Manufacturing the Future

Epicor

Manufacturing the Future is dedicated to helping manufacturing leaders future-proof their operations. Each episode features interviews with innovative manufacturing executives, subject matter experts, and thought leaders who share actionable insights, tips, and best practices to embrace technology so they can streamline operations, prepare for what lies ahead, and continue to keep the world turning.

  1. 11月6日

    Theresa Caragol & Brenda Nobleza on How Partners Accelerate Digital Transformation

    Meet Theresa Caragol & Brenda Nobleza In a special episode of Manufacturing the Future, Theresa Caragol, Founder & CEO of AchieveUnite, shared a powerful insight about the changing landscape of business relationships: "I do fundamentally believe we are entering the era of partners and the organizations that partner the best will be the most successful long term." Brenda Nobleza, VP of Channel Sales at Epicor, reinforced this vision, explaining that "our manufacturing customers, they're not just looking for software, they're looking for solutions, they're looking for partnership, they're looking for a joint investment in their company and their growth." Together, they unpack what it takes to build channel partnerships that truly drive growth in manufacturing. Manufacturing companies are looking for partners who will align with their strategy and become part of the team taking them to the next level. The old transactional model of channel relationships is giving way to strategic partnerships where vendors, partners, and customers collaborate to solve complex business problems, accelerate digital transformation, and leverage emerging technologies like AI. AchieveUnite emerged from Theresa's desire to balance global business leadership with family life, evolving from consulting work into a company that now employs a team of experts focused on partner performance and channel consulting. Meanwhile, Epicor is undergoing its own transformation, embracing partners more than ever and creating a culture of team selling across the organization. In This Episode Throughout the episode, both leaders emphasize that successful partnerships require cultural alignment, transparency, and mutual investment. They discussed the importance of focusing on business outcomes rather than transactions, the role of AI in partner enablement, and why trust has become an essential currency in modern business. For manufacturing leaders, the message is clear: the ecosystem you build through partnerships can become as strategic an asset as your products themselves.  Topics Understanding why investing in long-term partnerships achieves higher revenues and profitability than focusing on transactions. The Partnership Intelligence framework and how identifying trust-building styles accelerates and partner success. Why cultural alignment is the number one criterion when selecting new channel partners for manufacturing technology companies. How transparent communication and mutual goal-setting create the foundation for trusted relationships between vendors and partners. The evolution from direct vs indirect sales models to collaborative ecosystems where multiple partners co-create customer solutions. Why manufacturers benefit when vendors have strong partner networks that deliver faster, more agile, and flexible solutions. How AI is transforming partner enablement through personalized content delivery, training certifications, and improved processes. The importance of mentoring emerging talent and creating career paths that develop future leaders in manufacturing technology. Shifting organizational culture from product-focused to partnership-focused mentality through top-down leadership. Why business outcomes rather than technology features should drive partnerships between vendors, partners, and customers. Resources Partnering Success: The Force Multiplier to Achieve Exponential Growth by Theresa Caragol Good to Great by Jim Collins Crossing the Chasm by Geoffrey Moore Mindshift by Barbara Oakley National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD

