Bill Good, Vice President of Manufacturing and Supply Chain at GE Appliances, shares how artificial intelligence is transforming U.S. manufacturing in this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible. From AI tools that help operators diagnose equipment in real time to automating complex processes, Good explains how technology is being integrated with workforce development and plant modernization to drive productivity, resilience and competitiveness.

Trisha Epp, Director of Innovation at Freelancer, explains how a NASA-tested, crowdsourced approach to solving technical challenges is now available to manufacturers. In this episode, we explore how posting problems to a global network of engineers and scientists can deliver faster, cheaper and more diverse solutions than traditional RFPs or consulting engagements. Learn how manufacturers can pay for outcomes instead of proposals, accelerate innovation and tap expertise outside their usual networks — all while reducing risk and unlocking breakthrough results.

Meaghan Elwell, Division President of Global Industrials at JLL, discusses how manufacturing facilities can look flawless on paper, but still leave frontline workers feeling disengaged and undervalued. In this episode, we share insights on why employees stay even when they’re not fully engaged, how human-centered design can transform the factory floor and shares practical steps manufacturers can take to boost engagement, retention and productivity — without massive investment. Learn what real empowerment looks like and how small changes can create a big impact for people and business alike.

Sponsored By:

Nashay Naeve, president of the Engineered Plastic Components business unit at Tsubaki Nakashima, breaks down why manufacturers are still struggling to fill roles, what leaders can change immediately to reframe the industry and how modern operations are reshaping what manufacturing careers actually look like. She also shares practical insight on bringing more women into technical roles, building trust early on the plant floor and creating mentorship that’s real, not a “check-the-box” program.

Sponsored By:

Telit Cinterion’s Dr. Linir Zamir discusses how Artificial Intelligence is moving closer to the factory floor through edge-based systems that keep data on site and enable faster decision-making. He explains how industrial IoT platforms can connect legacy equipment, normalize machine data and support AI “agents” that help detect early signs of failure, guide fault recovery and reduce downtime.

Sponsored By:

Sustainability in manufacturing is no longer about broad promises or future targets, as leading companies are developing science-based standards. In this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible, we spotlight a major milestone in industrial sustainability: Schneider Electric’s groundbreaking achievement as the first industrial product manufacturer to earn UL Solutions’ new ECOLOGO Certification.

Bin Lu, EVP of Schneider Electric’s Power Products Division, joins us to discuss what this certification means for transparency, environmental performance, and the future of sustainable manufacturing. Learn about the rigorous testing, lifecycle analysis, and the fruitful collaboration with UL Solutions’ team, especially Jeff Smit, Senior Vice President — Testing, Inspection and Certification, Industrial. Tune in to discover how companies can build trust and meet growing market and regulatory demands through credible sustainability certifications.

Sponsored By:

Are U.S. manufacturers mortgaging their future to cut costs? New research from EFESO Management Consultants suggests that many U.S. manufacturers may be undermining their long-term competitiveness through short-sighted cost-cutting strategies driven by tariffs, rising energy costs, and ongoing market pressures. Chuck Deise, Senior Partner at EFESO, joins the podcast to share insights from EFESO’s newly published research, in which out of 150 large ($5 billion in revenue) and middle-market ($500M to $5B) manufacturers surveyed, 79 percent said delaying capital investments is important to their cost takeout efforts this year. However, nearly half (44 percent) expressed concern that this will increase costs by reducing operational agility and scalability. The conversation examines the pressures influencing today’s decisions, how cost-cutting strategies differ by company size, and what a “healthy” cost-takeout strategy should look like in the year ahead.

Sponsored By: