Augmented Ops

Tulip

Augmented Ops is a podcast for industrial leaders, shop floor operators, citizen developers, and anyone else that cares about what the future of frontline operations will look like across industries. We equip our listeners with the knowledge to understand the latest advancements at the intersection of manufacturing and technology, as well as actionable insights that they can implement in their own operations. This show is presented by Tulip, the Frontline Operations Platform.

  1. Modernizing the Industrial Base: Readiness, Resilience, and the Road Ahead

    APR 2

    Modernizing the Industrial Base: Readiness, Resilience, and the Road Ahead

    Modernizing the U.S. industrial base is no longer a long-term goal. Between geopolitical competition, workforce constraints, and rising cybersecurity demands, manufacturers are under pressure to rethink how production systems are built and operated. Clark Dressen, CTO of MxD, joins the show to explain how this transformation is taking shape across the defense industrial base and broader manufacturing ecosystem. As a public-private partnership funded in part by the Department of Defense, MxD works to connect emerging technologies with real-world production environments. The conversation focuses on what modernization actually requires. Not digital transformation for its own sake, but applying technology to solve specific operational problems around quality, productivity, and consistency. Clark shares how tools like sensors, digital twins, and AI are being introduced into legacy environments to reduce reliance on tribal knowledge and create more repeatable processes. The episode also explores the structure of the industrial base, where small and mid-sized suppliers make up the majority of the defense supply chain but often lack the resources to meet growing cybersecurity and compliance requirements. As workforce transitions accelerate, the focus shifts toward capturing expertise, improving how work is executed, and building more resilient production systems. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/T2bkZvyK5kU Augmented Ops is a podcast for industrial leaders, citizen developers, shop floor operators, and anyone who cares about what the future of frontline operations will look like across industries. This show is presented by Tulip, the Frontline Operations Platform. You can find more from us at Tulip.co/podcast or by following the show on LinkedIn. Special Guest: Clark Dressen.

    46 min
  2. The State of Reshoring: Supply Chains, Strategy, and the Future of US Manufacturing

    MAR 5

    The State of Reshoring: Supply Chains, Strategy, and the Future of US Manufacturing

    Global supply chains are being rewired in real time. From tariffs and geopolitics to labor constraints and energy infrastructure, manufacturers are navigating a level of volatility few have experienced before. Rosemary Coates, Founder and Executive Director of the Reshoring Institute, joins the show to unpack what’s actually happening beneath the headlines. Drawing on recent executive interviews and location studies, she explains why many companies are pausing major decisions, how “China plus one” strategies are evolving, and what reshoring really requires beyond political rhetoric. For operations leaders, the conversation moves from macro forces to practical considerations: evaluating total landed cost beyond labor, balancing capital intensity with workforce availability, selecting locations with infrastructure in mind, and building resilience through diversified manufacturing footprints. While the path forward is complex, Rosemary outlines why advanced, higher-skilled manufacturing still presents meaningful opportunity for U.S. growth. Watch the full epsiode on YouTube For more on this topic, Rosemary hosts The Frictionless Supply Chain podcast, covering supply chain strategy and global production shifts. Augmented Ops is a podcast for industrial leaders, citizen developers, shop floor operators, and anyone who cares about what the future of frontline operations will look like across industries. This show is presented by Tulip, the Frontline Operations Platform. You can find more from us at Tulip.co/podcast or by following the show on LinkedIn. Special Guest: Rosemary Coates.

    32 min
  3. From the Classroom to the Shop Floor: Building the Future Industrial Workforce

    FEB 18

    From the Classroom to the Shop Floor: Building the Future Industrial Workforce

    Manufacturing is undergoing a generational shift. As experienced workers retire and automation accelerates, the industry must solve both a workforce shortage and a skills gap — and it must do so simultaneously. Jacob “MFG Kid” Sanchez is a well-known manufacturing influencer and content creator, and a vocal advocate for bringing new talent into the industry. With hands-on shop floor experience and a growing platform dedicated to promoting automation and modern manufacturing careers, he works to make the industry more visible, accessible, and appealing to the next generation. Check out Jacob’s newly launched Axis community — a brand-neutral space for automation, robotics, and manufacturing professionals to connect, learn, and collaborate. In this conversation, Jacob and Natan explore how manufacturers can generate genuine interest in industrial careers, rethink how technical skills are taught and developed, and draw lessons from apprenticeship models in countries that consistently produce highly skilled manufacturing talent. Watch the full episode on YouTube Augmented Ops is a podcast for industrial leaders, citizen developers, shop floor operators, and anyone who cares about what the future of frontline operations will look like across industries. This show is presented by Tulip, the Frontline Operations Platform. You can find more from us at Tulip.co/podcast or by following the show on LinkedIn. Special Guest: Jacob "MFGKid" Sanchez.

    31 min
  4. AI at the Crossroads of Regulation and Innovation

    JAN 8

    AI at the Crossroads of Regulation and Innovation

    AI is rapidly reshaping life sciences manufacturing—but as intelligent systems move into regulated environments, questions around validation, governance, and trust become unavoidable. In this episode of Augmented Ops, host Michelle Vuolo, Head of Quality at Tulip, is joined by Bryan Ennis, Chief Quality Officer and Founder of Sware, and Martin Heitmann, of the Triality Group. Together, they explore what it really takes to deploy AI responsibly in pharma, biotech, and medtech operations. The conversation examines why many AI initiatives stall at the pilot stage, how validation practices must evolve for probabilistic systems, and where organizations are already seeing real value—from predictive maintenance to quality signal detection and validation automation. They also discuss emerging regulatory guidance, including Annex 22, and why regulators are not anti-AI—but deeply skeptical of black-box systems. Throughout the discussion, a consistent theme emerges: successful AI adoption is less about the technology itself and more about process design, data quality, human oversight, and building evidence that systems are safe, transparent, and fit for purpose. This episode offers a grounded, experience-driven perspective on how life sciences organizations can move from experimentation to scale—without compromising patient safety or compliance. Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7keK_4zDaTg Augmented Ops is a podcast for industrial leaders, citizen developers, shop floor operators, and anyone else that cares about what the future of frontline operations will look like across industries. This show is presented by Tulip, the Frontline Operations Platform. You can find more from us at Tulip.co/podcast or by following the show on LinkedIn. Special Guests: Bryan Ennis and Martin Heitmann.

    41 min

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
69 Ratings

About

Augmented Ops is a podcast for industrial leaders, shop floor operators, citizen developers, and anyone else that cares about what the future of frontline operations will look like across industries. We equip our listeners with the knowledge to understand the latest advancements at the intersection of manufacturing and technology, as well as actionable insights that they can implement in their own operations. This show is presented by Tulip, the Frontline Operations Platform.

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