Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering

Razorleaf Corp.
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Welcome to 'Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering,' the ultimate podcast for all things digital in the manufacturing industry by Razorleaf. Join us as we take a deep dive into the multifaceted world of digital transformation, exploring topics such as the digital thread, digital twins, IDEs, model-based strategies and delving into the frontiers of cutting-edge technologies like PLM, MES, Integration, and more. Our expert hosts, Jonathan Scott, Jen Ferello, Juliann Grant, and Eric Doubell, will be your guides, providing valuable insights, captivating interviews, and the latest industry updates to ensure you remain at the forefront of the ever-evolving digital landscape. Whether you're a technology enthusiast, a business leader, or simply curious about the digital realm in manufacturing, this podcast is your essential resource for staying sharp and well-informed.

  1. 4d ago

    #138: How SMBs Can Break Into The Defense Industrial Base

    Is your manufacturing business leaving defense contracts on the table? In this episode of Stay Sharp: Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with two returning experts to break down one of the most misunderstood opportunities in manufacturing: the Defense Industrial Base. Whether you're running a five-person shop or a 500-person operation, there is a lane for you in the DIB, and today's guests explain exactly how to find it. Guests: Steve Nichols heads the public sector and defense group at Razorleaf, bringing decades of experience across technology, operations, strategy, and business development spanning organizations from startups to large enterprises including Silicon Graphics, CACI, MRI Software, and Razorleaf Government Solutions. John Biagioni is the President of Lampin Corporation and brings deep manufacturing expertise shaped by a career that started on the shop floor as a machinist. He has nearly a decade of leadership experience as president of Dynisco, Viatran, and DJ Instruments, holds four patents in sensing and rheological instruments, and is a published authority on operational strategy. What You'll Take Away: What the Defense Industrial Base actually is, including the NIB, the hidden DIB, the Marine Industrial Base, and sub-categories most SMBs never hear aboutWhy the DLA currently has 22,000 non-bidded parts and what that gap means for small manufacturersHow CMMC certification works, what it costs ($50K to $200K+), and why you can actually include that cost in your first bidThe difference between CUI and classified information, and why the safe move is to protect everythingWhy poor data quality on aging weapon systems creates both friction and opportunity for SMBsWhat it means to be the "easy button" for a prime contractor, and why that's a smarter goal than chasing prime status yourselfHow the variable capacity model, or "Uberization" of the DIB, could give smaller shops a real entry point into defense contractsState-level grants (including $30,000 programs in Massachusetts and Connecticut) that can offset CMMC compliance costsFirst steps any SMB can take today: SAMs registration, getting a CAGE code, connecting with prime supplier portals, and joining DIB-focused industry groupsKey Insight: The government's goal of building a Civil Reserve Manufacturing Network means the Department of Defense is actively looking for shops with verified process capabilities, not just finished products. If your shop can demonstrate capacity, you could be "put in stasis" and called on when demand spikes. Resources Mentioned: DLA (Defense Logistics Agency) non-bidded parts spreadsheet available for public download at dla.mil SAM.gov: System for Award Management, the starting point for any DIB entry PIEE: Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment for vendor registration CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification): cybercoe.osd.mil Razorleaf Government Solutions Lampin Corporation Contact the Stay Sharp team: podcast@razorleaf.com Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to Stay Sharp: Digital Engineering on your favorite podcast platform and leave us a review. It helps us reach more engineers, operators, and manufacturing leaders doing the hard work of keeping industry sharp. Got a topic you want us to cover? Email us at podcast@razorleaf.com or drop a comment wherever you're listening.  Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