    55 分钟

  2. 9月25日

    Bristlecone's Ramji Mani and Jennifer Chew on Why AI Won't Fix Broken Processes

    Meet Ramji Mani & Jennifer Chew of Bristlecone Supply chain leaders Ramji Mani, VP of Digital Supply Chain Ecosystem & Executive Board and Jennifer Chew, VP of Solution & Consulting at Bristlecone, bring decades of transformation experience to Manufacturing the Future. "You need to fix your processes to make sure that the processes can support what the business needs and that gets translated into technology," says Mani, highlighting a truth many organizations overlook in their digital transformation journeys. Bristlecone tackles complex supply chain challenges across diverse industries, from helping a Canadian blood organization deliver life-saving products to ensuring pizza companies have doors ready at every outlet at the cheapest price. Their consultants work at the intersection of people, process, data, and technology to deliver value however clients define it, whether through bottom-line improvements, customer service excellence, or operational efficiency. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in San Jose, California, Bristlecone emerged with a mission to be the best partner of choice for supply chain transformation. With over 300 completed engagements across more than 20 industry verticals, the company has built expertise in process optimization, change management, and risk resilience while partnering with major solution providers to deliver integrated supply chain, procurement, and analytics solutions. In This Episode In this episode, Ramji and Jennifer debunk persistent supply chain myths, from the belief that AI will solve everything to the assumption that existing data quality is sufficient for transformation. They share practical insights on managing tariff challenges, implementing successful AI solutions, diagnosing supply chain red flags, and balancing sustainability initiatives with business objectives while emphasizing the critical importance of change management in achieving lasting transformation success.  Topics Debunking the myth that AI will solve all supply chain problems without proper process foundation and human oversight. Understanding why most companies overestimate their data quality and how poor data undermines transformation initiatives completely. Recognizing that technology implementation alone cannot fix supply chain problems without addressing underlying business processes first. Building value-centric roadmaps with measurable KPIs to guide supply chain transformation investments and prioritization decisions. Managing supply chain disruptions from tariffs through strategic sourcing, scenario planning, and network optimization initiatives. Identifying supply chain red flags through comprehensive analysis that reveals hidden problems behind seemingly positive metrics. Implementing AI solutions successfully by moving beyond pilot paralysis toward scaled, integrated business transformation approaches. Balancing sustainability initiatives with productivity and profitability goals across different industries and regulatory environments. Navigating organizational change resistance through effective communication, stakeholder engagement, and capacity management during transformations. Developing supply chain talent for the future workforce while adapting to AI-enhanced tools and changing skill requirements. Get in touch with Jennifer Chew:   LinkedIn  Get in touch with Ramji Mani:   LinkedIn Get in touch with your host, Kerrie Jordan:  LinkedIn  Twitter  Download, Listen, and Subscribe Apple | Spotify | YouTube

    36 分钟

  3. 9月11日

    Dollar Shave Club's Justin Brown on Disrupting Industries and Leading Through Crisis

    Meet Justin Brown, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Dollar Shave Club Justin Brown, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Dollar Shave Club, understands the evolution of direct-to-consumer business models in competitive markets. As he reflects on the company's origins, "We came onto the scene and offered like an eight dollar pack or even obviously in the very early days, dollar razors and you could order them and get them directly shipped to your door, which was incredibly convenient." This approach to market disruption demonstrates how identifying customer pain points can transform entire industries. Justin tackles the challenge facing direct-to-consumer businesses: balancing growth with profitability in an increasingly crowded marketplace. With average order values around ten dollars and customer acquisition costs reaching seventy to eighty dollars, Dollar Shave Club must continuously optimize operations while expanding into retail channels. This requires innovative approaches to cost management, shipping optimization, and technology implementation that maintain competitive advantages without sacrificing customer experience. Dollar Shave Club began as a disruptive force in the razor industry, offering affordable alternatives to expensive traditional products through convenient subscription services. Justin has led the transformation from a pure direct-to-consumer model to an omnichannel business serving major retailers. This evolution required building new supply chain capabilities, implementing advanced technologies, and developing resilient operations that could adapt to changing market conditions and global uncertainties. In This Episode The episode covers Justin's approach to technology adoption, from AI-powered customer engagement systems to automated shipping rate optimization tools. He shares insights on managing geopolitical risks and offers practical advice on building resilient teams through empathetic leadership and clear communication strategies. Topics Direct-to-consumer supply chain challenges and the economics of low-value, high-frequency orders in competitive markets. Technology investment strategies focusing on ROI-driven decisions for planning tools, AI solutions, and shipping optimization platforms. AI implementation in customer engagement operations to reduce costs while improving satisfaction scores and response times. Rate shopping and transportation management systems for optimizing shipping costs across multiple carriers and zones. Managing global supply chain disruptions through tariff mitigation strategies, near-shoring, and supplier diversification initiatives. Geopolitical risk management including maintaining operations in Israel during conflicts while developing contingency plans. Leadership philosophy emphasizing empathy, regular communication, and supporting remote teams through organizational changes and crises. Decision-making frameworks balancing structured annual planning processes with rapid response capabilities for unexpected situations. Supply chain metrics and KPIs focusing on cost per unit, service levels, customer satisfaction, and inventory optimization. Meta Description A conversation with Justin Brown of Dollar Shave Club about building resilient omnichannel supply chains while managing global disruptions, implementing AI solutions, and leading teams through crises. Get in touch with Justin Brown:   LinkedIn  Get in touch with your host, Kerrie Jordan:  LinkedIn  Twitter  Download, Listen, and Subscribe Apple | Spotify | YouTube

    42 分钟

  4. 8月28日

    SwagUp's Prashant Shah on Upgrading Supply Chains from Cost Centers to Profit Drivers

