Workforce 4.0 is an industry centric podcast featuring Manufacturing Executives from all industries coming together to emphasize how companies are partnering with technology to give people more meaningful work. As a passion project created by Ann Wyatt, Workforce 4.0 highlights crucial topics such as closing the talent gap, success stories of real people engaged with the latest manufacturing technology and how the manufactur ...
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In this episode of Workforce 4.0, host Ann Wyatt welcomes Soren Peters, CEO of HowToRobot. They delve into Soren's background, from IT to robotics, and discuss the importance of making technology accessible and mainstream in the manufacturing industry. Soren shares insights on community building in manufacturing, workforce development, and the future impact of technology on work. He also emphasizes the need for simpler adoption processes and training programs to ease the transition for workers. Join them for an engaging conversation on the future of automation and workforce transformation. In This Episode: -07:38: Building Community in Manufacturing -21:48: Leadership and Thought Leadership in Robotics -26:38: Humane Aspects of AI and Robotics -26:51: Debating Practicality and Ethics in Robotics -28:21: Factory Insights: The Importance of Windows -30:12: Leadership and Responsibility -34:30: The Future of Work with Technology -40:11: Workforce Development and Automation -47:56: Adoption and Accessibility of Robotics About Soren Peters: Søren Peters is the founder and co-CEO of the global automation advisory and market platform, HowToRobot, providing vendor-independent guidance to businesses looking to automate. A serial entrepreneur, Søren has previously founded, led, and successfully exited a series of companies in the IT industry. Søren was born and raised in Denmark where he founded HowToRobot. Today, he is spearheading HowToRobot’s expansion in the United States and Europe, helping local manufacturers succeed in automation and find the right solutions and suppliers. Learn more about Soren and connect with him here. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi: Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.
In this episode of Workforce 4.0, host Ann Wyatt sits down with Paul Ryznar, CEO and Founder of Light Guide. They discuss the transformative impact of projection-based augmented reality technology in manufacturing. Paul shares his journey and insights into how technology can enhance productivity and quality on factory floors. Topics include the role of AI in manufacturing, the benefits of connected worker technology, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workforce. Paul also touches on the future of work and how innovative tools can empower workers and reduce stress- ultimately giving a higher quality of life to workforces around the world. Tune in to learn about the exciting advancements shaping the manufacturing industry. In This Episode: -01:29: The Magic of Light Guide Technology -04:01: Connected Worker Technology and Manufacturing Challenges -06:57: The Eureka Moment and Founding of Light Guide -09:14: Impact of Light Guide in Medical and Manufacturing Industries -10:11: Empowering the Workforce with Technology -22:06: The Future of Work: AI and AR in Manufacturing -36:16: Leadership and Community Impact More About Paul Ryznar: Engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur Paul Ryznar is the Founder, President, and CEO of Wixom, Mich.-based LightGuide, Inc. The technology uses proprietary software and high-powered projector systems to guide and confirm the completion of complex manual tasks from assembly to quality control to training. Prior to LightGuide’s invention in 2005, he held senior management roles including Vice President of Operations positions at Detroit Diesel, Bosch, and Energy Conversion Devices—more than 30 years of manufacturing experience. To learn more about Paul, connect with him here. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi: Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.
According to this week's guest on Workforce 4.0, James Soto, sharing stories across the manufacturing industry isn't only mandatory for good marketing, it's mandatory for building a lasting workforce. This week, Ann Wyatt sits down with James (CEO of Industrial Strength Marketing) to learn more about how manufacturing companies can leverage the power of story telling to boost their recruitment initiatives and their legacy and impact that they can have on the future of work. Born and raised in the Bronx, NY, we also learn more about Jame's story from his time growing up around manufacturing to the origins of Manufacturing Day and his purpose behind founding Nashville Made. In This Episode: -01:27: James Soto's Journey in Manufacturing -03:05: The Impact of Manufacturing Day -04:42: The Importance of Manufacturing in Education -08:54: Leadership and Trends in Manufacturing -21:37: The Role of Makers in Modern Manufacturing -27:11: The Impact of Community Investment -36:51: The Importance of Core Values -43:02: Building a Career Tribe More About James Soto: With over 20 years of experience as the founder and CEO of Industrial Strength Marketing James is passionate about helping industrial companies transition from traditional to technology marketing. James leads an integrated marketing agency that specializes in the industrial sector, creating omnichannel storytelling that engages and inspires industrial audiences. James also founded INDUSTRIAL STUDIOS, a video-first studio that redefines what a manufacturing video can be and how it can impact perceptions of manufacturing. As a co-founder and board member of Nashville Made, James continues to support the growth and development of local manufacturing companies and makers, providing them with programming, education, event strategy, and connections to key stakeholders. James also works directly with them on community engagement, diversity, workforce development, and job training programs. To learn more about James, connect with him here. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi: Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.