    43 min

  2. May 26

    #137: CIMdata PLM/PDT Road Map Wrap Up

    What happens when you lock hundreds of PLM practitioners, digital engineering leaders, and top aerospace and defense minds in a room to talk about AI? You get a reality check. In this episode, Juliann Grant, Jonathan Scott, and Andrew Halley sit down to recap the packed two-day CIMdata PLM/PDT Roadmap 2026 Conference held just outside Washington, D.C. Forget the polished vendor slides and standard generative AI hype—this is a look into the "messy data" reality that engineering teams face behind closed doors. The team breaks down real-world case studies from industry giants, handles the core questions of data governance, and discusses why AI won't magically fix a broken digital thread—but why you must start using it anyway. Key Takeaways The "20-Year-Old" Analogy: AI in the engineering space right now behaves like a brilliant 20-year-old: it has an incredible memory but zero real-world intent or contextual experience. It requires guardrails and continuous guidance.Progress Over Perfection: Waiting for 100% perfect data before implementing AI leads to "analysis paralysis". Industry frontrunners are building out specific use cases, failing fast, and correcting workflows on the fly.Use-Case Driven ROI: High-impact applications must focus on process shrinkage. If an AI project cannot clearly map to saving manual time, it likely won't survive past the proof-of-concept phase.Monolithic vs. Best of Breed: While legacy PLM vendors continue pushing all-in-one monolithic architectures, end-users are loudly demanding interoperability and seamless integrations.Main Points & Deep Dives Real-World Case Studies:  Cummins: Implemented an AI-driven search capability across legacy engineering documentation to radically accelerate internal data retrieval.Eaton: Used intelligent automation to shrink a complex RFP response process for custom turbochargers from four experts and six months down to one person and one week—without removing engineering review from the loop.MIT Lincoln Lab: Reimagined their historical paper-based processes into a digital format, emphasizing that half of their engineering center resources go strictly toward driving user adoption, not just building the tech.The Interoperability Battle: A review of the exhibition floor, tracking how traditional PLM providers (Aras, Contact PLM, Dassault, PTC) match up against modern digital thread and integration specialists.The Governance Hurdle: How to safely address data exposure, restrict private customer data, and define explicit system access when introducing AI into enterprise architectures.Guests & Resources Mentioned ●      Guest: Andrew Halley, Global Partnership and Alliances Leader, Razorleaf ●      Event Host:CIMdata (PLM/PDT Roadmap North America 2026) ●      Speakers Highlighted: Dr. Martin Eigner, Denise Fitzgerald (MIT Lincoln Lab), Diego Tamburini (CIMdata), Vishwajeet Uddanwadiker (Boeing) Clean data in, clean insights out! If this episode got you thinking about cleaning up your own digital house, we want to hear from you. 📩 Connect with us: Drop a comment or reach out directly at podcast@razorleaf.com.  ⭐ Support the show: If you found value in this deep dive, please give us a review or follow the podcast on your favorite platform. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

    34 min

  3. May 19

    #136: What is Master Data Management and Who Owns It?

    Master Data Management Explained: Why Clean Data Matters More Than Ever Data fuels every digital initiative — but who’s actually managing it? In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, Jonathan Scott and Juliann Grant sit down with Razorleaf’s Ann Garcia to unpack the fundamentals of Master Data Management (MDM) and why it plays a critical role in modern digital engineering environments. With more than 30 years of experience across medical device, consumer packaged goods, and manufacturing industries, Ann brings a practical perspective to one of the most misunderstood topics in digital transformation: data ownership, governance, and lifecycle management. The conversation explores what master data actually is, how it differs from transactional and reference data, and why organizations struggle to define and manage it consistently across systems like PLM, ERP, and manufacturing platforms. The team also dives into: The difference between master data, transactional data, and reference data Why data governance often becomes more complex as organizations grow The role of master data during PLM and ERP implementations How mergers, acquisitions, and global operations impact data quality Why defining data standards early matters for digital transformation The relationship between clean master data, digital thread initiatives, and AI readiness How organizations balance speed with data accuracy during system rollouts Ann also shares real-world examples of how poor data definitions and inconsistent ownership can create downstream challenges — and why many companies underestimate the effort required to maintain clean, trusted data across the enterprise. As AI and analytics become increasingly important in manufacturing and engineering environments, this episode highlights a foundational truth: clean insights require clean data. If your organization is investing in PLM, ERP, digital thread, AI, or enterprise modernization, this conversation offers an important look at the often-overlooked infrastructure behind successful digital transformation. Featured Guest Ann Garcia – Data management and governance professional with 30+ years of experience supporting manufacturing, medical device, CPG, and enterprise transformation initiatives. Listen & Subscribe Follow Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering for conversations about digital transformation, PLM, manufacturing systems, engineering data, AI, and the future of connected product development. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