    Meet Prashant Shah, Head of Supply Chain & Operations at SwagUp Prashant Shah, Head of Supply Chain & Operations at SwagUp, brings a unique perspective to supply chain transformation shaped by his military background and 15 years of corporate experience. As he explains in our conversation, "In the military, through the military experience, I will say the one thing that came out very clearly that logistics means wars. We continue to say that in the military that if we want to win wars, logistics is the way to go. And same thing in business." The promotional merchandise industry faces significant fragmentation challenges, with companies traditionally working with multiple vendors to source different items like hoodies, mugs, and notebooks. SwagUp addresses this pain point by creating a comprehensive one-stop solution with over 5,000 products available online, handling everything from design and production to warehousing and global fulfillment through their user-friendly platform. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in New Jersey, SwagUp has grown rapidly by positioning itself as both a promotional company and a technology company, building most of their systems internally. Their mission to "make swag simple" resonated strongly in the market, leading to their acquisition by BDA in 2024, which expanded their reach while maintaining their innovative culture and customer-first approach. In This Episode This episode explores Prashant's insights on transforming supply chain operations from traditional cost centers into strategic profit drivers. He discusses his framework for technology implementation, the role of AI in amplifying human judgment rather than replacing it, and shares practical examples of counterintuitive decisions that led to dramatic improvements in operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.   Topics Debunking the myth that cost savings equals supply chain success in modern business operations. Transforming supply chain departments from back-office functions into front-line competitive advantages for organizations. Implementing AI technologies to amplify human judgment and accelerate decision-making processes from days to minutes. Framework for digital transformation focusing on customer friction points and manual bottleneck identification processes. Counterintuitive leadership decisions like slowing warehouse processes to reduce returns from 20% to 3%. Dangerous assumptions about scaling supply chains and why yesterday's solutions won't work for tomorrow's growth. Supply chain leader involvement in acquisition processes and post-merger integration challenges facing growing organizations. Building flexibility into supply chain design early to enable scaling by design rather than brute force. Advice for supply chain leaders to focus on resilience over efficiency and build adaptable teams. Get in touch with Prashant Shah:   LinkedIn  Website  Get in touch with your host, Kerrie Jordan:  LinkedIn  Twitter  Download, Listen, and Subscribe Apple | Spotify | YouTube

    25 分钟

  5. 8月14日

    Guidewheel's Lauren Dunford on Transforming Factory Ops with AI-Powered Sensors

    Meet Lauren Dunford, CEO & Co-founder of Guidewheel Lauren Dunford, CEO & Co-founder of Guidewheel, brings a refreshing perspective to manufacturing technology. "The nice thing about Guidewheel from the customers is starting with the simple fast 80/20 and then we can layer on lots of things," she explains, describing how their approach prioritizes immediate value over complex implementations. Guidewheel addresses a critical challenge in manufacturing: gaining operational visibility without the massive disruption of traditional digitization projects. Many manufacturers struggle with the complexity and cost of connecting diverse equipment across their facilities, often deterred by the "nightmare projects" that involve extensive PLC integration across different makes, models, and ages of machinery. Lauren's company solves this by monitoring the one thing all equipment has in common: electricity consumption. The company was founded after Lauren's experience of making difficult calls to customers about production delays. This frustration, combined with her Stanford MBA work, led to the development of Guidewheel's innovative sensor technology. The company has evolved from a failed energy management system into a comprehensive factory operations platform, guided entirely by customer feedback and real-world applications. In This Episode Guidewheel's Factory Ops platform demonstrates how the right technology approach can simultaneously drive productivity improvements and sustainability goals. By starting with controllable downtime and operational efficiency, manufacturers achieve immediate business value while naturally uncovering opportunities for energy savings and emissions reduction, creating a sustainable flywheel of continuous improvement and environmental benefit.   Topics How Guidewheel's "Fitbit for factories" approach transforms manufacturing visibility through simple electrical monitoring sensors. Leveraging universal power consumption data to monitor equipment performance across different makes, models, and ages of machinery. Overcoming traditional barriers to manufacturing digitization by avoiding complex PLC integration and focusing on practical solutions. Implementing AI algorithms for automatic cycle time detection, anomaly prediction, and prescriptive maintenance recommendations in manufacturing. Balancing mission-driven sustainability goals with commercial success through the upper-right quadrant of profitable environmental solutions. Creating sustainable manufacturing practices by starting with productivity improvements that naturally lead to energy efficiency gains. Attracting and empowering the next generation of manufacturing workers through intuitive, delightful technology tools and platforms. Building successful manufacturing technology companies through customer-driven product development and iterative learning from real factory applications. Developing platform ecosystems that enable custom manufacturing applications and developer communities for specialized industrial use cases. Transforming manufacturing operations from reactive to predictive through real-time data visibility and AI-powered throughput forecasting. Get in touch with Lauren Dunford:   LinkedIn  Website  Get in touch with your host, Kerrie Jordan:  LinkedIn  Twitter  Download, Listen, and Subscribe Apple | Spotify | YouTube Or search “Manufacturing the Future” wherever you listen to podcasts!

