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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

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All Episodes

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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30:02

235: How to Find Automation Talent Anywhere with Kyle...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/05/09

What does it take to find the best talent in the manufacturing industry these days? When it comes to automation, you can use location (or lack of location) to your advantage. In this episode, Kyle Mahan of Ohio-based Wauseon Machine takes us through their approach to securing the best automation talent. We'll also hear some history on the organization, learn about Kyle's career, and share strategies for robotics and automation integrators.

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28:56

234: From Pro Football to Craft Beer with Katie and...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/05/06

It’s not every day that a former NFL player joins the podcast. And it’s not every day you see one make such a dramatic career pivot from pro football to craft brewing and small business ownership.But that’s exactly what Brandon Fields did. When he was winding down his football career, he found his passion in brewing, starting out with a home brewing kit. He teamed up with his wife Katie and opened up Inside the Five Brewing Co., which has scaled to three locations and 120 team members as a

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46:32

233: Manufacturing 101, On-The-Job Training, and...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/04/29

Manufacturing and engineering are full of talented, passionate people. Just listen to literally any of these episodes for proof of that. But what is it that keeps people in this space motivated and fulfilled? Ask 10 different people, and you’d likely get 10 very different answers. For this episode, we posed the question to three guests – Steve Ilmrud, VP of Operations for North America at Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Jeff Van Horn, Owner & Sr. Project Manager at Industrial Technology

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53:27

232: AI Agents for Manufacturing 101 Featuring...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/04/22

An AI agent can create. It can predict. It can analyze data. But for it to really drive change and enhance operations, it needs to take action. That’s the next step of machine learning and AI, says Kence Anderson, CEO of Composabl, a company that helps manufacturers create multi-agent AI systems.Our discussion with Kence is probably one of the most important you’ll hear on the podcast lately. AI has been a big topic for a while now, but we dig further into how it can be applied at an industrial

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41:26

BONUS: MEPs are at Risk of Losing Funding and Need...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/04/21

Today's bonus episode is all about MEPs, and actually a very urgent issue related to MEPs. For context, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) is a public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions by helping small and medium-sized manufacturers grow, make operational improvements, and reduce risk.To put it in more simplified terms - MEPs provide resources to small- and medium-sized manufacturers that allow them to adopt new technology, upskill and train their people,

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01:05:13

231: Why VCs and Startups Are Betting on...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/04/15

What’s getting VCs to look beyond Silicon Valley in the tech startup scene? The Midwest is not just an up-and-coming place for investors to watch. It’s now a region that more investors are betting on. With companies like Path Robotics, the Midwest is taking its status as a manufacturing hub and merging it with the kind of innovative tech traditionally associated with the coastal cities. For this episode, we hear from two sides of the conversation – from Andy Lonsberry, CEO of Path Robotics, and Nima

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46:00

230: Shark Tank, Advanced Prosthetics, and How...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/04/08

Robotics is a cool field, no doubt about that. But what’s cooler than using it to change people’s lives?When he was seven years old, Aadeel Akhtar met a girl in Pakistan with a missing leg. This kickstarted a fascination with helping people regain control over lost limbs and a decision that pivoted his planned career in medicine to robotics and prosthetics. Today, he’s the CEO and Founder of PSYONIC, the company behind the world’s first touch-sensing bionic hand. He’s on a mission to make this tech

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46:48

229: Manufacturing Leadership in Indiana and Beyond:...

Manufacturing Happy Hour ·

2025/04/01

We’ve been on tour for the past couple of months, recording live episodes in some of the manufacturing hot spots around the country. Indiana is our current stop, where Guggman Haus Brewing hosted us for an episode all about innovation, technology, culture, and, of course, Indiana’s manufacturing prowess. Manufacturing makes up a huge portion of Indiana’s economy and culture, so we look behind the scenes at what the state is getting right to make it a manufacturing hub. We welcomed Noel Hopkins, the

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335 results

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