    39 min

  4. May 12

    #135: iBase-t Excelerate 2026 Wrap Up

    What’s driving the future of manufacturing execution, MRO, and digital operations in aerospace and defense?  In this special on-site episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, the Razorleaf team recaps their experience at the iBase-t Excelerate 2026 conference in National Harbor. Jonathan Scott and Juliann Grant share insights from customer presentations, emerging AI strategies, MES modernization efforts, and the growing push toward model-based manufacturing. From practical upgrade strategies to global deployment challenges, this episode explores how manufacturers are balancing innovation with operational realities. The event highlighted a clear industry shift: manufacturers are under increasing pressure to modernize quickly while maintaining quality, compliance, and production continuity. Discussions throughout the conference focused on pragmatic digital transformation, data integration across the “golden triangle” of ERP, PLM, and MES, and how AI can be securely and effectively embedded into enterprise systems. The team also discusses: GE Aerospace’s large-scale Solumina deployment for MRO and sustainment iBase-t’s practical AI strategy and security-first approach Real-world MES upgrade lessons from Honeywell and Razorleaf Global rollout strategies across multiple manufacturing sites Model-based work instructions and AI-powered data ingestion Integration architecture challenges and the role of connected data Why manufacturers are moving faster than ever to eliminate paper processes Beyond the technology, the episode captures the collaborative spirit of the iBase-t community — where even competitors openly share lessons learned to improve manufacturing outcomes across the industry. If you’re involved in MES, manufacturing operations, aerospace and defense, or digital transformation initiatives, this episode offers a grounded look at where the industry is heading next. Listen & Subscribe Stay connected with Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering for conversations focused on digital transformation, manufacturing technology, PLM, MES, AI, and the future of product innovation.  Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

    15 min

  5. May 6

    #134: The Flex Factor-How Retail Rewrote the Rules of PLM

    What happens when traditional Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) meets the fast-moving world of retail and apparel? In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott sit down with returning guest Brion Carroll to explore how PLM evolved beyond engineering-heavy industries into fashion, footwear, and retail. Brion shares firsthand insights from building one of the first retail-focused PLM solutions—revealing why apparel required a completely different mindset, how FlexPLM was born, and what lessons every industry can take from retail’s speed, complexity, and creativity. From colorways and line planning to supplier collaboration and real-time change, this conversation uncovers how retail pushed PLM to become more flexible, visual, and business-centric. Key Topics Covered Why traditional PLM didn’t work for apparel and retailThe shift from “parts and assemblies” to materials and stylesUnderstanding style, colorways, and seasonal product variationWhy costing comes before design in footwearThe role of suppliers as active collaborators in product developmentHow line planning and merchandising changed PLMThe need for visual, intuitive user experiencesManaging rapid, continuous change vs. formal engineering change processesThe importance of multi-team collaboration across the businessBuilding FlexPLM and lessons from early customers like Timberland and ReebokWhy a single, shared bill of materials (BOM) mattersConnecting PLM with upstream and downstream systems (ERP, supply chain, etc.)Key Takeaways 1. PLM Must Serve the Entire Business Retail proved that PLM isn’t just for engineering—it must support design, merchandising, sourcing, supply chain, and more. 2. One Product, Many Views A unified BOM with multiple views enables different teams to work from the same data without duplication or inconsistency. 3. Speed Changes Everything Retail operates in rapid, iterative cycles—requiring PLM systems to be flexible, responsive, and user-friendly. 4. User Experience Matters Creative teams need visual, intuitive interfaces—not engineering-style data structures. 5. Collaboration is Critical From internal teams to global suppliers, successful PLM depends on seamless data sharing and connectivity. Notable Quote “There’s really no difference in the core of PLM across industries—the difference is how you apply it and who you bring into the process.”  About the Guest Brion Carroll is CEO and Principal Consultant at Digital Solution Group, LLC and a pioneer in PLM, including early development of retail-focused solutions like FlexPLM. He has decades of experience helping organizations connect product data across the digital thread—from concept to market. Listen & Subscribe Stay tuned for more conversations on digital engineering, PLM, and the technologies shaping product innovation. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

