# 276: 2026 Automation Industry Outlook, Live from the A3 Business Forum

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2026-02-24
- Length: 1h 09m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Host Chris Luecke interviews economists and industry leaders at the A3 Business Forum about the 2026 automation outlook. Economist Alex Chausovsky argues that manufacturing is transitioning from uncertainty to complexity, urging companies to rely on hard CapEx data rather than sentiment. Bob Little of Novanta and Alex Shikany of A3 discuss the $1+ trillion investment boom in US manufacturing and the critical role of smart automation in addressing labor shortages. Faye Goldstein of Barden and Stu Shepherd of Shepherd Solutions explore practical AI implementation in sales and the rigorous safety standards developed through theme park robotics.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum#t=0) Introduction and Sponsor Read
- [4:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum#t=293) Alex Chausovsky on Economic Complexity and CapEx
- [16:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum#t=1000) Bob Little on the Manufacturing Renaissance and Careers
- [29:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum#t=1757) Alex Shikany on Automation Trends and Cobot Growth
- [37:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum#t=2271) Faye Goldstein on AI Implementation and Build vs. Buy
- [47:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum#t=2821) Stu Shepherd on Theme Park Robotics and Safety
- [1:05:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum#t=3920) Episode Wrap-up and Key Takeaways

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- A3 (company)
- Novanta (company)
- Barden (company)
- Shepherd Solutions (company)
- TSMC (company)
- Intel (company)
- Eli Lilly (company)
- Universal Studios (company)
- Disney (company)
- Kuka (company)
- NVIDIA (company)
- Deloitte (company)
- Siemens (company)
- Rockwell (company)
- FANUC (company)
- PLC (other)
- Automate 2026 (other)
- Joseph Engelberger Award (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Hard Truths About Reshoring American Manufacturing w/ Eddy Azad](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-04-21-the-hard-truths-about-reshoring-american-manufacturing-w-eddy-azad) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Smarter Manufacturing in an Evolving Ecosystem w/ Chris Lupfer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-02-04-smarter-manufacturing-in-an-evolving-ecosystem-w-chris-lupfer) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Lowering the Barrier to Robot Deployment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-09-27-lowering-the-barrier-to-robot-deployment) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Automation 101 with Chris Luecke Manufacturing Happy Hour, Ep #2](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-automation-101-with-chris-luecke-manufacturing-happy-hour-ep-2) (Lights Out)
- [Episode 119: Robotics for small manufacturers - Will Kinghorn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-05-02-episode-119-robotics-for-small-manufacturers-will-kinghorn) (Robot Talk)

## Citing this page

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