Hardware Podcasts

How EMS Can Scale Defense Production Faster, with Kitron's CEO Peter Nilsson

EMS@C-LEVEL · 1 May 2026 · 12m

AI in practice: one real use of AI described

What this episode covers

Peter Nilsson, CEO of Kitron Group, explains how the company scaled defense electronics revenue from roughly 44 million to nearly 140 million euros by serving both legacy primes and agile defense tech startups. He details the operational challenges of rapid ramp-ups, including component decommitments from distributors, and the solution of using AI agents within ERP systems to automate supply chain planning. Nilsson also discusses the strategic integration of the Delta Nordic acquisition, the shift toward organic growth mixed with targeted M&A, and broader demand drivers in AI data centers and industrial IoT.

AI in practice

Where this conversation describes AI being used to build or deliver a product. Part of the AI in practice tracker.

Logistics & fulfilmentAI agents

AI agents were embedded into the ERP system to automatically chase component recommits, verify the master schedule weekly, and trigger automatic replanning to manage supply chain constraints.

“We're we're utilizing AI agents, putting on the next generation of uh ERP system that we're migrating to in May, June. We've already built that in those agents into that system. And you're asking for recommits on a weekly basis, verifying the master schedule, and uh being able to automatically replan.”

Peter Nilsson, CEO, Kitron Group · Hear it at 4:44

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Kitron Group, Delta Nordic, Keytron Ltech, Defense Architecture, Koh Young

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Oxide and Friends · 1h 30m

    Scaling Manufacturing

    Bryan Cantrill and Adam Leventhal of Oxide Computer Company discuss scaling manufacturing with colleagues CJ Mendes, Kirstin Neira, Erik Anderson, Aaron Hartwig, and Doug Wibben. They detail the transition from low-rate NPI to volume production using contract manufacturer Benchmark Electronics, highlighting specific engineering solutions like the Medusa and Reverso test boards to address fragile high-speed cables and press-fit DDR sockets. The team emphasizes their strategic procurement approach, building deep relationships with suppliers like Semtech and Texas Instruments to secure supply during the AI-driven chip shortage, while navigating compliance and tariff challenges for global expansion.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringDebugging & failure analysis
    8 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 36m

    259: Data Centers, Modularity, and Mission Critical Manufacturing featuring Keith Hutchens of BW Design Group

    Keith Hutchens, Partner at BW Design Group (part of Barry-Wehmiller), discusses the transformative impact of AI-driven data center construction on the manufacturing supply chain, noting that capacity is doubling every 3-4 years and creating severe strain on components like transformers and PLCs. He explains how modularity allows builders to manufacture units in parallel before site selection, a critical strategy for hyperscalers racing for speed to market. Hutchens also details BW Design Group's shift from commercial DDC controls to industrial PLCs for mission-critical redundancy and outlines their 'truly human leadership' philosophy, which includes formal principal engineer tracks and flexible relocation programs to manage large, dispersed site teams.

    Scaling productionEmbedded firmware
    7 chapters

  • EE Times Current · 21m

    Contract Manufacturing: Takin’ Care of Business

    Derek Kane, vice president of KMC Systems, discusses the strategic opening of a new innovation center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to support the medical electronics and life sciences industries. He explains how KMC’s 'campus-based' supply chain model and early supplier involvement helped mitigate semiconductor shortages and lead time issues during the pandemic. The conversation also covers KMC’s long product lifecycles, predictive maintenance capabilities derived from its defense background, and the integration of adjacent technologies from parent company Elbit Systems.

    Sourcing & supply chainManufacturing partners & offshoring
    6 chapters

  • The Hardware Entrepreneur · 30m

    #007 - How one company wants to radically cut down the lead-time of electronics manufacturing of all volumes, with Radu Diaconescu of Swie.io, Switzerland

    Radu Diaconescu, co-founder and Business Development Manager at Swie.io, explains how his company uses Industry 4.0 technology to create a distributed manufacturing network that drastically reduces electronics production lead times. He details the challenge of adapting traditional factories for low-volume, high-mix production and the company's asset-light business model that connects customers with global factory partners. Diaconescu also discusses the specific difficulties of raising Series A funding for hardware startups in Europe compared to software ventures.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringScaling production
    6 chapters

  • The Next Byte Podcast · 1h 05m

    251. Michael Corr & Justin Sears on How Altium & Duro Are Fueling the Next Generation of Hardware Startups

    Michael Corr, co-founder and CEO of Duro, and Justin Sears, Head of Product Marketing at Altium, discuss how Duro’s cloud-based PLM platform and Altium’s Agile Teams are breaking down silos between electrical, mechanical, and procurement teams. They explain how Duro’s API-first architecture enables specialized AI agents to automate tasks like BOM analysis and part sourcing, addressing the critical need for real-time supply chain visibility. The conversation highlights the acquisition of Duro by Altium, the shift from selling 'vitamins' to 'medicine' for hardware startups, and the resurgence of small, fast-moving hardware companies leveraging modern tooling.

    Design for manufacturing & NPIAI & machine learning
    9 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by EMS@C-LEVEL. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.