    47 min

  6. Apr 28

    #133: Aras ACE 2026 - Innovation, AI, and Community

    What’s next for the Aras Innovator community heading into 2026? In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, the Razorleaf team recaps insights from ACE 2026—Aras Community Event (ACE) 2026—the annual gathering for users of Aras Innovator. Featured Hosts and Guests: Jonathan Scott – Co-host, Razorleaf Juliann Grant – Co-host, Razorleaf Milan Obradovic – Aras Pre-Sales Architect, Razorleaf Steven Binstock – Senior Solution Architect, Razorleaf From bold AI vision to the growing impact of Innovator Edge, the conversation explores how Aras is evolving beyond traditional PLM—focusing on user-centric experiences, flexible architectures, and empowering customers to build their own solutions. Whether you attended ACE or missed it, this episode delivers key takeaways, standout moments, and what it all means for the future of digital engineering.  Key Takeaways: AI is the headline—but vision leads the story Rather than flashy product launches, ACE 2026 emphasized direction: how AI will be embedded into workflows, decision-making, and the broader digital thread. “Meet users where they are” is the new PLM mantra Aras is shifting toward task-based, accessible experiences that extend beyond traditional interfaces—bringing PLM to more users across the enterprise. InnovatorEdge is a major catalyst The platform enables lightweight, targeted apps and micro-experiences that connect users to PLM data without requiring full system access. The digital thread is becoming more actionable With AI and new architecture in place, organizations are closer than ever to truly connecting data across engineering, manufacturing, and service. Community remains a defining strength From open Q&A sessions to collaborative demos, ACE continues to stand out for its transparency and user-driven innovation. From AI-driven experiences to flexible app ecosystems, ACE 2026 made one thing clear: PLM is evolving—and Aras Corporation is building the foundation for what comes next. If You Found This Episode Valuable: Follow or subscribe to Stay Sharp on your favorite podcast platformLeave a review to help more listeners find the showShare this episode with a colleague or friendStay Sharp. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

    31 min

  7. Apr 21

    #132: Event Wrap Up - CIMdata Market and Industry Conference 2026

    Is AI coming for PLM or saving it?  This week on Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott are joined by special guest Ashish Kulkarni, Senior PLM Leader at Razorleaf International (Netherlands), for a dual-continent recap of CIMdata's Annual Market and Industry Conference — held simultaneously in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Paris, France. Between them, the three cover the global PLM market data, the AI conversation dominating the industry, vendor vs. buyer disconnects, and what it all means if you work in digital engineering, PLM, or manufacturing technology. Key Takeaways: The global PLM market grew 8.7% to $87.3 billion — strong, but below the 9.3% forecastTop PLM investment priorities have shifted: knowledge management, global collaboration, and configurability are now leading over traditional part and BOM managementThe percentage of respondents saying PLM has "run its course" jumped from 22% in 2025 to 55% in 2026 — a striking shift in market sentimentAI is not replacing PLM — yet. But the question is now being asked openly, especially in EuropeArchitecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) and Electronic Design Automation (EDA) were the surprise growth leaders, with AEC growth well above forecastCIMdata recategorized how it reports the market: moving from CPDM to "Product Innovation Platforms," with new scrutiny on how tools vs. platforms are classifiedSI/VAR growth significantly missed forecast (7.5% vs. 12.6% predicted) — reasons remain unclearA "fluency-deployment divide" is emerging end users are experimenting with AI tools like ChatGPT, but in-house enterprise AI deployments in PLM are still very earlyVendors are racing to embed AI capabilities; buyers are moving slower and prioritizing data readiness firstFear factors around AI — "your data has to be perfect before you can use it" — are being actively addressed by presenters like Diego TamburiniAbout Our Guest Ashish Kulkarni is a Senior PLM Leader at Razorleaf International, based in the Netherlands. With over 23 years of experience driving enterprise-scale digital transformation across Europe and 15+ years in PLM (including ENOVIA), Ashish has led strategic growth across Europe and the Mediterranean region. He was instrumental in building and growing the Razorleaf India office. Resources & References CIMdata Annual PLM Market and Industry Conference (Ann Arbor, MI and Paris, France)CIMdata PLM Market Report — official publication expected May 2025CIMdata PLM Roadmap and PDT Conference — May (North America) and Fall (Sweden) Diego Tamburini — previous Stay Sharp episodes on Strategic Patterns for Implementing AI in Manufacturing and The AI Reality Gap – What You Need to Know Before Building at Scale.Topics mentioned: RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), model-based systems engineering (MBSE), digital threadMusic is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

