# A History Lesson in Robotics with Scot Lindemann, CEO of Mission Design and Automation

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2022-05-31
- Length: 40m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom
- Listen: https://manufacturinghappyhour.com/94

## Summary

Scot Lindemann, CEO of Mission Design and Automation, reflects on his 30-year career in robotics, from earning a degree at Lake Superior State University in the 1980s to leading a Western Michigan-based integrator today. He discusses the evolution of robotics technology, noting that while hardware and software have become more powerful and easier to use, the core challenge remains identifying the right manufacturing problems to solve. Lindemann also shares insights on leadership, the indirect ROI of automation for small and mid-sized businesses, and the history of the Automate trade show.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [4:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom#t=271) Scot Lindemann's Early Robotics Education
- [7:41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom#t=461) Evolution of Robotics Technology and Challenges
- [11:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom#t=674) Leadership Advice for Technical Professionals
- [18:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom#t=1101) Indirect ROI and Business Strategy of Automation
- [25:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom#t=1500) Automation for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
- [29:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom#t=1752) History of the Automate Show and Michigan Manufacturing
- [33:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom#t=1997) Networking Tips and Conclusion

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Mission Design and Automation (company)
- JR Automation (company)
- Lake Superior State University (other)
- Georgia Tech (other)
- A3 (company)
- Automate (other)
- RIA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The New ROI of Automation w/ Scot Lindemann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-02-08-the-new-roi-of-automation-w-scot-lindemann) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Ted Larson from OLogic shares robot development stories](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-02-25-ted-larson-from-ologic-shares-robot-development-stories) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [An Interview with John Davis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-03-26-an-interview-with-john-davis) (The Amp Hour)
- [Amplifiers of the workforce: The future of robots in manufacturing w/ Ryan Lillibridge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-04-06-amplifiers-of-the-workforce-the-future-of-robots-in-manufacturing-w-ryan-lillibr) (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/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-05-31-a-history-lesson-in-robotics-with-scot-lindemann-ceo-of-mission-design-and-autom. 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 Manufacturing Happy Hour.