# Make the Right Chips, Do the Right Work, Ep #12

- Show: [Lights Out](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out)
- Published: 2025-02-05
- Length: 39m
- Episode: 12
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-05-make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12
- Listen: https://8819970d-2c51-481c-b08a-4d2a806885b2.libsyn.com/make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12

## Summary

Max Falcone, Vice President of Sales Engineering at PushCorp, joins hosts Nick Golner and Caleb Mertz to discuss how automation can eliminate dangerous, repetitive tasks in manufacturing rather than replacing workers. Falcone explains the technical differences between passive and active compliance devices, which allow robots to apply constant force for material finishing tasks like deburring and polishing. He emphasizes the critical need for practical, hands-on experience in engineering education and highlights PushCorp's role in enabling skilled workers to transition into technical roles by automating the 'dirty, dangerous' jobs.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-05-make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12#t=0) Introduction: Humans Taking Robot Jobs
- [4:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-05-make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12#t=250) Max Falcone's Background and Patents
- [12:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-05-make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12#t=729) PushCorp's Force Compliance Technology
- [17:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-05-make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12#t=1069) Passive vs. Active Compliance Explained
- [21:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-05-make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12#t=1292) Automation for Safety and Efficiency
- [27:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-05-make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12#t=1665) The Value of Practical Engineering Experience
- [35:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-05-make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12#t=2132) Closing: Building a Culture of Problem Solvers

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- PushCorp (company)
- Walter Surface Technologies (company)
- Kawasaki (company)
- Comau (company)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- First Robotics (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Solving Labor Challenges the Simpler Way: A Fresh Look at Robotics w/ Ken Macken](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-03-03-solving-labor-challenges-the-simpler-way-a-fresh-look-at-robotics-w-ken-macken) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [156: "Clash of the Grinders: Student Edition" and the Future of Skilled Trades, presented by 3M](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-10-12-156-clash-of-the-grinders-student-edition-and-the-future-of-skilled-trades-prese) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [From Sports Writing to the Association for Advancing Automation with A3 President Jeff Burnstein](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-10-05-from-sports-writing-to-the-association-for-advancing-automation-with-a3-presiden) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [How to Solve the Technology Hesitancy Issue in Manufacturing w/ Erik Nieves](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-07-how-to-solve-the-technology-hesitancy-issue-in-manufacturing-w-erik-nieves) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Electronica 24: The Rise of AI-Powered Robotics at Fideltronik and Beyond](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-12-09-electronica-24-the-rise-of-ai-powered-robotics-at-fideltronik-and-beyond) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-02-05-make-the-right-chips-do-the-right-work-ep-12. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Lights Out.