    36 min

  8. Apr 14

    #131: The AI Reality Gap: What You Need to Know Before Building at Scale

    Build, Buy or Wait, Navigating the AI Implementation Stack  Is your company ready to build its own AI solution?  In this episode of Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering, hosts Juliann Grant and Jonathan Scott welcome back Dr. Diego Tamburini — executive consultant and AI practice lead at CIMdata — for a deep dive into what it actually takes to move from AI experimentation to production-ready deployment in manufacturing and engineering organizations. Diego brings 25+ years of experience across PLM, CAD/CAM, digital manufacturing, and AI strategy, with past roles at Microsoft, Autodesk, and Siemens Digital Industry Software. In this episode, he cuts through the noise to give you a practical, honest look at the AI build-vs-buy landscape. What You'll Learn: The difference between AI workflows and true agentic AI — and why conflating the two leads to bad decisionsThe full spectrum of AI implementation options: from fully embedded vendor tools to building from scratch in PythonWhen it makes sense to use low-code/no-code platforms (like Microsoft Copilot Studio or Amazon Bedrock) vs. full custom developmentWhy subject matter experts — not just developers — are becoming the key builders of AI agentsHow the digital thread concept is getting new life in the AI era and why it matters for cross-system reasoningThe "make, buy, or wait" framework for prioritizing AI initiatives wiselyThe traceability and privilege elevation challenges that regulated industries must address in agentic AIWhat skill sets organizations actually need at each level of AI implementationGuest: Dr. Diego Tamburini Executive Consultant, AI Practice Lead at CIMdata, Former Director of Engineering Agility at Microsoft, Former Design & Manufacturing Strategist at Autodesk  Connect with Diego for AI strategy consulting through CIMdata Related Episode - Give it a Listen! #125 : Strategic Patterns for Implementing AI in Manufacturing Connect & Subscribe Have a question, topic idea, or guest suggestion? Reach out anytime at podcast@razorleaf.com. 🎧 Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode — and if this was valuable, leave us a review or share it with a colleague navigating the AI landscape in their organization. Music is considered “royalty-free” and discovered on Story Blocks. Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co. © 2024 Razorleaf Corp. All Rights Reserved.

    46 min
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About

Welcome to 'Stay Sharp in Digital Engineering,' the ultimate podcast for all things digital in the manufacturing industry by Razorleaf. Join us as we take a deep dive into the multifaceted world of digital transformation, exploring topics such as the digital thread, digital twins, IDEs, model-based strategies and delving into the frontiers of cutting-edge technologies like PLM, MES, Integration, and more. Our expert hosts, Jonathan Scott, Jen Ferello, Juliann Grant, and Eric Doubell, will be your guides, providing valuable insights, captivating interviews, and the latest industry updates to ensure you remain at the forefront of the ever-evolving digital landscape. Whether you're a technology enthusiast, a business leader, or simply curious about the digital realm in manufacturing, this podcast is your essential resource for staying sharp and well-informed.

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