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Mark Woeppel explains why many plants fall into a cycle of expediting and reactive decision-making. Drawing on decades of experience, he shares examples of assembly operations overwhelmed by incomplete builds, conflicting priorities and systems that cannot keep pace with real-world conditions.He also introduces the Theory of Constraints as a way to restore stability. By identifying the true constraint and aligning production around it, manufacturers can improve throughput, reduce chaos and regain control of delivery performance.To learn more, join Woeppel for a live webinar on May 20 at 2 p.m. ET, where he will discuss how to right-size inventory levels and prevent assembly line stoppages in modern manufacturing environments.

As manufacturers push deeper into artificial intelligence, a new challenge is emerging: most factory networks weren’t built to support the speed, scale and reliability that modern AI systems require. From robotics to real-time analytics, connectivity is becoming a critical constraint on how far manufacturers can take automation.One of the biggest forces behind that shift is the rise of physical AI: systems that interact with the real world, continuously learning from sensors and feeding data back into models. These applications depend on constant, high-performance communication between machines and centralized systems, placing new demands on factory infrastructure.In this episode, Tamer Kadous explains how evolving connectivity requirements are reshaping private 5G, what manufacturers are learning from early automation deployments and why physical AI could redefine how data, robotics and production systems operate on the plant floor.

Dawn Fichter, owner of Tools 4 Hiring, discusses why so many manufacturing roles remain open for months and what hiring managers are often getting wrong. Drawing on more than 15 years of recruiting experience, Fichter explains why the challenge is often not a shortage of people, but a breakdown in process, alignment and expectations. She shares practical advice on how manufacturers can move faster, simplify job requirements and focus less on the perfect resume and more on trainability, mindset and soft skills.

Greg Dyer, chief commercial officer at Randstad USA, discusses the challenges manufacturers face as they work to recruit, develop and retain the workforce needed to keep production running. With reshoring efforts accelerating and experienced workers retiring in large numbers, manufacturers must rethink how they attract talent and build sustainable workforce pipelines. Dyer explains how the labor market for manufacturing remains strong but increasingly competitive, with companies needing the right mix of skills, location and recruiting strategies to succeed. He also discusses how automation, AI and digital tools are reshaping frontline manufacturing jobs, enabling workers to move beyond repetitive tasks and take on more data-driven and technology-enabled roles.

Blake Maurer of Loopr AI discusses how manufacturers can improve quality inspection by combining human expertise with AI-enabled visual inspection systems. He explains how platforms like Loopr are designed to reduce variability in inspections, digitize quality records and structure manufacturing data so companies can successfully scale AI across their operations. Maurer also explores the challenges manufacturers face when balancing speed with accuracy on the factory floor, why structured and well-labeled data is essential before AI can deliver meaningful results and where human inspectors still outperform machines.

Downtime Solutions: Power Strategies for Automotive Plants explores the role power distribution plays in facilitating efficiency on the factory floor. Tune in to learn how smarter power strategies have helped leading automakers reduce downtime and improve operational flexibility to support rapid production changes.Sponsored By: Starline

Bill Good, Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain at GE Appliances, discusses how the company rose to the number one spot in U.S. appliance manufacturing — not simply through scale, but through a deliberate strategy centered on automation, digitization and reshoring. Good explains how GE Appliances is investing in advanced robotics, virtual production planning and real-time data visibility to modernize its plants and strengthen domestic production. From piloting new processes in digital factory environments to launching its first in-house water filter manufacturing line at Appliance Park in Louisville, Kentucky, the company’s approach demonstrates how smart automation and a highly skilled workforce can reduce reliance on overseas supply chains while maintaining world-class output.

Bill Good, Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain at GE Appliances, shares how artificial intelligence is transforming U.S. manufacturing in this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible. From AI tools that help operators diagnose equipment in real time to automating complex processes, Good explains how technology is being integrated with workforce development and plant modernization to drive productivity, resilience and competitiveness.

