The Formant Podcast

Manufacturing AI: The Lost Decade With Dr. Matthew Gordon

The conversation with Matt Gordon covers his journey from early career to founding A3 Analytics, insights from Toyota Research Institute, challenges in implementing machine learning in manufacturing, lessons from early days at Palantir, and the interplay between forward deployed engineers and software engineers. Matt also discusses the challenges in advanced manufacturing and AI adoption, the role of AI in manufacturing, and the balancing of software and services at Palantir. The conversation highlights the Rice Theory of Culture and its impact on manufacturing, as well as the contextualization of data with LLMs. Finally, Matt shares insights into the role of forward deployed engineers and the concept of Data-driven Kaizen. Takeaways * Data-driven Kaizen * Challenges in Manufacturing * Holistic vs Analytic Thinking Chapters * 00:00 Challenges in Advanced Manufacturing and AI Adoption

Boots on the Ground Tech

The conversation explores the impact of AI technology in the field, focusing on productivity enhancement and the importance of data structuring. It delves into customer stories, time savings, quality of data, and the future vision of AI in the physical world, highlighting the adoption of robotics and drones, customer interaction, and the evolution of field operations. Takeaways * AI in the field enhances productivity * Data structuring is crucial for AI technology Chapters * 00:00 Introduction and Mic Check * 05:27 Time Sheets and Billing * 12:02 Rich Context and AI Interfaces * 17:33 Customer Interaction and Scheduling

What AI Gets Wrong About Manufacturing

The conversation covers Formant's services, Caleb's role as a forward deployed engineer, the challenges of operational complexity in manufacturing, and the potential of AI in predictive maintenance. It also explores the collaboration between software and services, as well as the issue of data-rich, action-poor environments in advanced manufacturing. Takeaways * The role of a forward deployed engineer involves on-site interaction with customers and the translation of customer needs into product features. * The potential of AI in predictive maintenance offers a new approach to solving long-standing problems in advanced manufacturing. Chapters * 00:00 Introduction to Formant's Services * 09:24 Operational Complexity in Manufacturing Facilities * 16:20 Collaboration Between Software and Services * 22:33 Predictive Maintenance in Manufacturing * 27:37 Data Rich, Action Poor in Advanced Manufacturing

AI Agents on the Factory Floor: From Chaos to Clarity

In this episode, Henrik Bennetsen and Fin Elliott pull back the curtain on the "Data-Rich, Action-Poor" reality of modern manufacturing. While the world hears "automation," the truth on the ground is often a "tsunami of alarms"—sometimes over 9,000 per day—that leave operators drowning in noise. Henrik and Fin discuss how Agentic AI is changing the game by moving beyond simple dashboards to active investigation. We dive into: * The 9,000 Alarm Problem: Why a single facility's sensor systems can generate more data than humans can realistically process. * Investigation Blueprints: How Formant captures "tribal knowledge" to train AI agents as specialized procedural masters for your specific site. * The Junior Technician at Scale: Real-world results from semiconductor pilots where AI identified over 50% of alarms as false or "shelved," saving massive amounts of human labor. * Chaos to Clarity: Shifting from reactive "firefighting" to a stable, scalable operational flow

Why a 100-Year-Old Fleet Giant Just Went All-In on Robotics

Ready to audit your own automation strategy? Don’t let your next robotics investment collect "robot dust." Visit [Link] to download our Robotics Deployment Checklist—a framework used by Holman and Formant to ensure every machine drives measurable business value from day one. RESOURCES | 👉 Explore the Holman-Formant Partnership: Formant.io [http://Formant.io] Learn how to scale your fleet without scaling your headcount. We dive deep into the specific Physical AI workflows mentioned in this episode and how Holman is redefining asset management for the next century. 🚀 Join the Movement: Follow Formant on LinkedIn [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.linkedin.com/company/formant/] Don’t get left behind as the industry moves to AI-driven ops. Follow us for daily insights on robot-human collaboration and the software power behind the world’s largest fleets. 🚛 Experience the Legacy: Holman Official Website [https://www.holman.com/] Visit the home of the 100-year-old leader in automotive and fleet services. To see their specific work in automation, check out the Holman Robotics division [https://www.holman.com/robotics/]. 🔗 Connect with the Experts: Holman on LinkedIn [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.linkedin.com/company/holman-inc/] Stay updated on the latest hardware and service innovations from Joe Foster and the Holman team as they play offense in the robotics space. #Robotics #PhysicalAI #FleetManagement #Automation #Formant #Holman #IoT #FutureOfWork