# 259: Data Centers, Modularity, and Mission Critical Manufacturing featuring Keith Hutchens of BW Design Group

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2025-10-28
- Length: 36m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-28-259-data-centers-modularity-and-mission-critical-manufacturing-featuring-keith-h
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Keith Hutchens, Partner at BW Design Group (part of Barry-Wehmiller), discusses the transformative impact of AI-driven data center construction on the manufacturing supply chain, noting that capacity is doubling every 3-4 years and creating severe strain on components like transformers and PLCs. He explains how modularity allows builders to manufacture units in parallel before site selection, a critical strategy for hyperscalers racing for speed to market. Hutchens also details BW Design Group's shift from commercial DDC controls to industrial PLCs for mission-critical redundancy and outlines their 'truly human leadership' philosophy, which includes formal principal engineer tracks and flexible relocation programs to manage large, dispersed site teams.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-28-259-data-centers-modularity-and-mission-critical-manufacturing-featuring-keith-h#t=0) Introduction and Data Center Market Overview
- [7:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-28-259-data-centers-modularity-and-mission-critical-manufacturing-featuring-keith-h#t=445) Supply Chain Strain and Mission Critical Definitions
- [11:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-28-259-data-centers-modularity-and-mission-critical-manufacturing-featuring-keith-h#t=688) Modularity and Speed to Market for Hyperscalers
- [17:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-28-259-data-centers-modularity-and-mission-critical-manufacturing-featuring-keith-h#t=1023) Shift from DDC to Industrial PLCs for Redundancy
- [22:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-28-259-data-centers-modularity-and-mission-critical-manufacturing-featuring-keith-h#t=1326) Collaboration and the Data Center Automation Framework
- [24:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-28-259-data-centers-modularity-and-mission-critical-manufacturing-featuring-keith-h#t=1458) Truly Human Leadership and Principal Engineer Tracks
- [28:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-28-259-data-centers-modularity-and-mission-critical-manufacturing-featuring-keith-h#t=1686) Managing Large Site Teams and Exporting Culture

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- BW Design Group (company)
- Barry-Wehmiller (company)
- Rockwell Automation (company)
- Sierra Nevada (company)
- PLC (tool)
- DDC (tool)
- CDU (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Back to the Future: The Manufacturing Edition](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [The electrician shortage slowing the AI boom](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2026-08-06-the-electrician-shortage-slowing-the-ai-boom) (Catalyst)
- [How EMS Can Scale Defense Production Faster, with Kitron's CEO Peter Nilsson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2026-05-01-how-ems-can-scale-defense-production-faster-with-kitrons-ceo-peter-nilsson) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Surging AI and Data Center CapEx: Are We on the Verge of a Bubble? w/ Wasif Khan](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-03-17-surging-ai-and-data-center-capex-are-we-on-the-verge-of-a-bubble-w-wasif-khan) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Scaling Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2025-09-19-scaling-manufacturing) (Oxide and Friends)

## Citing this page

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