According to ABBYY, many manufacturing businesses are investing in GenAI solutions that promise more than they can realistically deliver, and in some cases, GenAI isn’t even the technology they need. To research, ABBYY commissioned the 2025 State of Intelligent Automation Report: GenAI Confessions, a survey examining how manufacturers are adopting GenAI, where they’re struggling, and what’s actually driving results. Jon Knisley, Director of Process AI Strategy and Operations Leader at ABBYY, joins us to explain the findings. The conversation looks beyond GenAI alone, examining the role of complementary technologies such as agentic AI, process intelligence, and purpose-built AI in delivering reliable outcomes and faster ROI.

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Industrial Rivet & Fastener Co., also known as RivetKing, won Product of the Year in the fastening category at the ASSEMBLY Show in 2025. We’re joined by Steven Sherman, vice president of engineering, to learn more about the award-winning product, the company’s history, and how it keeps an old-school product line modern.

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We’re joined by Adrian Sanchez, director of commercial and industrial sales at Starline Holdings LLC, to explore why flexible power distribution is no longer just a technical decision, but a strategic one.

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What happens when a STEM grant drops industrial CNC machines into a high school classroom, and the teacher has never machined a part? In this episode of ASSEMBLY Audible, we share an upskilling story about Jeremy Jennings, who began his journey in manufacturing as a teacher in Texas, whose classroom was grant-funded for an engineering design program. With no prior machining experience, Jeremy became the program's pilot instructor, a move that ultimately reshaped his career. Today, Jeremy is a Technical Content Developer and Trainer at Mastercam, working on the frontlines of workforce development by helping educators across the country make CNC machining more accessible. He reflects on his unconventional path from educator to skilled worker and trainer. Learn how opportunity, access to tools, and purposeful training can close the skills gap.

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We connected with Ryan Lashley and Sota Ito with Panasonic, at The ASSEMBLY Show in Rosemont, IL, to learn about the evolution of the AccuPulse series, their new product offerings, and their emphasis on continuous improvement.

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Since taking effect in 2020, the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) has supported nearly US$2 trillion in annual trade, providing a stable framework for the duty-free movement of qualifying goods. Today, however, stricter rules of origin, evolving tariff policies, and geopolitical pressures are reshaping supply chains and raising new risks for manufacturers. As CUSMA approaches its 2026 joint review, manufacturers across North America are facing growing uncertainty in an increasingly complex trade environment. We’re joined by Falak Kothari, Manufacturing Industry Leader at Marsh Canada, to discuss key findings from Marsh’s report, Trade Policy Outlook for North American Manufacturing. Find out what manufacturers need to know as the 2026 review approaches, how tariffs and trade rules factor into day-to-day operations, and how companies are strengthening resilience through smarter risk management, supply chain strategies, and insurance solutions.

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During The Assembly Show last fall, we sat down with Anthony Leo, president of IPR Robotics, to talk about new product development in the automation sector. Leo explains how he transforms a napkin sketch into a usable product that people want. We discuss the development of StackTrax, IPR’s new, modular seventh-axis system designed to extend robot reach and flexibility on the factory floor. Leo discusses why StackTrax was created, what gaps it fills in the marketplace, and how IPR’s approach differs from other seventh-axis providers.

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