# 220: From Irrigation to Metals to Pharma: Systems Integration in the Heartland featuring Huffman Engineering

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2025-01-21
- Length: 22m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-01-21-220-from-irrigation-to-metals-to-pharma-systems-integration-in-the-heartland-fea
- Listen: https://manufacturinghappyhour.com/220

## Summary

Jason Weedin, Jim Fricke, Kim Arms Shirk, and Alex Flamme from Huffman Engineering discuss their role as a control systems integrator in Nebraska's manufacturing ecosystem. They highlight the state's diverse industrial base, ranging from irrigation pivots and pharmaceuticals to metals, emphasizing the importance of early customer engagement and factory floor feedback in successful automation projects. The team also explores the unique 'garage-to-scale' culture of Nebraskan manufacturers and the industry's shift from pure automation to data accessibility.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-01-21-220-from-irrigation-to-metals-to-pharma-systems-integration-in-the-heartland-fea#t=0) Introduction and Nebraska Manufacturing Overview
- [5:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-01-21-220-from-irrigation-to-metals-to-pharma-systems-integration-in-the-heartland-fea#t=343) Irrigation Pivots and Agricultural Tech
- [8:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-01-21-220-from-irrigation-to-metals-to-pharma-systems-integration-in-the-heartland-fea#t=502) Huffman Engineering's Capabilities and Industries
- [9:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-01-21-220-from-irrigation-to-metals-to-pharma-systems-integration-in-the-heartland-fea#t=590) Customer Relationships and Civic Responsibility
- [12:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-01-21-220-from-irrigation-to-metals-to-pharma-systems-integration-in-the-heartland-fea#t=776) The Importance of Factory Floor Feedback
- [16:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-01-21-220-from-irrigation-to-metals-to-pharma-systems-integration-in-the-heartland-fea#t=990) Future of Industrial Automation and Data
- [18:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-01-21-220-from-irrigation-to-metals-to-pharma-systems-integration-in-the-heartland-fea#t=1082) Nebraska's Unique Manufacturing Culture

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Huffman Engineering (company)
- Dusters Brew Pub (other)
- Fortinet (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S1E46 The ABCs of Industrial Automation | Mauricio Romero](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2020-10-23-s1e46-the-abcs-of-industrial-automation-mauricio-romero) (Being an Engineer)
- [Bonus - That SCOOP Show Productronica Preview - Rob Raine and Alexander Hagenfeldt from ASM Assembly Solutions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-10-28-bonus-that-scoop-show-productronica-preview-rob-raine-and-alexander-hagenfeldt-f) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Inside Conexus Indiana: The Industry Network Driving Manufacturing Tech and Talent | Ep. 46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-07-31-inside-conexus-indiana-the-industry-network-driving-manufacturing-tech-and-talen) (Lights Out)
- [Automation, Machining, and a Coal Mine: What Vertical Integration Buys You | Ep. 51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-10-09-automation-machining-and-a-coal-mine-what-vertical-integration-buys-you-ep-51) (Lights Out)
- [#037 - Disrupting with digital manufacturing, with Nick Pinkston of Plethora, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-09-13-037-disrupting-with-digital-manufacturing-with-nick-pinkston-of-plethora-usa) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)

## 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/2025-01-21-220-from-irrigation-to-metals-to-pharma-systems-integration-in-the-heartland-fea. 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.