Episodes

  • Encore: Does A Digital Factory Attract New Workers?

    Encore: Does A Digital Factory Attract New Workers?
    Jan 24 2023
    Many businesses are struggling to attract and retain skilled workers, with record numbers resigning or retiring. This is particularly true in the manufacturing sector. The Buzz 1: A Manufacturing Institute [MI] survey found that “The Great Resignation” is really more of a “Great Retirement.” 808,000 manufacturing job openings in February 2022 were down from January’s 859,000 [U.S. Census Bureau]…Manufacturing quits rose from 315,000 in January to 337,000 in February, a new record. [rimanufacturers.com/the-great-resignation-or-great-retirement] The Buzz 2: MI’s February survey of 3,000 Americans: 82% of respondents who left a manufacturing job in the past six months retired due to age or health-related reasons. The remaining 18% resigned or were laid off, but 73% of those are back to work in a different manufacturing job, 7% in a different industry and 20% are still looking. The Buzz 3: The manufacturing sector is increasingly viewed as crucial to economic and pandemic recovery, yet outdated public perceptions could be impacting recruitment of vital new workers [Deloitte–MI news release]. 83% of manufacturers surveyed cited attraction and retention of a quality workforce as top concerns. But most workers prefer retail and services over manufacturing jobs. As manufacturers look to automate their operations, are workers in the field and on the shop floor being left behind? Will digital technologies that inform and engage workers – digital signage, AR, VR – help companies access a wider labor pool and attract new workers? We’ll ask Christophe Justeau, Andy Hancock and Johannes Papst for their take on Does A Digital Factory Attract New Workers?
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    56 mins
  • Encore: Accelerating Aerospace Innovation at Supersonic Speeds

    Encore: Accelerating Aerospace Innovation at Supersonic Speeds
    Dec 20 2022
    What’s that up in the sky? … The Buzz 1: “It’s only when you’re flying above it that you realise how incredible the Earth really is.” [Philippe Perrin, Astronaut, stellar-frontiers.com] The Buzz 2: Low Earth Orbit [LEO] satellite production is booming and innovation is accelerating, with billionaires Bezos, Musk, Branson and others investing in this global game-changing opportunity. A LEO is an orbit around Earth with a period of 128 minutes or less, with at least 11.25 orbits per day…Most artificial objects in outer space are in the LEO region, below an altitude of 1,200 miles. [en.wikipedia.org] The Buzz 3: The global LEO satellites market size was expected to grow to $4.13bn in 2022 at an 18.2% compound annual growth rate, and reach $9bn in 2026, due to increasing adoption of LEO satellites in various sectors; rising importance across communications and defense industries; integration of IoT; machine learning; advancements in aerospace; miniaturization of satellites. [globenewswire.com] The Buzz 4: Under a $2m U.S. Space Force contract, Slingshot Aerospace will develop an analytics tool that uses location data from commercial satellites in LEO to identify potential sources of electronic interference on the ground. [spacenews.com] The Buzz 5: To modernize today’s Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation with new technology and advanced capabilities, Lockheed Martin is building up to 32 next-generation GPS III/IIIF satellites. [lockheedmartin.com] How will the Aerospace industry keep booming? Aerospace manufacturers are conquering challenges, creating innovative products that require complex manufacturing with stringent quality levels and compliance. These products must work consistently every time and build strong revenue streams despite global economic variability and turbulence. After all, satellites can’t be returned to a store near you. We’ll ask Russell Bertwell at Accenture, Chris Schrand at Siemens and Michael Edelen at SAP for their take on Accelerating Aerospace Innovation at Supersonic Speeds.
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    57 mins
  • Accelerating Aerospace Innovation at Supersonic Speeds

