Hardware Podcasts

Get Started w/ Data Collection & Robotics Today w/ Aaron Prather

The Manufacturing Executive · 17 Aug 2021 · 25m · Episode 62

What this episode covers

Aaron Prather, Senior Advisor for Technology Planning and Research at FedEx, discusses how data collection and robotics can help mid-sized manufacturers navigate supply chain disruptions. He highlights the importance of early digitalization, citing FedEx's use of data to reroute shipments during the 2021 Texas winter storm, and advocates for starting small with automation. Prather shares the story of eCAMPY, a training program in Kentucky that taught former coal miners to achieve lights-out production in 10 days using systems from Ready Robotics, Universal Robots, and Power Robots. He emphasizes that companies should engage their workforce to identify simple use cases and start collecting data immediately rather than overthinking the implementation.

Most relevant to

large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
FedEx, Ready Robotics, Universal Robots, Power Robots, Cognex, SICK
Also
eCAMPY

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 53m

    From Robotics to Workforce to Tech in Pop Culture with FedEx’s Aaron Prather

    Aaron Prather, Senior Technical Advisor at FedEx, discusses his 25-year career from materials handler to robotics evangelist, emphasizing that workforce buy-in is critical for automation success. He highlights FedEx's focus on picking, placing, and mobile robotics to handle e-commerce volume, while advocating for workforce development through organizations like the ARM Institute and eKami. Prather shares advice on networking, targeting 'dull, dirty, dangerous' jobs for automation, and leveraging pop culture like Futurama to inspire interest in technology.

    Robotics & autonomyHiring & workforce
    7 chapters

  • EMS@C-LEVEL · 5m

    Electronica 24: The Rise of AI-Powered Robotics at Fideltronik and Beyond

    Piotr Owczarek, President of Fideltronik, discusses the company's seven-year journey to develop AI-driven robotics for electronic manufacturing services (EMS). He explains how a team of 170 engineers in Krakow is creating flexible automation that mimics human operators to address labor shortages and cost pressures. Owczarek details their 'academy for robots' concept, where collective knowledge is stored in the cloud to allow robots to learn from each other without daily programming. The episode highlights that major EMS companies are currently engaged in pilot programs to validate this technology before full-scale adoption.

    AI & machine learningRobotics & autonomy
    5 chapters

  • Lights Out · 52m

    Inside Conexus Indiana: The Industry Network Driving Manufacturing Tech and Talent | Ep. 46

    Bryce Carpenter, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating and Strategy Officer at Conexus Indiana, explains how this industry-led nonprofit facilitates collaboration among 126 manufacturing, logistics, academic, and public sector partners to drive workforce development and technology adoption. He details the evolution of the industry from viewing automation as an enemy to embracing it as a necessity, highlighting a specific case where automating hated palletizing jobs improved retention. The episode also covers the Manufacturing Readiness Grants program, which has supported over 700 small and midsize shops, and success stories like FiberX and Arcamed, illustrating how strategic peer learning and targeted investments accelerate growth.

    Manufacturing partners & offshoringScaling production
    10 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 1h 16m

    BONUS: A Look Inside the 2022 A3 Business Forum

    Host Chris Luecke and co-host Jake Hall interview leaders from the 2022 A3 Business Forum, including Jeremy Dodson and Jay Korpi of NextLink Labs, who discuss cybersecurity and their work on the TV show Mr. Robot. Fady Saad of MassRobotics explains his 'startup escalator' model for helping robotics companies move from prototyping to production, while Suzy Teele of the ARM Institute highlights the RoboticsCrew.org database for workforce development. Greg Smith of Teradyne discusses the shift toward collaborative automation for small and medium-sized manufacturers, and Jim Devaprasad of Lake Superior State University talks about his pioneering robotics engineering program. Finally, Michael Sullivan of Miller Resource Group analyzes the current 'war on talent' and hiring strategies for Gen Z and Millennials.

    Hiring & workforceRobotics & autonomy
    7 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 1h 05m

    231: Why VCs and Startups Are Betting on Manufacturing and the Midwest Featuring Drive Capital and Path Robotics, Live from Columbus, OH

    Andy Lonsberry, CEO and co-founder of Path Robotics, and Nima Gard, Director of AI, explain how their Columbus-based company uses machine learning and data to automate welding and dexterous assembly, while Nils Root of Drive Capital discusses the firm's thesis on investing in Midwest manufacturing innovation. The guests highlight that Path Robotics achieves 3x growth by treating data as its primary asset, training large foundational neural networks on real-world field data to handle manufacturing edge cases and reduce the sales cycle to 80 days. They argue that Ohio offers a superior talent pool and ecosystem for building world-class technology companies without needing to mimic Silicon Valley, emphasizing the importance of a supportive local culture including legal and real estate partners who understand startup risks.

    Robotics & autonomyAI & machine learning
    8 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Manufacturing Executive. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.