A Digital Backbone for Factories of the Future w/ Ryan Kuhlenbeck
Ryan Kuhlenbeck, Co-Founder and CEO of Pico MES, discusses the critical need for a digital backbone in small to mid-sized manufacturing supply chains. Drawing on his experience at General Motors, Tesla, and Ultimotors, he explains how disconnected data creates bottlenecks and quality issues that large OEMs struggle to resolve. Kuhlenbeck outlines how Pico MES provides a flexible Manufacturing Execution System (MES) that integrates shop-floor tools with ERP systems to enable real-time traceability and continuous improvement. He argues that this digital connectivity is essential for suppliers to de-risk new EV component production and retain skilled labor by reducing operator anxiety.