Hardware Podcasts

Using Robots in High-Mix, Low-Volume Environments w/ Josh Gruenstein

The Manufacturing Executive · 28 Jan 2025 · 25m · Episode 242

What this episode covers

Josh Gruenstein, co-founder and CEO of Tutor Intelligence, explains how his MIT spinout uses AI and machine learning to automate high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environments, such as co-packers and 3PLs, which were previously considered too variable for robotics. He details how their robots eliminate the need for specialized programming by interpreting build sheets and specifications directly, allowing facilities with no automation engineers to adopt automation. Gruenstein also describes Tutor Intelligence's 'Robot as a Service' model, which converts capital expenditures to operating expenses, reduces risk, and aligns vendor incentives with customer productivity through continuous software updates.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Tutor Intelligence, Guerrilla 76, True Marketing, Tesla, Walmart, Aldi
Also
MIT, Industrial Marketing Summit

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 54m

    208: Why High-Mix Manufacturing Is a Sweet Spot for Flexible Automation and AI with Rajat Bhageria, Founder & CEO of Chef Robotics

    Rajat Bhageria, Founder & CEO of Chef Robotics, explains how his company uses robotics and AI to address labor shortages in food manufacturing by automating the high-mix assembly (plating) stage. He details the strategic decision to launch in stealth mode to perfect the product with early enterprise customers like Amy's Kitchen, focusing on a 'robotics-as-a-service' model that aligns incentives through recurring revenue rather than upfront capital expenditure. Bhageria contrasts this approach with failed competitors who targeted fast-casual restaurants or used rigid dispensers, arguing that AI-driven flexibility is essential for handling the thousands of ingredient variations in modern food production.

    Robotics & autonomyAI & machine learning
    10 chapters

  • Manufacturing Happy Hour · 45m

    New Business Models and User Experiences in Robotics: Highlights from Automate LIVE in Detroit, MI

    Misa Ilkhechi, founder of Formic, explains how 'robots as a service' shifts automation from CapEx to OpEx, allowing manufacturers to pay for output rather than owning hardware, a model particularly suited for small-to-medium enterprises. Joe Campbell of Universal Robots highlights the industry shift toward collaborative robots and the enduring necessity of process knowledge, while Etienne Lacroix, CEO of Vention, describes his platform as 'industrial Lego' that democratizes machine design through a browser-based user experience. Finally, Kel Guerin, CIO of Ready Robotics, details their software approach to simplifying robot programming via flowcharts, aiming to empower non-technical factory workers to deploy automation without specialized coding skills.

    Starting a product companyDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    5 chapters

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 1h 08m

    Configuring the future of robotics

    Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss recent robotics news, including Waymo's role in a robbery and MIT's 'super limbs' for astronauts, before featuring interviews with Ling, CEO of OTSAW Robotics, and Etienne Lacroix, CEO of Vention. Ling explains how OTSAW pivoted to UVC disinfection robots during the pandemic and launched the highly configurable Camello Plus, utilizing an online configurator to gather market data and drive modular production. Etienne Lacroix details Vention's platform strategy to democratize industrial automation by combining hardware and software, reducing integration risks for small and mid-sized enterprises through productized 'Lego-like' components and cloud-based machine learning.

    Starting a product companyScaling production
    6 chapters

  • Over the Air · 28m

    Modularity in Robotics: A Vision for the Future

    Afshin Doust, CEO of Advanced Intelligent Systems (AIS), explains how the company uses a proprietary library of hardware and software modules to reduce development time and cost, aiming to empower a broader robotics ecosystem. He details the pivot from an agricultural tech focus to developing a COVID-19 disinfectant robot in just 11 weeks, which validated their modular approach and led to a non-GPS localization system for greenhouse use. Doust also discusses AIS's 'Robotics-as-a-Service' business model, which eliminates large capital expenditures for customers by charging for work performed, and shares insights on building a resilient, win-win corporate culture.

    Robotics & autonomyScaling production
    6 chapters

  • Over the Air · 32m

    End-Of-Line Automation With Ai: Inside Rapid Robotics Revolution

    Kim, CEO of Rapid Robotics, explains how the company pivoted from custom manufacturing automation to end-of-line boxing and palletizing using generative AI to solve labor shortages and handle high SKU variability. She details the development of Rapid ID, which allows robots to identify and handle diverse objects without extensive programming, contrasting this with the limitations of traditional robotics in brownfield environments. Kim also shares her background in the toy industry at Hasbro and how that experience informs her approach to scaling the company and supporting US manufacturing reshoring.

    Robotics & autonomyAI & machine learning
    6 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.