Faces of Manufacturing is a newer show to Michigan Business Network. Cindy Kangas, Executive Director, CAMC, Capital Area Manufacturing Council, Lansing, Michigan, co-hosts with Joy Wagner, HR Manager of Granger Waste Services, also Lansing. Cindy and Joy strive to share the corporate culture, personal stories, and unique personalities of those making a living in manufacturing today, in Michigan. With that in mind, this month they connected with several team members of Granger Waste Services. How can manufacturers move beyond the hype of artificial intelligence and put it to work in ways that improve operations and support their people? On this episode of Faces of Manufacturing, hosts Cindy Kangas and Joy Wagner welcome Rajesh Hariharan, Chief Delivery Officer, and Daniel Vachoo, Director of Commercial Operations, of Dechen Consulting Group, an IT consulting firm based in Farmington Hills, Michigan. Together, they explore what it takes to connect AI with the realities of manufacturing: aging ERP systems, fragmented data, production constraints, employee concerns, and the valuable knowledge experienced workers carry with them. The conversation examines how AI can complement—not simply replace—existing enterprise systems. Rajesh outlines a four-stage progression from visibility and prediction to recommendations and action, with governance and human oversight guiding implementation. Cindy and Joy also ask what manufacturers should expect when beginning an AI initiative. The guests discuss data cleansing, integration, process redesign, realistic implementation timelines, and the importance of starting small, validating results, and building alongside the people who will use the technology. A central theme is preserving shop-floor knowledge. How can manufacturers capture not only information, but also the business context and human judgment behind everyday decisions? The discussion explores turning individual experience into organizational knowledge while building employee trust. Topics include: • AI opportunities and practical applications in manufacturing • ERP modernization and production planning • Data quality, integration, and organizational readiness • Moving from visibility to prediction, recommendation, and action • Implementation timelines and the work beyond software licensing • Capturing experienced employees’ operational knowledge • Change management, workforce adoption, and fears about job displacement • Human oversight, accountability, and measuring business value The takeaway: successful AI adoption requires more than new technology. It requires trusted data, thoughtful processes, and people who understand and help shape the change. Faces of Manufacturing highlights the people, leadership, and workplace cultures shaping Michigan’s manufacturing sector. Cindy Kangas, Executive Director of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council, co-hosts with Joy Wagner. Learn more about Dechen Consulting Group: https://dechen.com/ » Visit MBN website: www.michiganbusinessnetwork.com/ » Subscribe to MBN’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@MichiganbusinessnetworkMBN » Like MBN: www.facebook.com/mibiznetwork » Follow MBN: X.com/MIBizNetwork/ » MBN Instagram: www.instagram.com/mibiznetwork/