    37 分钟

  6. 7月31日

    Brinker International's James Butler on Fire Prevention Awards for Restaurant Supply Chains

    Meet James Butler, SVP & Chief Supply Chain and Corporate Strategy Officer at Brinker International, "I always tell the team, our vision is to be the world's leading supply chain, restaurant supply chain organization. And that really comes down to five pillars that I've ordered in exactly their level of importance. And the very first one is food safety and quality," says James Butler, SVP & Chief Supply Chain and Corporate Strategy Officer at Brinker International, showcasing his unwavering commitment to excellence in supply chain management. James addresses one of the most complex challenges in modern business: managing supply chains that must deliver consistent quality across thousands of locations while maintaining the highest food safety standards. Restaurant supply chains face unique pressures, including perishable inventory, multiple daily deliveries, and the need to support rapid growth without compromising operational excellence. His role uniquely combines supply chain operations with corporate strategy, allowing him to align tactical execution with long-term business objectives. James's journey to Brinker began with a diverse career spanning sales, consulting at Deloitte, and supply chain leadership at major companies including Georgia Pacific and KFC. His experience during the pandemic at KFC, where he navigated product shortages, steep inflation, and changing consumer demands, prepared him for the strategic challenges he faces today. This breadth of experience across industries has given him a unique perspective on creative problem-solving and the importance of building resilient, forward-thinking supply chain operations. In This Episode James Butler's leadership philosophy centers on transforming traditional supply chain teams from reactive "firefighters" into proactive "fire preventers." Through his innovative Smokey Bear Award and emphasis on building stronger processes, he demonstrates how strategic thinking can elevate supply chain operations from tactical necessity to competitive advantage, ultimately supporting Brinker's mission to deliver exceptional dining experiences across their global restaurant network.   Topics Pandemic-era lessons in supply chain resilience, including managing product shortages and rapidly changing consumer demands. The "fall in love with the problem, not the solution" methodology to drive effective problem-solving. Transforming supply chain teams from reactive firefighters to proactive fire preventers through cultural change and recognition programs. Food safety and quality as the non-negotiable foundation of all restaurant supply chain operations and decision-making processes. Managing complex logistics for thousands of suppliers delivering to 1,600+ restaurants while maintaining consistency and availability. Technology implementation strategies that prioritize understanding optimal processes before selecting and customizing software solutions to fit workflows. Aligning supply chain operations with corporate strategy to drive restaurant growth and enhance the guest experience. Sustainability initiatives and responsible sourcing practices in restaurant supply chains, including partnerships with suppliers on emissions reduction. Innovation management in traditionally risk-averse environments, including balancing creativity with operational reliability and food safety requirements. Get in touch with James Butler:   LinkedIn  Website  Get in touch with your host, Kerrie Jordan:  LinkedIn  Twitter  Download, Listen, and Subscribe Apple | Spotify | YouTube

    35 分钟

  7. 7月17日

    Madsen's Millwork & Custom Cabinets’ Tyler Madsen on Preserving Craftsmanship with AI