How does Mission Design and Automation take the lead on retaining fresh talent for their growing workforce? On this episode of Workforce 4.0,, host Ann Wyatt interviews Ryan Lillibridge, (Vice President of the organization) as he shares best practices for fostering a collaborative work culture and Mission's key philosophy on taking care of each other (as well as the customer). Ryan also delves into his own extensive career in automation, what it's like to cover industries from aerospace to agriculture and the significance of curiosity, mentorship and continuous learning for career growth. Lastly, Ryan talks in depth on the role of technology in enhancing the employee experience and the future of manufacturing. In This Episode: -02:13: Company Philosophy: Taking Care of Each Other and the Customer -03:31: A Tour of Mission Design and Automation -07:06: Innovation and Leadership at Mission -13:43:: Building a Creative and Collaborative Company Culture -16:15: Ryan's Career Journey and Advice for Young Professionals -19:39: Fostering a Successful Environment for Interns -25:28: Technology's Impact on Employee Experience -32:23: Future Goals and Industry Impact More About Ryan Lillibridge: Ryan has over 19 years of experience in the automation industry, In his role as VP of Mission Design and Automation, Ryan oversees the business development, sales, and engineering teams, and ensures that they deliver high-quality and innovative products that meet their clients' needs and expectations. Ryan is passionate about creating solutions that improve efficiency, productivity, and quality in different industries, and he is always eager to learn new technologies and trends. Ryan values teamwork, collaboration, and diversity, and he strives to create a positive and inclusive work environment for Mission Design and Automation staff and stakeholders. Learn more about Ryan or connect with him here. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi: Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.
From building machines to building Apple iPhones, Roman Piszcz (Founder of Quotebeam) has a lot of experience in creating products and helping businesses find real solutions. It was from his personal passion for creating a better way for companies to purchase products. This week on Workforce 4.0, host Ann Wyatt sits down with Roman and Nikki Gonzales to discuss in more detail about his passion for entrepreneurship, what it means to hire "intraprenuers" and how start up companies can leverage the interviewing process to identify and hire leading talent. Roman and Nikki also share their unique perspectives on the benefits of remote work, how automation and machine learning apps empower people to focus on more meaningful work and why providing tools for ownership is crucial to organizational success in the digital era. In This Episode: -03:06 Roman's Journey and QuoteBeam's Origin -18:03 Exploring The Spirit of Entrepreneurship -29:59 Evaluating Candidates Via An Interviewing Question About Climate Change -31:03 Unlocking Interview Tactics To Assess Critical Thinking -31:56 Hiring Fresh Graduates: A Unique Approach -36:05 The Future of Workforce and Technology -38:57 The Evolution of Communication -55:47 Building and Retaining High-Performing Teams More About Roman Piszcz: Throughout his career, Roman always designed machines using two principles: simplicity and performance. These two principles brought about the inception of Quotebeam. Although the machines he was designing were using state-of-the-art technologies, Roman realized that the process of designing them was extremely fragmented and inefficient. Recognizing these engineering and procurement gaps in parts search, sourcing, and vendor collaboration marked his first efforts in automating these processes. During the five years before taking Quotebeam full time in early 2021, Roman led a team at Apple’s iPhone & Core Technologies manufacturing operations. That experience amplified his belief of the importance of data transparency and supplier collaboration, and led to the beginning of Quotebeam as a company. Learn more and connect with Roman here. About Nikki Gonzales: Nikki has a unique mix of skills including growing SaaS startups and direct experience as a field Sales Engineer in industrial automation for Festo and Keyence. After a series of meetings over a few years from Silicon Valley to Seattle, a couple of babies, a global pandemic, and a move to Texas, finally the stars aligned for Nikki to join Quotebeam full time! She’s always loved problem solving and building things, so it led to a career in engineering sales spanning technologies such as Machine Vision, Pneumatics & Mechatronics, Computational Electromagnetics, and AI & Data Analytics, to name a few. Learn more and connect with Nikki here. The Future of Work (and this Episode) Is Brought To You By Secchi: Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.