# How to Solve the Technology Hesitancy Issue in Manufacturing w/ Erik Nieves

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2021-09-07
- Length: 29m
- Episode: 65
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-07-how-to-solve-the-technology-hesitancy-issue-in-manufacturing-w-erik-nieves
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-92700748-dddd-4a53-aeaf-0f029f4d26f0

## Summary

Erik Nieves, co-founder and CEO of PlusOne Robotics, discusses the 'technology hesitancy' that prevents small and mid-sized manufacturers from adopting automation. He argues that the perceived labor shortage is often a retention and churn issue, and that ROI calculations frequently fail to capture hidden costs like onboarding and facility overhead. Nieves advocates for 'supervised autonomy'—segregating tasks so robots handle the 80% of work they can do reliably while humans manage exceptions—and urges manufacturers to stay in the US by making their plants attractive workplaces.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-07-how-to-solve-the-technology-hesitancy-issue-in-manufacturing-w-erik-nieves#t=0) Introduction and Technology Hesitancy
- [3:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-07-how-to-solve-the-technology-hesitancy-issue-in-manufacturing-w-erik-nieves#t=188) Overcoming the 'I Don't Know How to Run This' Barrier
- [10:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-07-how-to-solve-the-technology-hesitancy-issue-in-manufacturing-w-erik-nieves#t=617) Handling Variability and Supervised Autonomy
- [15:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-07-how-to-solve-the-technology-hesitancy-issue-in-manufacturing-w-erik-nieves#t=931) Rethinking ROI and the Labor Shortage Myth
- [23:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-09-07-how-to-solve-the-technology-hesitancy-issue-in-manufacturing-w-erik-nieves#t=1414) Retention, Culture, and Staying in America

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- PlusOne Robotics (company)
- Yaskawa Motoman (company)
- FedEx (company)
- Toyota (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- RIA (company)
- Frost and Sullivan (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Overcoming Technology Hesitancy with Plus One Robotics CEO Erik Nieves](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-01-25-overcoming-technology-hesitancy-with-plus-one-robotics-ceo-erik-nieves) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [287: The Art of Precision Manufacturing: Why Humans Still Matter on the Factory Floor | Live from The Manufacturing Exchange in Rochester, NY (Powered by Fathom)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-05-12-287-the-art-of-precision-manufacturing-why-humans-still-matter-on-the-factory-fl) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: Leaders in Machine Vision and Robotics: Live from Boston, Pt. 1 of 2 (brought to you by A3)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-12-20-bonus-leaders-in-machine-vision-and-robotics-live-from-boston-pt-1-of-2-brought) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [276: 2026 Automation Industry Outlook, Live from the A3 Business Forum](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-02-24-276-2026-automation-industry-outlook-live-from-the-a3-business-forum) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Training Machinists with an Automation Mindset with Titan Gilroy, Ep #1](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-training-machinists-with-an-automation-mindset-with-titan-gilroy-ep-1) (Lights Out)

## Citing this page

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