Trisha Epp, Director of Innovation at Freelancer, explains how a NASA-tested, crowdsourced approach to solving technical challenges is now available to manufacturers. In this episode, we explore how posting problems to a global network of engineers and scientists can deliver faster, cheaper and more diverse solutions than traditional RFPs or consulting engagements. Learn how manufacturers can pay for outcomes instead of proposals, accelerate innovation and tap expertise outside their usual networks — all while reducing risk and unlocking breakthrough results.

Meaghan Elwell, Division President of Global Industrials at JLL, discusses how manufacturing facilities can look flawless on paper, but still leave frontline workers feeling disengaged and undervalued. In this episode, we share insights on why employees stay even when they’re not fully engaged, how human-centered design can transform the factory floor and shares practical steps manufacturers can take to boost engagement, retention and productivity — without massive investment. Learn what real empowerment looks like and how small changes can create a big impact for people and business alike.Sponsored By:

Nashay Naeve, president of the Engineered Plastic Components business unit at Tsubaki Nakashima, breaks down why manufacturers are still struggling to fill roles, what leaders can change immediately to reframe the industry and how modern operations are reshaping what manufacturing careers actually look like. She also shares practical insight on bringing more women into technical roles, building trust early on the plant floor and creating mentorship that’s real, not a “check-the-box” program.Sponsored By:

Telit Cinterion’s Dr. Linir Zamir discusses how Artificial Intelligence is moving closer to the factory floor through edge-based systems that keep data on site and enable faster decision-making. He explains how industrial IoT platforms can connect legacy equipment, normalize machine data and support AI “agents” that help detect early signs of failure, guide fault recovery and reduce downtime.Sponsored By:

Sustainability in manufacturing is no longer about broad promises or future targets, as leading companies are developing science-based standards. In this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible, we spotlight a major milestone in industrial sustainability: Schneider Electric’s groundbreaking achievement as the first industrial product manufacturer to earn UL Solutions’ new ECOLOGO Certification.Bin Lu, EVP of Schneider Electric’s Power Products Division, joins us to discuss what this certification means for transparency, environmental performance, and the future of sustainable manufacturing. Learn about the rigorous testing, lifecycle analysis, and the fruitful collaboration with UL Solutions’ team, especially Jeff Smit, Senior Vice President — Testing, Inspection and Certification, Industrial. Tune in to discover how companies can build trust and meet growing market and regulatory demands through credible sustainability certifications.Sponsored By:

Are U.S. manufacturers mortgaging their future to cut costs? New research from EFESO Management Consultants suggests that many U.S. manufacturers may be undermining their long-term competitiveness through short-sighted cost-cutting strategies driven by tariffs, rising energy costs, and ongoing market pressures. Chuck Deise, Senior Partner at EFESO, joins the podcast to share insights from EFESO’s newly published research, in which out of 150 large ($5 billion in revenue) and middle-market ($500M to $5B) manufacturers surveyed, 79 percent said delaying capital investments is important to their cost takeout efforts this year. However, nearly half (44 percent) expressed concern that this will increase costs by reducing operational agility and scalability. The conversation examines the pressures influencing today’s decisions, how cost-cutting strategies differ by company size, and what a “healthy” cost-takeout strategy should look like in the year ahead.Sponsored By:

According to ABBYY, many manufacturing businesses are investing in GenAI solutions that promise more than they can realistically deliver, and in some cases, GenAI isn’t even the technology they need. To research, ABBYY commissioned the 2025 State of Intelligent Automation Report: GenAI Confessions, a survey examining how manufacturers are adopting GenAI, where they’re struggling, and what’s actually driving results. Jon Knisley, Director of Process AI Strategy and Operations Leader at ABBYY, joins us to explain the findings. The conversation looks beyond GenAI alone, examining the role of complementary technologies such as agentic AI, process intelligence, and purpose-built AI in delivering reliable outcomes and faster ROI.Sponsored By: