Manufacturing Happy Hour

15 episodes scanned. 6% of ad slots promote the show's own products.

Recent Episodes

1. 309: How Physical AI Is Changing What's Possible in Warehouse Automation

   Nov 3, 2026

   Josh Cloer, General Manager for North America at Nomagic, and Onur Uranli, Director of Enterprise Business Development at Intelligrated, discuss how warehouse automation differs from factory automation. They cover why most warehouses remain manual, the "forgotten middle" of automation investment, and how physical AI lets a robot recover from downtime during item picking. The conversation also looks at pallet variability, the role of MHI's Robotics Group (TRG) in vendor collaboration, and where warehouses are catching up to manufacturing.

2. 308: From Prototype to Production: Inside Chicago’s Hardtech Innovation Engine with mHUB's Bill Fienup and Kim Blomquist

   Oct 27, 2026

   Chris visits mHUB in Chicago's West Loop to talk with Co-Founder and VP of Innovation Services Bill Fienup and Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Kim Blomquist about how the platform helps hardtech startups move from prototype to production. The conversation covers mHUB's labs, tools, accelerator funding, contract manufacturing network, and the capital and manufacturing-partner challenges early-stage hardware companies face. They also discuss Midwest venture funding, the shift toward physical AI and data center applications, and the HAAS Alert case of bringing production back to the region after tariffs.

3. 307: Building the Factory of the Future - LIVE from Revere Electric's Executive Forum at UWM's Connected Systems Institute (Milwaukee, WI)

   Oct 20, 2026

   Recorded live at UWM's Connected Systems Institute, this multi-guest episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour features a panel on how the factory of the future connects operations, workforce development, and technology. Ryan Schneeberger of Revere Electric Supply discusses workforce shortages on the plant floor, customer automation projects built for flexibility, and why manufacturers hesitate on AI until the ROI is clear. Other panelists from Rockwell Automation and the Connected Systems Institute cover autonomous operations, hackathons, and veteran training programs.

4. 306: From Systems of Record to Systems of Action: Putting AI to Work in Manufacturing with Sanjay Brahmawar

   Oct 13, 2026

   Sanjay Brahmawar, CEO of QAD Redzone, joins Chris at mHUB in Chicago during IMTS to discuss how AI agents can move manufacturing plants from systems of record to systems of action. The conversation covers examples such as a line lead agent, a procurement agent that reduces buyer time spent on supplier communication, and the people, trust, and adoption questions manufacturers face. Sanjay also shares his own start assembling engines on a Honda line and argues that manufacturers can modernize and adopt AI in parallel.

5. 304: How to Build a Manufacturing Company from First Principles with Supersede CEO Sean Petterson

   Sep 29, 2026

   Sean Petterson, CEO and founder of Supersede, discusses building a manufacturing company from first principles to produce lightweight, waterproof alternatives to plywood and OSB using recycled plastic. The conversation covers Supersede's capital-efficient distributed manufacturing model, the transition from marine board into RV and residential construction markets, and how AI and vertical integration enable rapid scaling of production facilities across the United States.

6. 303: Made in Iowa: Ag Equipment, Butter Braids, and Women in Manufacturing (WiM)

   Sep 22, 2026

   Chris Lukey hosts a live Manufacturing Happy Hour episode in Des Moines, Iowa, featuring four guests who represent different aspects of Iowa's manufacturing ecosystem. Dominique Hain and Cami Schaefer discuss Women in Manufacturing Iowa's growth to over 900 members in three years, while Denny Williams (Co-Line) and Denise Hill (Weiler) share insights on automation, workforce development, and the deep agricultural roots that shaped Iowa's manufacturing base. The conversation highlights surprising products made in Iowa—from Winnebago RVs to basketball hoops to butter braids—and explores how farming communities have transformed into manufacturing powerhouses.

7. 302: Philly's Answer to the Talent Shortage (LIVE in King of Prussia, PA)

   Sep 15, 2026

   This live episode from King of Prussia, PA features a panel discussion on Philadelphia's manufacturing ecosystem and workforce development solutions. The first segment explores the regional manufacturing landscape with Brett Lister (Open Tolerance), Ashley Watkins (JBM Technologies), and Matt Bruner (American Precision Works), highlighting collaboration as a competitive advantage. The second segment shifts focus to workforce development with Hannah McGarry (Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center) and Gregory Thompson (Philadelphia Youth Basketball), discussing innovative approaches to the skilled trades talent shortage and the changing perception of manufacturing careers.

8. IMTS After Hours: Your Unofficial Guide to IMTS 2026 featuring Jim Mayer and Emily Wilkins

   Sep 11, 2026

   Chris Lukey hosts returning guests Jim Mayer (Manufacturing Connector) and Emily Wilkins (Marketing Metal) in a bonus episode focused on the after-hours experience at IMTS 2026. The three discuss memorable stories from past IMTS events, highlight the value of networking and relationship-building that happens outside the trade show floor, and preview upcoming after-hours events including Extra Innings (Tuesday, Sept 15 at Kaiser Tiger), Manufacturing Mic Drop karaoke (Wednesday, Sept 16 at Brando's Speakeasy, sold out), and other partner events throughout the week.

9. 301: NYC's Role in Reindustrialization and American Manufacturing (LIVE from Brooklyn)

   Sep 8, 2026

   Michelle Feinberg, founder of NY Embroidery Studio, shares nearly 30 years of manufacturing experience in New York City's garment district. The episode features her evolution from high-end fashion production (Met Gala gowns, Tori Burch, Tom Brown) to PPE manufacturing during COVID, where she now produces nearly 3 million isolation gowns monthly using automation and robotics. She discusses how staying flexible, embracing automation, and maintaining proximity to customers and problems enabled her to keep manufacturing in NYC while solving a critical 20-year-old medical design flaw in PPE.

10. IMTS 2026 Preview: Live Drone Production, the Industrial AI Arena, and More

    Sep 4, 2026

    Host Chris Lukey previews IMTS 2026 in Chicago, highlighting Oak Ridge National Laboratory's daily drone production demo, the new Industrial AI Arena, and the IMTS Investor Summit. The bonus episode includes a recorded conversation at the 2025 "halfway to IMTS" party in St. Louis with Mary Cecile "MC" Neville of AMT, who describes IMTS as the industry's largest community gathering and outlines new show-floor plans. Brandon Wegge of AMICSTL also discusses a planned nonprofit advanced manufacturing innovation center in North St. Louis aimed at small and medium manufacturers.