# Back to the Future: The Manufacturing Edition

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2022-06-14
- Length: 27m
- Episode: 106
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-b15c5d5f-aa7a-4eea-95a2-199916ebccb9

## Summary

Marty Groover, Partner and CTO at C5 MI, draws on his 21-year career as a US Navy Surface Warfare Officer and his time at Caterpillar to explain how live data and modular systems drive manufacturing efficiency. He argues that manufacturers must converge people, process, and technology rather than leading with technology, citing Rivian’s modular skateboard platform and Amazon’s logistics as examples of future-proofing. Groover warns against 'best and breed' IT strategies, advocating instead for a common operational picture and distributed manufacturing to overcome supply chain fragility and inflation.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition#t=0) Introduction: Marty Groover and C5 MI
- [2:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition#t=133) Navy Origins: AEGIS and Live Data
- [9:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition#t=560) Caterpillar and the Power of SAP
- [10:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition#t=601) Lessons from Retail and Rivian
- [13:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition#t=791) Industry 4.0 and the Operator-Technician
- [15:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition#t=927) Avoiding Technology-Led Strategies
- [18:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition#t=1096) Future of Manufacturing: Distributed and Lean
- [20:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition#t=1248) Speed of Advance and Strategic Convergence

## Topics

- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- C5 MI (company)
- Caterpillar (company)
- SAP (tool)
- Rivian (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Speed of Advance (product)
- Gorilla 76 (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [152: What the U.S. Navy Can Teach You About Industry 4.0 with Marty Groover](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-09-05-152-what-the-u-s-navy-can-teach-you-about-industry-4-0-with-marty-groover) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [259: Data Centers, Modularity, and Mission Critical Manufacturing featuring Keith Hutchens of BW Design Group](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-28-259-data-centers-modularity-and-mission-critical-manufacturing-featuring-keith-h) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [BONUS: Gaps in the Manufacturing Industry (and what to do about them), LIVE from Fathom's Manufacturing Exchange in Hartland, WI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-11-07-bonus-gaps-in-the-manufacturing-industry-and-what-to-do-about-them-live-from-fat) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [165: Unlocking the Full Potential of Frontline Operations, Lean Manufacturing, and Industry 4.0 with Natan Linder, Co-Founder & CEO of Tulip](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-12-26-165-unlocking-the-full-potential-of-frontline-operations-lean-manufacturing-and) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Electronica 24: Peter Gutschi on How AI is Shaping the Future of Manufacturing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-12-19-electronica-24-peter-gutschi-on-how-ai-is-shaping-the-future-of-manufacturing) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## 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/2022-06-14-back-to-the-future-the-manufacturing-edition. 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.