# Problem-Solving Digitization w/ Adam Keating

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2021-07-06
- Length: 25m
- Episode: 56
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-06-problem-solving-digitization-w-adam-keating
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-641afc12-54c3-4d9c-823f-b3a96e2c8e3d

## Summary

Adam Keating, Co-Founder and CEO of CoLab Software, explains how his team addresses the 20-year technology gap in manufacturing by enabling 2D and 3D CAD collaboration. He details how CoLab’s platform has helped companies like Genoa Design and Johns Controls streamline design reviews and virtual walkthroughs, significantly reducing friction with suppliers. Keating argues that successful digitization requires starting with tangible, small problems rather than massive roadmaps, a strategy accelerated by the pandemic’s forced shift to remote work.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-06-problem-solving-digitization-w-adam-keating#t=0) Introduction: Adam Keating and CoLab Software
- [2:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-06-problem-solving-digitization-w-adam-keating#t=168) Adam Keating’s Hyperloop Experience and Team Origins
- [7:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-06-problem-solving-digitization-w-adam-keating#t=435) CoLab Software’s Mission to Bridge the Manufacturing Tech Gap
- [9:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-06-problem-solving-digitization-w-adam-keating#t=541) The Impact of COVID on Cloud Adoption and Collaboration
- [13:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-06-problem-solving-digitization-w-adam-keating#t=796) Case Studies: Genoa Design and Johns Controls Success Stories
- [17:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-06-problem-solving-digitization-w-adam-keating#t=1055) Strategy: Solving Tangible Problems Before Adopting Technology

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- CoLab Software (company)
- Genoa Design (company)
- Johns Controls (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- Boeing (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Microsoft Teams (tool)
- CAT (tool)
- PLM (tool)

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- [#062 - How a hardware SaaS company wants to help you not get lost in your data during product development, with Michael Corr of Duro Labs, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-09-26-062-how-a-hardware-saas-company-wants-to-help-you-not-get-lost-in-your-data-duri) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [EMS@C-LEVEL Season #2021 Episode #8 with Anna-Katrina Shedletsky, Instrumental](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-08-09-ems-c-level-season-2021-episode-8-with-anna-katrina-shedletsky-instrumental) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [122: Modern Methods for New Product Development](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-04-13-122-modern-methods-for-new-product-development) (Product Startup)
- [Digitalization and Additive Manufacturing with Shane Fox](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/additive-snack/2021-03-16-digitalization-and-additive-manufacturing-with-shane-fox) (Additive Snack)
- [286: Why Local Execution Drives Regional Manufacturing Success: Live from Cleveland, OH](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-05-05-286-why-local-execution-drives-regional-manufacturing-success-live-from-clevelan) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-06-problem-solving-digitization-w-adam-keating. 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 The Manufacturing Executive.