Modern Industrialist Xchange

31. Go see, ask why: modernizing railcar maintenance without losing the human side

What does it actually take to run continuous improvement across a fleet of 115,000 rail cars? James Chapman spent nearly a decade at GATX, one of North America's largest railcar leasing companies, moving from Director of Continuous Improvement all the way to leading all of the company's owned North American operations. His approach was simple in concept and hard in practice: get on the floor, ask questions you don't know the answers to, and build a culture that wants to solve problems rather than explain them away. In this conversation, Jason Hehman and James get into what daily management actually looks like at scale, the surprising parallels between rail car maintenance and traditional manufacturing, how GATX thought about building custom software versus buying off the shelf, and what happened when the TXI team showed up at one of their maintenance facilities and started asking why. If you lead operations, manage a distributed team, or are trying to figure out how to move from isolated fixes to a real platform approach, this one will give you something to think about. Keep this conversation going in person. The MIX community is gathering in Chicago on June 4th for drinks, food, and candid conversation with leaders across transportation, logistics, and industrial. Reserve your spot at the June MIXer [https://txidigital.com/events/mix-june-2026] Resources: * Connect with Jason Hehman on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhehman/] * Connect with James Chapman on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-l-chapman/] * Learn more about the Modern Industrialist Xchange podcast at https://txidigital.com/mix-podcast [https://txidigital.com/mix-podcast]

30. Bend without breaking: Building resilience in modern manufacturing.

What does it actually take to keep a small or mid-size manufacturer competitive right now? Jason Hehman sits down with David Boulay, President of IMEC, the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center, to find out. David and his team work with thousands of Illinois manufacturers every year. His read on the industry is grounded, honest, and a little different from what you usually hear. In this conversation, they get into why the process has to come before technology, what the workforce challenge actually looks like beyond the "skills gap" talking point, and why David is genuinely optimistic about the next 10 years of domestic manufacturing. If you are running a plant, managing operations, or making decisions about where to invest right now, this one is worth your time. Resources: * Connect with Jason Hehman on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhehman/] * Connect with David Boulay on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-boulay-94a2b01/] * Learn more about TXI at https://txidigital.com/ [https://txidigital.com/]

29. Beyond the rails: how freight transportation has been quietly leading the AI revolution

In this episode Jason Hehman, Industry 4.0 Vertical Lead at TXI, sits down with Jim Pang, a senior technology executive and product innovator with decades of experience in freight transportation. Together, they uncover the surprising truth about rail's quiet leadership in AI and machine learning applications—innovations that have been transforming the industry for over two decades.  From acoustic monitoring systems detecting anomalies across millions of wheels in real-time to computer vision applications in massive rail depots, the rail industry has been pioneering AI solutions long before they became mainstream. The conversation explores how rail's unique challenges—multiple handoff points, legacy systems, and complex stakeholder ecosystems—actually create profound opportunities for innovation.  Jim shares his own evolution from operations skeptic to technology bridge-builder, offering insights on scaling AI from proof of concept to production, the critical role of product teams in bridging business and technology, and how cooperative competition models from the software industry could revolutionize rail logistics. This episode reveals how logistics digitization and data standardization are essential enablers for America's manufacturing renaissance. Resources: * Connect with Jason Hehman on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhehman/] * Connect with Jim Pang on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-pang/]

28. The Future of Manufacturing Workforce Development with AR / VR

Immersive technology is revolutionizing workforce training, and augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) are leading the way. From reducing downtime in manufacturing to enhancing hands-on learning without real-world risks, AR/VR is shaping the future of industrial operations. In this live episode of the Modern Industrialist Podcast, Jason Hehman is joined by Ed LaFoy, Lead Engineer specializing in spatial computing and XR, and Patrick DeMichael, TXI’s Strategy Practice Lead. The conversation dives into real-world case studies, including how DHL increased efficiency with AR-enabled logistics and how HABCO Industries leveraged AR to streamline a time-consuming aerospace manufacturing process. The team also examines the role of Apple Vision Pro in industrial settings and what it will take for AR/VR hardware to reach mainstream adoption. Whether you're curious about the potential of AR/VR or actively considering it for workforce training, this episode unpacks the opportunities, challenges, and strategies that will define its role in Industry 4.0. Resources: * Connect with Jason Hehman on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhehman/] Produced by NOVA [https://novapodcasting.com/]

27. From simulation to optimization: the real-world impact of digital twin solutions

What if you could optimize your manufacturing processes in real time, anticipate failures before they happen, and optimize processes with just a few key data points? That’s the power of digital twin solutions—an evolving technology that’s reshaping industries from smart manufacturing to logistics. Host Jason Hehman, Industry 4.0 Vertical Lead at TXI, is joined by Andrew Horner and Alan Gardner, principal engineers at TXI, for a deep dive into what digital twins iiot solutions really are and how companies can start using them today. We break down the common misconceptions surrounding digital twins, moving beyond simple simulations to explore how they function as assistive tools for data-driven decision-making. Along the way, we uncover unexpected insights digital twins can generate, from reducing downtime on offshore oil rigs to solving taxi shortages through data-driven visibility. We also discuss the future of AR and AI-powered digital twins, the role of shared data ecosystems, and why starting small with simple data collection can unlock massive value. Whether you’re an industrial leader looking to implement digital transformation or just curious about the technology driving Industry 4.0, this conversation offers a practical, engaging look at how digital twins are transforming the way we see, predict, and optimize our world. Resources: * Connect with Jason Hehman on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonhehman/] * Connect with Andrew Horner on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-horner-97469920] * Connect with Alan Gardner on LinkedIn [https://linkedin.com/in/alancgardner] Produced by NOVA [https://novapodcasting.com/]