Manufacturing Hub

Data collection is no longer a back-office task. It is now the foundation of manufacturing intelligence. In this episode of Manufacturing Hub, we are joined by Brian Bribe, founder of Mach Controls, to explore the practical realities of modernizing data infrastructure inside manufacturing facilities.

Brian brings a frontline perspective to OT architecture and walks us through what it actually takes to connect legacy equipme...

In this episode of Manufacturing Hub, we welcome back Pawel Krupa, founder of the Future Robotics YouTube channel, to dive deep into the rapidly evolving world of industrial robotics. With over a decade of hands-on experience integrating and programming systems from Fanuc, KUKA, and others, Pawel shares exclusive insights on some of the biggest changes reshaping robotics in 2025. These changes are not just cosmetic updates...

Welcome to another episode of Manufacturing Hub! In this week’s episode, we dive deep into the evolving world of robotics with returning guest Sean Dotson, now CEO of Elite Robotics. From building large-scale material handling systems to exploring the future of AI-driven robot programming, Sean shares a candid view of what it really takes to modernize factory operations.

We explore:
What “material handling” really means ...

In this episode of Manufacturing Hub, we welcome back Billy Albritton for a deep dive into the evolving world of artificial intelligence in manufacturing. Billy first joined us on Episode 23, and now almost 200 episodes later, he returns to share his perspective on how far the space has come and what the future holds.

Billy walks us through his journey from the military to advanced manufacturing and ultimately to becoming a...

AI is making headlines across every industry, but how much of it is actually being used on the manufacturing floor?

In this episode of Manufacturing Hub, Vlad and Dave return to the whiteboard to explore practical and real-world applications of artificial intelligence in manufacturing. From pre-operations to live production, this session covers how AI is being used today across CAD tools, BOM generation, predictive maintena...

In this special edition of Manufacturing Hub, we take you inside one of the most transparent and technically rigorous events in industrial automation: ProveIt 2025.

Created by Walker Reynolds and the team at 4.0 Solutions, ProveIt brings together 36 vendors to solve real manufacturing problems inside a live virtual factory environment. Everything is connected through a Unified Namespace and powered by real-time MQTT infrast...

Welcome back to Manufacturing Hub! In this special episode, we dive into an Automate 2025 preview, joined by Brian Priebe from Mach Controls and James Brown from 4IR Solutions.

We break down what to expect at Automate next week in Detroit (May 12 to 15), booth highlights, technology trends, and hands-on insights into cutting-edge industrial solutions like Unified Namespace, Dockerized PLCs, AI applications in manufacturing,...

In Episode 209 of Manufacturing Hub, we sit down with Dylan to explore the full spectrum of automation—from his early hands-on experiences in PLC programming all the way to architecting full-scale SCADA and MES systems. If you're looking to understand what it really takes to grow a career in industrial automation, this conversation delivers raw insights, practical lessons, and battle-tested strategies from the plant floor ...

In this episode of Manufacturing Hub, co-hosts Vlad and Dave turn the spotlight on themselves and share deeply practical stories from the front lines of industrial transformation. With decades of experience consulting across manufacturing verticals, they unpack some of the most pressing (and often misunderstood) topics shaping the future of factories today—from aging infrastructure and insurance-driven cybersecurity to rea...

In this episode of Manufacturing Hub, we welcome Amy Williams, Systems Architect at Skellig, for a deep dive into the world of life sciences manufacturing, a rarely explored but incredibly complex part of the industrial landscape.

From her roots in biomolecular chemical engineering to her hands-on role in Operation Warp Speed, Amy walks us through what it's really like to build and validate manufacturing systems for pharmac...

We’re kicking off a new theme—Faces You Should Know in Manufacturing—with none other than Ryan Cahalane, Managing Partner at Axiom Manufacturing Systems. Ryan’s path through manufacturing is anything but ordinary: from plant floor engineering at Goodyear, to leadership roles at GE, Rockwell Automation, OSIsoft, and more, Ryan has worked every angle of the manufacturing ecosystem.

In this episode, Ryan joins Dave and Vlad to...

Welcome back to a special Thursday edition of Manufacturing Hub!
In this episode, we dive deep into one of the standout presentations from the Prove It conference — featuring Travis Cox from Inductive Automation and Arlen Nipper from Cirrus Link Solutions.

🎥 We start by reflecting on the Prove It showcase, where Travis and Arlen demonstrated the power of Unified Namespace (UNS) and MQTT across every layer of the solutio...

In Episode 204 of Manufacturing Hub, we wrap up our month-long ERP series with Glenn from Waites. Glenn shares a practical framework for understanding ERP systems—perfect for engineers, plant managers, and anyone who’s struggled with clunky ERP software. We break down key modules like Financials, Supply Chain, MES, and Asset Management, and explore how modern tools are reshaping ERP usability.

🔹 What You’ll Learn:

• Glenn...

In this episode, Dave and Vlad are joined by Jay and RJ from Total ETO to explore the often overlooked world of ERP for machine builders and systems integrators. While ERP conversations often focus on large-scale deployments like SAP or Oracle, this episode dives into the day-to-day of smaller, engineer-to-order (ETO) businesses—where spreadsheets still reign and project complexity is high.

Jay and RJ share their unique per...

What does it take to move from automation hype to practical, scalable solutions on the factory floor?

In this deep-dive episode of Manufacturing Hub, recorded live at the ProveIt Conference, we’re joined by Benson Hougland, Vice President at Opto 22—a company that has been quietly shaping the future of industrial automation for over 50 years.

Benson walks us through the journey of Opto 22: from its roots as the birthplace of...

In Episode 201 of Manufacturing Hub, we sit down with Tim Brown, a veteran leader with over 40 years of experience across manufacturing, construction, and IT. From managing massive ERP transformations to navigating global M&A integrations, Tim shares a masterclass in how to make enterprise software actually work in complex industrial environments.

We cover everything from:

What it was like managing ERP during Y2K

The crit...

In this episode recorded live at the ProveIt Conference, we sit down with Mark and Harry from Tatsoft, creators of the industrial IIoT platform Frameworks. We dive deep into how Tatsoft is redefining what a true industrial platform should be — built from the ground up for the factory floor, yet scalable across the enterprise.

Mark and Harry walk us through:

Their platform’s positioning as a SCADA, HMI, MES, and IIoT toolbox ...

Welcome back to Manufacturing Hub! This March 2025, we’re diving deep into Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), exploring its critical role in manufacturing, the challenges of implementation, and the future of ERP solutions. This episode is sponsored by Talan, a leading firm specializing in ERP adoption, migration, and integration.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems have been a cornerstone of manufacturing operations...

Welcome to Episode 198 of Manufacturing Hub with Vlad and Dave!

This week, we’re diving into a full recap of the Prove It conference—one of the biggest and most talked-about industrial automation events, held last week in Dallas, Texas. If you've been anywhere near LinkedIn, you've probably seen the buzz!

What made Prove It different?

A real-world factory simulation with imperfect data
40 vendors challenged to "prove" thei...