    Meet Tyler Madsen, Director of Madsen's Millwork & Custom Cabinets Tyler Madsen, Director of Madsen's Millwork & Custom Cabinets, exemplifies how traditional craftsmanship can thrive through technological innovation. "If you're not updating your technology, updating your equipment, updating your processes, you're going to be left behind," Tyler explains. "The most important thing here is speed. It's not just quality, it's how rapidly we can pump out quality." Madsen's Millwork, founded in 1962, specializes in high-end custom woodworking for educational, residential, and commercial spaces, employing 75 skilled craftsmen and producing up to 30% of the region's architectural woodwork. The company needed to maintain its reputation for excellence while adapting to post-pandemic business realities and evolving customer expectations. Under Tyler's leadership alongside his brother Josh, the company has embraced digital transformation while honoring traditional values. They've implemented sustainable practices like their innovative biomass heating system, which converts wood waste into energy, demonstrating their commitment to both environmental responsibility and operational efficiency. In This Episode In this milestone 50th episode, Tyler shares how upgrading from Epicor 905 to Kinetic and implementing AI tools like Prism has revolutionized their operations. From streamlining complex estimating processes to empowering field teams with real-time data access, Madsen's proves that embracing technology enhances rather than replaces traditional craftsmanship, enabling faster delivery without compromising quality.  Topics Taking over a family business during COVID-19 pandemic while dealing with personal loss and operational challenges. Upgrading from legacy Epicor 905 system directly to Kinetic cloud ERP for improved operational efficiency. Implementing Epicor's Prism agentic AI to streamline estimating processes and specification document review workflows. Using AI to filter through complex architectural drawings and door schedules to eliminate human errors. Balancing traditional woodworking craftsmanship standards with modern technology adoption for competitive advantage in manufacturing. Empowering field installers with cloud-based tablets for real-time access to project data and documentation. Sustainable manufacturing practices including biomass heating systems that convert wood waste into building energy. Team adoption strategies for AI technology and overcoming resistance to digital transformation initiatives. Career paths in the woodworking industry including vocational training, apprenticeships, and skill development opportunities. Get in touch with Tyler Madsen:   LinkedIn  Website    Get in touch with your host, Kerrie Jordan:  LinkedIn  Twitter  Download, Listen, and Subscribe Apple | Spotify | YouTube

    44 分钟

  8. 7月3日

    Retrocausal's Zeeshan Zia on AI as Manufacturing Worker Copilots

    Meet Zeeshan Zia, CEO & Co-founder of Retrocausal "If the operator is about to put the tip of the soldering iron at the wrong place, the system offers an alert right there and then, helping them reduce that scrap rate from 30% down to 3%," says Zeeshan Zia, CEO & Co-founder of Retrocausal, describing a process his team helped a medical device manufacturing client improve. His story showcases how enterprise partners want AI that understands human activities, not just fancy interfaces. Retrocausal tackles the forgotten 80 percent of manufacturing jobs still performed by humans while robotics investments focus on the automated 20 percent. Their AI doesn't replace workers — it catches mistakes like double-torquing bolts while missing others entirely, preventing $1,200 endoscopy cameras from hitting trash bins. Born from Zeeshan's realization that augmented reality hardware wasn't the bottleneck, Retrocausal decoupled AI capabilities from head-mounted displays. The Seattle company now deploys facial blurring and body pixelation so thoroughly that even strict union environments show the least resistance to their tools compared to other process analytics solutions. In This Episode Beyond preventing defects, their platform enables production supervisors to perform industrial engineering tasks through simple video uploads — the AI breaks down processes, generates Excel sheets, and suggests line rebalancing. Zeeshan reflects on how manufacturers have shifted from innovation teams driving AI adoption to plant managers and line leaders becoming true believers, largely thanks to ChatGPT educating the broader public on AI's potential. Topics People-centric approach to AI implementation in manufacturing environments that empowers workers rather than replacing them. Real-world applications of AI copilots including Assembly, Kaizen, and Ergo systems for different manufacturing roles. Dramatic quality improvements achieved through AI intervention, reducing scrap rates from thirty percent to three percent. Addressing worker concerns about privacy, standardization, and individual work preferences when implementing AI monitoring systems. Challenges of implementing AI in high-mix, low-volume job shops versus standardized assembly line operations. The role of AI in accelerating worker onboarding and enabling career advancement from operator to supervisor roles. Evolution of manufacturer attitudes toward AI adoption, with investment rates increasing from thirty to forty percent annually. Importance of choosing holistic AI solutions over point solutions to avoid system fragmentation and integration challenges. Accessibility features built into AI tools to accommodate workers of different skill levels and physical capabilities. Impact of reshoring trends and Industry 4.0 on creating new opportunities for AI-enabled manufacturing agility. Get in touch with Zeeshan Zia:   LinkedIn  Website  Get in touch with your host, Kerrie Jordan:  LinkedIn  Twitter  Download, Listen, and Subscribe Apple | Spotify | YouTube Or search “Manufacturing the Future” wherever you listen to podcasts!

    33 分钟
查看全部 57 集

评分及评论

5
共 5 分
4 个评分

关于

Manufacturing the Future is dedicated to helping manufacturing leaders future-proof their operations. Each episode features interviews with innovative manufacturing executives, subject matter experts, and thought leaders who share actionable insights, tips, and best practices to embrace technology so they can streamline operations, prepare for what lies ahead, and continue to keep the world turning.

信息

  • 创作者
    Epicor
  • 活跃年份
    2023年 - 2025年
  • 单集
    57
  • 分级
    儿童适宜
  • 版权
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • 节目网站
    Manufacturing the Future

你可能还喜欢