# Standardized Systems Make Global Manufacturing Agility Possible: with Zollner's Martin Eisenhart

- Show: [EMS@C-LEVEL](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level)
- Published: 2026-09-23
- Length: 7m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-23-standardized-systems-make-global-manufacturing-agility-possible-with-zollners-ma

## Summary

Martin Eisenhart, Senior Executive Vice President of Electronics at Zollner, explains how the company maintains global manufacturing agility through standardized systems, including a single ERP, MES, and traceability platform. He details how this standardization enables rapid transfer of production between sites, such as moving European customer demand to the US to mitigate tariffs, while maintaining quality in complex sectors like medical, industrial, and aerospace. Eisenhart also discusses Zollner's organizational shift from a global structure to regional hubs (Americas, Europe, Asia) and the pilot of AI agents in supply chain and administrative tasks at their Costa Rica facility.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-23-standardized-systems-make-global-manufacturing-agility-possible-with-zollners-ma#t=0) Introduction: Martin Eisenhart and Zollner's Costa Rica Facility
- [1:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-23-standardized-systems-make-global-manufacturing-agility-possible-with-zollners-ma#t=78) Standardized Global Systems: ERP, MES, and Traceability
- [2:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-23-standardized-systems-make-global-manufacturing-agility-possible-with-zollners-ma#t=150) Global Control, Transparency, and Data Segregation
- [3:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-23-standardized-systems-make-global-manufacturing-agility-possible-with-zollners-ma#t=231) Manufacturing Agility and Tariff-Driven Transfers
- [4:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-23-standardized-systems-make-global-manufacturing-agility-possible-with-zollners-ma#t=293) AI Pilots and Costa Rica's Role as a Shared Service Center
- [6:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-09-23-standardized-systems-make-global-manufacturing-agility-possible-with-zollners-ma#t=366) Regional Reorganization: Americas, Europe, and Asia

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Zollner (company)
- Costa Rica (other)
- SAP (tool)
- MES (tool)
- Mobidas (company)
- Silicon Valley (other)

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- [Building a Digital Backbone for Your Manufacturing Business w/ Paul Van Metre](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-04-16-building-a-digital-backbone-for-your-manufacturing-business-w-paul-van-metre) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Six Facilities, Three Countries, One Culture w/ Darragh de Stonndún](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-11-six-facilities-three-countries-one-culture-w-darragh-de-stonndun) (The Manufacturing Executive)
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## Citing this page

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