Manufacturing Matters Podcast

Manufacturing Matters Podcast Insights and interviews discussing trends, innovations, and technologies. https://linktr.ee/m_mp

05/29/2026

Artificial intelligence is everywhere in manufacturing right now. But for many plant teams, it still feels more like a concept than a practical tool. In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, Aaron Hand sits down with Alex Sandoval, founder and CEO of Allie, to break down what AI actually looks like on the factory floor.

Sandoval explains how AI co-pilots can connect to PLCs, quality systems, and maintenance data to act like a 24/7 expert supervisor — surfacing problems before they cause downtime and guiding operators toward faster, better decisions. But the technology itself isn’t the biggest hurdle. From disconnected machines and unclear data ownership to the cultural challenges of trust and fear, most manufacturers aren’t failing because of AI. They’re getting stuck before it can deliver value.

Link to the full episode is in the comments

05/22/2026

“One of my biggest complaints with public policy is we’re too reactive. And because technology now changes so rapidly, if you’re reactive, by the time you have a policy in place, it’s outdated.” -Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan

The United States accounts for just 9% of global robotics installations while China accounts for 54% — a gap that Congresswoman McClellan believes demands a proactive response from Washington. That’s the driving force behind the National Commission on Robotics Act (HR 7334), a bipartisan bill that would establish an 18-member Commission on American Leadership in Robotics to assess U.S. competitiveness, workforce needs, and supply chain security in robotics and AI.

In this episode of the Manufacturing Matters podcast, TECH B2B Marketing’s Winn Hardin and Jimmy Carroll are joined by Congresswoman McClellan, U.S. Representative for Virginia’s 4th Congressional District, to discuss why now is the time for government to get ahead of the curve on robotics and AI policy — rather than react to it after the fact.

The conversation highlights the key pillars any national robotics policy must address, from workforce development and reskilling to supply chain resilience and the ethical guardrails needed as AI and robotics increasingly converge. Congresswoman McClellan also discusses the makeup of the proposed commission, why its recommendations will need to be revisited far more frequently than traditional legislation allows, and why winning the AI race at the expense of communities, energy, and resources would be a Pyrrhic victory. Additional topics include real-world examples of robotics driving safety and efficiency — from bottling facilities to Amazon distribution centers — and how Congress can play a meaningful role in shaping the future of automation without stifling innovation.

👇Full episode at the link in the comments.

05/15/2026

"Engineers can now start thinking about cell design not from the cages, but from the actual work."

A significant if not obvious factor that all companies implementing robotic systems must consider is safety. While robotic guarding has been the industry standard for years, Sensory Robotics COO Mark Gagas believes another way offers more flexibility and space for manufacturers. After 19 months of rigorous testing, his company now has UL certification to prove it.

In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Marketing's Jimmy Carroll sits down with Gagas to discuss how Sensory Robotics' SR-1 system uses 3D vision to provide 100% human detection coverage, replace hard guarding with an intelligent, monitored space around the robot — allowing workers and machines to operate together naturally, at full speed and full payload.

The conversation covers what the newly achieved certification means for customers and the broader market, how advances in 3D time-of-flight sensing and edge computing made a system like SR-1 possible, and why fenceless factory design could unlock significant gains in floor space and productivity.

Gagas also walks through the company’s expanding product line, including a DoD-funded mobile platform, SR-2— which embeds safety directly into the arm — and SR Insight, a data layer that adds productivity dashboards, human ergonomics analysis, and live risk assessment monitoring on top of the core safety infrastructure.

05/07/2026

Artificial intelligence is quickly making its way onto the manufacturing floor. But when it comes to safety, the stakes are different. In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, Winn Hardin and Aaron Hand talk with Erik Reynolds, founder of Reynolds & Moore, about what it really takes to bring AI into safety-critical systems.

For decades, safety engineering has relied on deterministic, fully explainable systems. AI challenges that foundation, introducing models that learn, adapt, and sometimes behave in ways we don’t fully understand. So why use AI at all? Reynolds explains where it actually adds value — from enabling smarter human-robot collaboration to the possibility of systems that improve safety over time, not degrade. But with that potential comes a new challenge: proving that these systems can be trusted.

👇Full episode at the link in the comments.

05/01/2026

Robots may get most of the attention, but what happens at the end of the arm often determines whether an automation project succeeds or fails. As manufacturers push for greater flexibility, faster changeovers, and more complex handling, the demands on grippers and end-of-arm tooling are evolving at least as quickly as the robots themselves.

In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, Aaron Hand talks with Aaron Royster, group manager of automation at Schunk, about how end-of-arm tooling is shaping system design, enabling more adaptable automation, and unlocking new applications. They also explore the growing role of artificial intelligence, the balance between hardware and software innovation, and why some manufacturers are rethinking how they approach automation — from the gripper back.

👇Full episode at the link in the comments.

04/22/2026

Computer imaging (aka Machine Vision) is having a moment, and Allied Vision CEO Robert Franz explains why. In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, he joins Winn Hardin to talk about Allied Vision’s brand unification, the shift from components to customer-first solutions, and why AI, edge intelligence, SWIR imaging, and open smart cameras are opening up huge new opportunities across automation, agriculture, healthcare, robotics, and beyond. It’s a fast-moving conversation about where vision technology is headed next and why the future looks bright.

👇Full episode at the link in the comments.

04/10/2026

In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, host Dan McCarthy of TECH B2B Marketing sits down with Arne Leinse, CEO of LioniX International, to explore the manufacturing realities behind photonic integrated circuits (PICs) — one of the most technically demanding frontiers in semiconductor manufacturing.

As CEO of a module supplier built around silicon nitride waveguide technology, Leinse highlights the challenges that make PICs so difficult to produce at scale, from the need for sub-nanometer alignment tolerances to the “chicken and egg” challenge of building fabrication capacity ahead of market demand.

The conversation also explores how LioniX’s vertically integrated business model has helped it navigate this emerging manufacturing sector by unlocking flexibility across markets spanning quantum sensing to AR/VR. The episode also touches on industry standardization, in-process quality control, supply chain complexity, and the global talent strategies required to staff an emerging deep-tech sector.

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04/03/2026

In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, host Winn Hardin sits down with Clint Bundy, managing director of the Bundy Group, to pull back the curtain on the world of mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising within the industrial automation sector. As the manufacturing industry faces a "graying" C-suite and shifting economic forecasts, Bundy provides a masterclass on how business owners can navigate these high-stakes transitions.

👇Full episode at the link in the comments.

03/26/2026

Manufacturers are generating more data than ever — from machines on the production floor to purchasing, inventory, and finance. Yet many companies still struggle to turn that data into clear answers to the questions that matter most: Are we profitable on a given job? Do we have the capacity to take on more work? Where are bottlenecks slowing us down?

In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, Winn Hardin and Aaron Hand talk with Paul Osterhaus, managing partner at QOC Innovations about why so many manufacturers remain data rich but insight poor and how modern enterprise resource planning (ERP) strategies can help bridge that gap. One key piece of advice: Don’t try to boil the ocean with massive, disruptive implementations. Find the one or two problems holding you back and solve those first.

👇Full episode at the link in the comments.

03/19/2026

🎙️“Technologies like AI, cobots, and digital twins are making automation more accessible and making the deployment of robots more agile and much faster. You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to engage with a robot.” 🎙️

In this episode of Manufacturing Matters, TECH B2B Marketing's Jimmy Carroll is joined by Geoff Dawson, Director of Sales at FANUC America Corporation to discuss the different technologies shaping the future of automation and manufacturing.

The conversation touches on how innovations in collaborative robots, AI, digital twins, and intuitive robot interfaces are making industrial automation more accessible than ever before. As manufacturers face a widening labor and skills gap, automation technologies are increasingly helping companies maintain productivity while empowering workers to move into higher-value roles.

In addition, the conversation covers “lights-out manufacturing,” the growing role of robotics in industries beyond automotive — including food and beverage and pharma — and why small- and mid-size manufacturers represent one of the biggest opportunities for automation in the coming years. Covering everything from reshoring and workforce shortages to AI-enabled robotics and the emergence of plug-and-play automation solutions, this episode offers a look at where manufacturing technology is headed — and why the next decade may be the most exciting yet for industrial automation.

📽️Full episode at the link in the comments.👇

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