Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

Connectivity is the Missing Piece to Drive Manufacturing Performance with AI

Samuel Pasquier, head of product management for Cisco System's Industrial IoT Connectivity Portfolio, says manufacturers want to use more AI in factories to drive efficiency and growth, but many programs are stuck in trial and failing to produce expected gains.
New research from the networking technology company shows that two major factors are getting in the way: computing power and the network bandwidth to access that compute.
In this conversation with Smart Industry's Scott Achelpohl, Pasquier discusses what challenges still face AI-driven digital transformation efforts and what steps manufacturers can take to set themselves up for success.

Maintenance vs. operations—Improving Communication Through Shop Floor Accountability (Ask A Plant Manager)

Joe Kuhn, CMRP, former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant, is now president of Lean Driven Reliability LLC. He is the author of the book “Zero to Hero: How to Jumpstart Your Reliability Journey Given Today’s Business Challenges” and the creator of the Joe Kuhn YouTube Channel, which offers content on starting your reliability journey and achieving financial independence. In our monthly podcast miniseries, Ask a Plant Manager, Joe considers a commonplace scenario facing the industry and offers his advice, as well as actions that you can take to get on track tomorrow. This episode explores how to maintain a healthy level of tension between maintenance and operations, and how to resolve unhealthy conflict. Bonus: How to be a better mentor and how to find one for yourself.

A Fresh Approach to Tackling Workplace Safety Problems (Talking EHS)

Donavan Hornsby, chief strategy officer with Benchmark Gensuite, shares the results of his company's "EHS Pressure Point" report on risk, readiness and the shift to AI, and offers his insights into anticipated changes and trends in workplace safety in 2026.

The AI You Don’t Want To Use (IndustryWeek)

Pradip Singh, chief manufacturing officer at semiconductor manufacturer GlobalFoundries, has seen it all when it comes to AI. Well, he would see it all if there wasn’t so much AI thrown at him that he needs people to weed through the slop and get to the good stuff – and even only a few “good” AI pitches ever get through.
That’s because AI developers don’t understand manufacturing. They don’t grasp the unique challenges of what AI might actually do for industry and instead focus on developing AI seemingly for its own sake.
In this episode of Great Question, Singh speaks with IndustryWeek senior editor for technology, Dennis Scimeca, about AI boondoggles, what the technology should never be used for and the words to listen to during an AI pitch that means the tech is worth considering.

How Corbel is Modernizing Capital Equipment Sales with AI

Industrial manufacturers have invested heavily in automation on the shop floor—but sales processes often remain manual, slow, and fragmented. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Laura Davis, editor-in-chief of New Equipment Digest, sits down with Le’ora Lichtenstein, founder and CEO of Corbel, a next-generation CPQ platform, to discuss how AI-powered configurators, unstructured data mining, and integrated financing tools are helping equipment builders modernize how they quote, sell, and close capital equipment deals.
Le’ora brings a background in structured credit and early-stage investing, and holds a BSc in Finance and the CFA charterholder designation.

AI-Assisted, Cloud-Connected Radios Are Reducing Language Barriers on the Factory Floor (Smart Industry)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Relay co-founder and CEO Chris Chuang joins the podcast to delve into another corner of artificial intelligence in manufacturing: How voice is being turned into data, ending the disconnect among workers who don’t sit at desks or dwell near workstations.

How Modular Factories Are Reshaping U.S. Manufacturing Capacity (Plant Services)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk of Plant Services sits down with Justin Baucum of Isembard to explore how modular, software-driven factories are reshaping U.S. manufacturing capacity. The conversation traces Justin’s unconventional path into manufacturing and how mission-driven thinking translates into building faster, more resilient production networks. Together, they dig into reshoring, supply chain bottlenecks in defense, aerospace, and energy, and the practical realities of standing up high-precision factories at speed. The episode offers a grounded look at how technology, operations, and new business models can help manufacturing move quicker and scale smarter.

The AI Adoption Challenge For Foundry Workers (FMT)

The concept of a “company GPT” is helping small and midsized manufacturers grasp the potential for artificial intelligence in their enterprises, and make real progress in their journeys. In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Amatrium Inc. co-founder and president Andrew Halonen discusses his recent article "AI Is a Journey for Foundries and Equipment Builders" and why he argues that manufacturers’ difficulties in implementing AI are about change management, not technology.

A Deep Dive into Navigating OSHA Policies and Compliance (Talking EHS)

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Peter Vassalo, senior counsel with the Littler legal firm, explains how OSHA has maintained its core activities despite leadership challenges, emphasizing ongoing inspections, citations, and the cautious approach to rulemaking, while exploring the impact of increased use of opinion letters for compliance assistance. 

Is AI Another Tool in the Lean Toolbox? (Production Pulse)

Yes, AI has a place in lean and continuous improvement, but don't jump off the deep end. Try experimentation and remember: Respect for people prevails.
In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Jill Jusko sits down with Eric Lussier to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence and lean manufacturing. Their conversation examines where AI can genuinely support continuous improvement without undermining respect for people or sound problem-solving practices. Together, they discuss practical use cases, cultural considerations, and why leadership remains critical as manufacturers experiment with AI. The episode offers a thoughtful look at how emerging technology can augment, rather than replace, lean principles.