Ep 6: Engineering and Racing: 30 Years of Automation with Dave Foster

Ep 9. Keep the Legacy Line, Get its Data: with Don Roberts

Host Sam Hoff talks with Don Roberts [https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-roberts-7893a611/] of Exotek [https://www.exotek.com/], a longtime CSIA certification auditor who has both evaluated and advised system integration businesses all over the world. Don shares how manufacturers can improve OEE without waiting on new capital budget approvals, along with simple, proven ways to select a high-quality system integrator partner. Discussion Topics: * Access data from legacy machines with edge devices and retrofits * When buying new equipment, consider your data requirements in addition to throughput * Use the CSIA-certified label to identify reliable integrators * Partner with consultative integrators who design for efficiency, visibility, and easy maintenance This episode gives manufacturers practical guidance for improving OEE without relying on large budgets, making better equipment decisions, and choosing integrator partners they can trust.

Ep 8. The Business of Automation: Jose Rivera on What Manufacturers Should Expect from Top Integrators

What separates top integrators from the rest? Jose Rivera, former CEO of the Control System Integrators Association (CSIA), joins host Sam Hoff to discuss what top-performing integrators are doing differently. In this episode: * A $1 million breakdown that a $20 k fix could have prevented * Moving from “it works” to “it grows the business” * The hard-to-justify investment that delivers big gains in performance and budget * How a minor scheduling change led to a measurable productivity gain Listen to learn what matters most in the future of integration.

Ep 7. Boosting OEE Strategically: Brad Clark’s Approach to Building High-Performance Plants

Former Stellantis Senior VP Brad Clark shares the specific OEE and leadership strategies that took multiple engine andtransmission plants from reactive firefighting to high-performance operations. DiscussionTopics:   ●    The OEE component Brad prioritizes and why it makes the biggest difference. ●    Six cross-functional teams for quality, consistency and collaboration. ●    A downtime-reduction group that combines trades expertise with real-time data. ●    A digital-twin case study that fixed slow-cycles across a five-CNC, two-robot system. Packed with practical information and real-world examples of improving OEE, this episode belongs in every manufacturing engineer’s queue.

Ep 6: Engineering and Racing: 30 Years of Automation with Dave Foster

In this episode of Down with OEE, Sam Hoff sits down with Patti Engineering Vice-President of Engineering and Operations, Dave Foster to reflect on 30 years of collaboration, innovation, and fast-paced problem-solving. They discuss the parallels between competitive car-racing and system integration. Sharing stories from the track, the shop floor, and the early days of Patti Engineering, Dave reflects on rewarding projects, tough customers, and the value of complementary skills in business. Check out our website: ⁠pattiengineering.com⁠ [https://www.pattiengineering.com/] Follow our socials: ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/PattiEngineering/] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/patti-engineering] ⁠Twitter⁠ [https://twitter.com/PattiEng] ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/user/pattieng]

Ep. 5: Tomas Guillen on the Future of Automation, AI, and Virtual Commissioning

In this episode of Down with OEE, Patti Engineering CEO Sam Hoff talks with Gen Z controls engineer Tomas Guillen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomas-guillen-b7a68a197] about the future of automation, AI's role in programming, and the benefits of virtual commissioning. Tomas also talks about his early career and his experiences working at Patti Engineering. Check out our website: ⁠pattiengineering.com⁠ [https://www.pattiengineering.com/] Follow our socials: ⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/PattiEngineering/] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/patti-engineering] ⁠Twitter⁠ [https://twitter.com/PattiEng] ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/user/pattieng]