...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/06/10

Imagine having a tireless teammate watching your back 24/7, never missing a beat when it comes to keeping you safe. That’s exactly what AI agents in manufacturing are capable of today.Spot AI uses cameras and AI agents to spot safety issues, send alerts, and collect data that can improve safety training in the future. Yes, a human could do all that. But who wants to spend 8 hours a day reviewing footage? In this episode, Dunchadhn Lyons, Director of Engineering, shares a real-world example of a

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50:14

239: How to Build a "Customer Advisory Board" and...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/06/03

Without customer buy-in, even the most innovative robotics automation products can fall flat. But the approach most manufacturers take with new products is to build them first, then get feedback. In this episode, you’ll hear how one company flipped the script and did robotics product development the other way around.Joining this episode is Anthony Leo, President of IPR Robotics, a robotics automation company, to explain how a customer advisory board became invaluable for uncovering exactly what

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39:45

238: Scaling Smart: Warehouse Automation and...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/05/27

How does a startup scale? It all starts with a great product that solves a real problem. And sometimes that means taking the slow and steady road to startup success.Recorded at Trillium Brewing in Boston, we sit down with Adi Dalvi, the VP of Sales at OSARO, a company that specializes in robot piece-picking and machine learning solutions to automate warehouse tasks. With minimal marketing in the early days, OSARO managed to grow and scale operations to deliver holistic systems to solve real

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52:47

237: How Higher Education Is Shaping the Future of...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/05/20

What role does higher ed play in making sure manufacturing thrives? Universities and other higher ed hubs are playing a leading role in shaping the future of this industry. And MIT is a prime example of this, with specialist courses to help graduates and professionals get the skills they need to bring new innovations to life. We’re joined by the Principal Investigator of MIT’s LEAP Group (Learning Engineering and Practice), Dr. John Liu. As someone deeply involved in building much-needed programs,

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59:47

236: The Power of Decisive Leadership in Modern...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/05/13

Sometimes indecision costs more than a wrong decision. Making decisions is a leader’s bread and butter, but during times of uncertainty or crisis, they often become more cautious and hesitant. The danger here is getting left behind while more confident, proactive leaders charge ahead. Jason T. Ray, Co-Founder and CEO of Paperless Parts, is a regular on Manufacturing Happy Hour, so we compare some of the insights he made when he was last on the show to what he’s seeing in the industry today. One of

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