Automating the Chain

20: Why Industrial Automation is Inevitable with Jeff Burnstein of the Association for Advancing Automation

In this episode, Tee Ganbold sits down with Jeff Burnstein, President of the Association for Advancing Automation (A3), to talk about the adoption of industrial automation and A3’s piece in that progress. Topics in this conversation include: * The mission behind A3 (2:01) * A3’s community and what they provide for their members (3:09) * Why automation is being adopted more now than ever before (4:09) * The primary reason the adoption of automation is slowed (5:42) * Why there should not be a concern about automation decreasing job opportunities (6:56) * A message about A3’s conference, Automate Forward (9:15) The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) is the world's largest global vision and imaging trade group. Their members include manufacturers of vision components and systems, system integrators, distributors, OEMs, end-users, consulting firms, academic institutions and research groups directly involved with vision and imaging. Together these companies increase the quality of everyday lives with the mission to advance the understanding and use of vision and imaging technologies to drive global expansion and growth through education and promotion. Automating The Chain bridges the learning gap between business executives and their technical counterparts. In each episode, we learn from CTOs and experts in industrial automation as they explain their technology in an accessible way. For more information, or to subscribe, please visit https://www.automatingthechain.com/ [https://www.automatingthechain.com/].

19: How to Prepare Your People for Automation with Aaron Prather of FedEx

In this episode, Tee sits down with Aaron Prather, Senior Advisor for the Technology Research and Planning Team at FedEx Express, to talk about how to set a team up for success in an automated workplace and how small companies can grow into being partners with international companies. Topics in this conversation include: * What Aaron and his team are doing at FedEx (1:46) * How FedEx encourages other companies to adopt new technologies (3:27) * How FedEx is adopting automation (5:35) * How FedEx is preparing their employees for an automated shift in the workplace (9:16) * The technical makeup of Aaron’s team and how to build your network of experts (11:52) * The importance of networking (14:27) * How COVID changed the supply chain (16:23) * Software and hardware companies that are driving the FedEx supply chain (19:57) * At what point small businesses could start working with FedEx (23:14) * How FedEx builds and buys different aspects of their company (25:26) * What FedEx’s customers are asking for (26:47) * Where FedEx is growing (29:33) * What Aaron is excited about in the future of the global supply chain (32:20) Automating The Chain bridges the learning gap between business executives and their technical counterparts. In each episode, we learn from CTOs and experts in industrial automation as they explain their technology in an accessible way. For more information, or to subscribe, please visit https://www.automatingthechain.com/ [https://www.automatingthechain.com/].

18: Democratizing Access to Robotics with Benjamin Gibbs of READY Robotics

In this episode, Tee sits down with Benjamin Gibbs, Co-Founder and CEO of READY Robotics to talk about making robotics user-friendly to spark the future of industrial automation. Topics in this conversation include: * How Ben came to start READY Robotics (1:39) * What READY is about (3:44) * How READY technology has been adopted (5:20) * How many languages are needed outside of READY (9:01) * How READY is re-skilling to build and learn robotics (10:14) * READY became successful (12:00) * READY geographic focus (12:46) * How READY wants to grow (13:25) * How READY has been affected by COVID (14:26) * How READY is partnering with those whose jobs they are automating (16:49) * What Ben is excited about in the coming future (18:27) Automating The Chain bridges the learning gap between business executives and their technical counterparts. In each episode, we learn from CTOs and experts in industrial automation as they explain their technology in an accessible way. For more information, or to subscribe, please visit https://www.automatingthechain.com/ [https://www.automatingthechain.com/].

17: The History of Industrial Robotics with Thomas Crihfield of SVT Robotics

In this episode, Tee sits down with Thomas Crihfield, Head of Success at SVT Robotics, to talk about the history of industrial robotics and what got us where we are today. Topics in this conversation include: * How we got where we are today (5:21) * Break down of the robotic arm (8:16) * What inspired the adoption of industrial robotics (14:53) * How many industrial robots there were at the beginning versus today (19:10) * Friction points in the adoption of industrial robotics (25:36) * Cost perspective of adopting industrial robots (31:49) * Technical competence, success, and the fear of missing out (34:06) * Having the most efficient supply chain or e-commerce platform (39:12) * Advice for those whose current job may become automated (44:45) SVT Robotics is a company that's eliminating code so end-user manufacturing companies can connect any robot to any interface in the automation space. Currently, their focus is on the warehouse and manufacturing space, but long-term goals include stepping into home goods. Automating The Chain bridges the learning gap between business executives and their technical counterparts. In each episode, we learn from CTOs and experts in industrial automation as they explain their technology in an accessible way. For more information, or to subscribe, please visit https://www.automatingthechain.com/ [https://www.automatingthechain.com/].

16: Potential Road Blocks When Investing in Automation with Jeff Hedges of JHedges Consulting

In this episode, Tee sits down with Jeff Hedges, President & Owner of JHedges Consulting to talk about the evolution of Automation and how companies are utilizing the ever-changing technologies in the supply chain to increase productivity and drive growth. Topics in this conversation include: * How Jeff got into industrial automation (1:53) * How large the material handling industry is (4:26) * Caution signs to look for when investing in the industry (6:26) * Startups (14:11) * The development in AI in software (17:51) * The micro-fulfillment movement (18:29) * The returns process (19:11) Jeff Hedges is an Advisor, Coach, Educator to VC/PE firms & automation companies that specializes in robotic warehouse automation. Automating The Chain bridges the learning gap between business executives and their technical counterparts. Each episode we learn from CTOs and experts in industrial automation as they explain their technology in an accessible way. For more information, or to subscribe, please visit https://www.automatingthechain.com/ [https://www.automatingthechain.com/].