# Cars, Welding Robots, and Midwest Startups with Path Robotic's Sheena Patterson

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2021-06-08
- Length: 42m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Sheena Patterson, VP of Operations at Path Robotics, discusses her career journey from Ford and Tesla to leading automated welding robot operations in the Midwest. She explains how Path Robotics utilizes a 'robots-as-a-service' model to provide autonomous welding solutions, avoiding large capital expenditures for customers while maintaining continuous support. Patterson highlights the importance of people management and passion in manufacturing, contrasting the structured chaos of traditional automotive launches with the mission-driven culture of Silicon Valley startups like Tesla and Zoox. She also details how Drive Capital’s investment enabled Path Robotics to scale production, improve inventory management, and attract diverse talent to Columbus, Ohio.

## Chapters

- [0:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson#t=46) Introduction: Sheena Patterson and Path Robotics
- [7:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson#t=467) Early Career at Ford and Automotive Launches
- [13:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson#t=780) Moving to Tesla and Working with Elon Musk
- [19:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson#t=1195) Leadership at Zoox and Rivian
- [23:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson#t=1422) Joining Path Robotics via Drive Capital
- [29:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson#t=1784) Path Robotics Robots-as-a-Service Model
- [31:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson#t=1911) Scaling Production with Series B Funding
- [33:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson#t=2003) Advice for Operations Leaders and Career Growth
- [35:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-06-08-cars-welding-robots-and-midwest-startups-with-path-robotics-sheena-patterson#t=2124) The Midwest Startup Scene and Columbus Hub

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Path Robotics (company)
- Ford (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Zoox (company)
- Rivian (company)
- Drive Capital (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Perspectives on Automation, AI, & the Future w/ Andy Lonsberry](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-06-08-perspectives-on-automation-ai-the-future-w-andy-lonsberry) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [How Path Robotics uses AI to optimize robotic welding](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2026-07-10-how-path-robotics-uses-ai-to-optimize-robotic-welding) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [The Robotics Factory Builds Robot Companies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2025-02-28-the-robotics-factory-builds-robot-companies) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Jeff Burnstein on robot sales growth; Softbank’s evolving robotics play](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2021-01-28-jeff-burnstein-on-robot-sales-growth-softbanks-evolving-robotics-play) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Ep 4- The Hardware Story of Ati Motors | Autonomous Robots for Material movement in Factories](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-story/2025-06-02-ep-4-the-hardware-story-of-ati-motors-autonomous-robots-for-material-movement-in) (The Hardware Story)

## Citing this page

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