Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast

Filtered episodes(13)

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  Scaling AI Won't Fix A Shaky ERP Foundation (Smart Industry)

  Published Sep 22, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Smart Industry's Sarah Mattalian and Nancy Majure, the head of product for Adaptive ERP at QAD, explore how manufacturers can scale AI without adding headcount by improving real-time visibility, data quality and workflow integration. They discuss the role of ERP as a foundation for governed AI, along with the risks of fragmented data, shadow AI and bolt-on tools. The conversation also looks ahead to how contextualized data and AI-driven

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  With the Post-AI Age On the Horizon, How Are Operations Executives Preparing? (IndustryWeek)

  Published Sep 17, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Chuck Orzechowski and Josh Renicker of the COO Forum discuss how operations leaders are navigating AI-driven disruption and workforce change. They explore the importance of human-centric leadership, strong teams, and culture as new technologies reshape manufacturing. The conversation also examines how closing gaps between engineering and production can support operational excellence at a moment where the post-AI age is on the horizon.

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  Can AI Help Manufacturers Overcome the Skilled Trades Talent Shortage? (IndustryWeek)

  Published Sep 10, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Anna Smith explores the growing skilled labor shortage facing U.S. manufacturing. She examines data on the 1.3 million-worker talent gap, an aging workforce and rising demand driven by reshoring and data centers. Smith also looks at how upskilling, education partnerships, apprenticeships and AI can help manufacturers expand their talent pools. The discussion highlights strategies for developing the skilled workforce needed to support co

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  From Test Stands to Toolboxes: Editor's Product Picks, September 2026 (New Equipment Digest)

  Published Sep 8, 2026

  On this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, New Equipment Digest Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis rounds up four products worth knowing about — a coupling and brake system built for e-mobility test stands, an AI-powered platform for warehouse data capture, a connected AI forklift platform, and a pair of high-output rechargeable flashlights. Whether you're chasing measurement accuracy on the test bench or trying to close visibility gaps on the warehouse floor, this episode has somethin

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  How AI Changes Cybersecurity for Manufacturers (IndustryWeek)

  Published Aug 27, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, IndustryWeek technology editor Dennis Scimeca and Smart Industry head of content Scott Achelpohl discuss the evolving cybersecurity challenges facing manufacturers. They examine recent attacks targeting PTC product lifecycle management software and Siemens S7 PLCs, highlighting the complexities of patching vulnerabilities across industrial environments. The conversation also explores how AI is accelerating cyberattacks and shortening th

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  How to Bring AI into Safety Culture (Talking EHS)

  Published Aug 18, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, McKenna Schutty, safety, health and environmental manager at TDIndustries, a Texas-based facilities services and mechanical construction company, discusses how her company brought AI into its safety organization.

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  'Muddy Waters' of Implementing AI and How Manufacturers Can Avoid Them (Smart Industry)

  Published Aug 11, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Smart Industry's Sarah Mattalian talks with Mike Fedorov, COO and co-CEO of Applied AI Labs, who discuss why AI implementations often fail to deliver expected results. They explore how manufacturers can work with the muddy waters of imperfect data, establish effective governance, and design AI solutions around measurable business outcomes. The conversation concludes with a look at AI as a tool for amplifying human capabilities rather th

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  Editor's Product Picks: 4 New Manufacturing Products (New Equipment Digest)

  Published Jul 28, 2026

  On this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, New Equipment Digest Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis rounds up four new products worth a closer look: a passive exoskeleton that eases shoulder strain during overhead work an AI-powered device that keeps forklift-based inventory tracking accurate in real time a connected ultrasound platform built for multisite reliability programs, a new inline coding system designed for the packaging industry's shift to GS1 2D codes.

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  Your AI Strategy Is Built on a Blind Spot (Smart Industry)

  Published Jul 7, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Scott Achelpohl is joined by Nick Hasselbeck and Matt Martin of E Tech Group to discuss the challenges legacy OT systems create for digital transformation and AI adoption. The conversation explores why siloed data, limited network visibility, and outdated equipment remain major obstacles for manufacturers. They also examine practical strategies for connecting older assets, evaluating the value of stranded data, and balancing equipment r

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  Firefighting Is Not A Maintenance Strategy (Plant Services)

  Published Jun 13, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, sponsored by Hydro Inc., Thomas Wilk speaks with Ares Panagoulias and Robert McCowan about building effective condition monitoring programs that reduce maintenance firefighting and improve asset reliability. The discussion explores the foundational steps organizations should take before deploying sensors, including defining goals, assigning responsibilities, and focusing on critical assets. They also examine the role of AI and machine l

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  How Jabil Drives Revenue with Procurement and Supply Chain (IndustryWeek)

  Published May 28, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question, IndustryWeek Senior Editor Laura Putre talks with Frank McKay and Graham Scott, Supply Chain Officer and Chief Procurement Officer at Jabil respectively, about how they transformed procurement to a cost driver at the global contract manufacturer—offering their own optimized supply-chain technology to customers as a service. They also discuss how they’ve tackled recent procurement challenges—such as tariffs and memory constraints in the AI market—and built a pip

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  Why Industrial AI Is Moving Closer to the Edge in Energy Operations (Plant Services)

  Published May 21, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Plant Services chief editor Thomas Wilk speaks with Andy Foster, Chief Product Officer at IOTech, about the growing use of edge AI across discrete manufacturing, process manufacturing, and energy operations. The conversation explores how manufacturers are using AI for predictive maintenance, anomaly detection, production optimization, and distributed energy resource management. They also discuss why organizations are moving AI closer to

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  How to Bridge the Gap Between Shop Floor Reality and AI Strategy in Manufacturing (Plant Services)

  Published May 9, 2026

  In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Nick Haase of MaintainX explores the challenges manufacturers face as workforce retirements and labor shortages collide with the push for AI adoption. He discusses how disconnects between leadership and the shop floor can lead to ineffective technology and stalled implementation. The conversation highlights the importance of capturing tribal knowledge, improving system interoperability, and prioritizing frontline-friendly tools. He also

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