# AI-Assisted Maintenance as a Manufacturer’s Profit Lever w/ Reece Mullins

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2026-11-03
- Length: 31m
- Episode: 334
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-11-03-ai-assisted-maintenance-as-a-manufacturers-profit-lever-w-reece-mullins
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-01a178f2-97d3-70d9-bf63-7dee11275eaa

## Summary

Reece Mullins, founder of Metis and former Tesla controls engineer, explains how his AI agent, Jack, assists maintenance technicians by analyzing PLC code, schematics, and live data to diagnose faults 10x faster. He argues that capturing undocumented fixes prevents 'death by a thousand cuts' and allows technicians to perform engineering-level troubleshooting, turning maintenance from a cost center into a profit lever. Mullins outlines a vision where AI agents proactively adjust machine parameters to improve line performance over time rather than just reacting to failures.

## Chapters

- [0:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-11-03-ai-assisted-maintenance-as-a-manufacturers-profit-lever-w-reece-mullins#t=38) Introduction: Reece Mullins and Metis
- [4:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-11-03-ai-assisted-maintenance-as-a-manufacturers-profit-lever-w-reece-mullins#t=255) Mullins' background at Tesla and systems integrators
- [6:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-11-03-ai-assisted-maintenance-as-a-manufacturers-profit-lever-w-reece-mullins#t=384) Pivoting from grand AI visions to maintenance-focused solutions
- [9:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-11-03-ai-assisted-maintenance-as-a-manufacturers-profit-lever-w-reece-mullins#t=561) How Jack assists technicians with PLC code and schematics
- [13:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-11-03-ai-assisted-maintenance-as-a-manufacturers-profit-lever-w-reece-mullins#t=781) The problem of undocumented fixes and 'death by a thousand cuts'
- [17:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-11-03-ai-assisted-maintenance-as-a-manufacturers-profit-lever-w-reece-mullins#t=1026) Technician reception: overcoming AI fear and enabling higher-value work
- [23:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-11-03-ai-assisted-maintenance-as-a-manufacturers-profit-lever-w-reece-mullins#t=1415) Proactive maintenance: AI agents adjusting parameters in real-time
- [26:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-11-03-ai-assisted-maintenance-as-a-manufacturers-profit-lever-w-reece-mullins#t=1571) Making the business case: maintenance as a profit lever

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Metis (company)
- Jack (product)
- Tesla (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- Georgia Tech (other)
- OPCUA (other)
- PLC (other)
- HMI (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Utilizing AI for Predictive Maintenance in Manufacturing | Augury’s Saar Yoskovitz](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-01-19-utilizing-ai-for-predictive-maintenance-in-manufacturing-augurys-saar-yoskovitz) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [AI, Digital Transformation, and Innovations with Arch Systems Cofounder and CEO, Andrew Scheuermann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-11-14-ai-digital-transformation-and-innovations-with-arch-systems-cofounder-and-ceo-an) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [241: How NVIDIA and AI Agents Are Transforming Industrial Automation with Alvin Clark](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-06-17-241-how-nvidia-and-ai-agents-are-transforming-industrial-automation-with-alvin-c) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [281: How AI-Powered Predictive Maintenance Enhances Operational Reliability with Colin Morris of MaintainX](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2026-03-31-281-how-ai-powered-predictive-maintenance-enhances-operational-reliability-with) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [232: AI Agents for Manufacturing 101 Featuring Composabl CEO & Co-Founder Kence Anderson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-04-22-232-ai-agents-for-manufacturing-101-featuring-composabl-ceo-co-founder-kence-and) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)

## Citing this page

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