    Accelerating Aerospace Innovation at Supersonic Speeds
    Nov 15 2022
    What’s that up in the sky? … The Buzz 1: “It’s only when you’re flying above it that you realise how incredible the Earth really is.” [Philippe Perrin, Astronaut, stellar-frontiers.com] The Buzz 2: Low Earth Orbit [LEO] satellite production is booming and innovation is accelerating, with billionaires Bezos, Musk, Branson and others investing in this global game-changing opportunity. A LEO is an orbit around Earth with a period of 128 minutes or less, with at least 11.25 orbits per day…Most artificial objects in outer space are in the LEO region, below an altitude of 1,200 miles. [en.wikipedia.org] The Buzz 3: The global LEO satellites market size was expected to grow to $4.13bn in 2022 at an 18.2% compound annual growth rate, and reach $9bn in 2026, due to increasing adoption of LEO satellites in various sectors; rising importance across communications and defense industries; integration of IoT; machine learning; advancements in aerospace; miniaturization of satellites. [globenewswire.com] The Buzz 4: Under a $2m U.S. Space Force contract, Slingshot Aerospace will develop an analytics tool that uses location data from commercial satellites in LEO to identify potential sources of electronic interference on the ground. [spacenews.com] The Buzz 5: To modernize today’s Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation with new technology and advanced capabilities, Lockheed Martin is building up to 32 next-generation GPS III/IIIF satellites. [lockheedmartin.com] How will the Aerospace industry keep booming? Aerospace manufacturers are conquering challenges, creating innovative products that require complex manufacturing with stringent quality levels and compliance. These products must work consistently every time and build strong revenue streams despite global economic variability and turbulence. After all, satellites can’t be returned to a store near you. We’ll ask Russell Bertwell at Accenture, Chris Schrand at Siemens and Michael Edelen at SAP for their take on Accelerating Aerospace Innovation at Supersonic Speeds.
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    57 mins
  • Does A Digital Factory Attract New Workers?

    Does A Digital Factory Attract New Workers?
    Oct 18 2022
    Many businesses are struggling to attract and retain skilled workers, with record numbers resigning or retiring. This is particularly true in the manufacturing sector. The Buzz 1: A Manufacturing Institute [MI] survey found that “The Great Resignation” is really more of a “Great Retirement.” 808,000 manufacturing job openings in February 2022 were down from January’s 859,000 [U.S. Census Bureau]…Manufacturing quits rose from 315,000 in January to 337,000 in February, a new record. [rimanufacturers.com/the-great-resignation-or-great-retirement] The Buzz 2: MI’s February survey of 3,000 Americans: 82% of respondents who left a manufacturing job in the past six months retired due to age or health-related reasons. The remaining 18% resigned or were laid off, but 73% of those are back to work in a different manufacturing job, 7% in a different industry and 20% are still looking. The Buzz 3: The manufacturing sector is increasingly viewed as crucial to economic and pandemic recovery, yet outdated public perceptions could be impacting recruitment of vital new workers [Deloitte–MI news release]. 83% of manufacturers surveyed cited attraction and retention of a quality workforce as top concerns. But most workers prefer retail and services over manufacturing jobs. As manufacturers look to automate their operations, are workers in the field and on the shop floor being left behind? Will digital technologies that inform and engage workers – digital signage, AR, VR – help companies access a wider labor pool and attract new workers? We’ll ask Christophe Justeau, Andy Hancock and Johannes Papst for their take on Does A Digital Factory Attract New Workers?
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    56 mins
  • Encore: The Sustainable, Resilient Supply Network: A Paradox?

    Encore: The Sustainable, Resilient Supply Network: A Paradox?
    Sep 20 2022
    The Buzz: *** “Many supply chains are perfectly suited to the needs that the business had 20 years ago.” [MIT Professor Jonathan Byrnes] *** “Looking at the world through a sustainability lens not only helps us 'future proof' our supply chain, it also fuels innovation and drives brand growth.” [Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever] *** “Supply chains cannot tolerate even 24 hours of disruption. So if you lose your place in the supply chain because of wild behavior you could lose a lot. It would be like pouring cement down one of your oil wells.” [Thomas Friedman] In today’s world, manufacturing companies realize that to be successful they must consider both their profit and their impact on the planet. This means developing more sustainable products and running more sustainable processes – but at the same time, they need to cope with a constant stream of disruptions, such as natural disasters, geo-political events, and resource and talent shortages. How? Manufacturers need to collect and analyze the data to meet all the regulations and make informed decisions and tradeoffs. They also need to operate their production, logistics and business processes to lower emissions, reduce waste and ensure good social business practices – while still having agility to adapt and adjust. And they must develop and produce sustainable products that help their customers meet their own sustainability goals – at a profit. We’ll ask Ed Cone at Oxford Economics, and Andreas Queck and Moncombu Raju at SAP for their insights as we ask the big question, The Sustainable, Resilient Supply Network: A Paradox?
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    56 mins
  • The New Auto and Mobility Startups: Rolling Along or Stalling?

    The New Auto and Mobility Startups: Rolling Along or Stalling?
    Aug 23 2022
    The Buzz 1: A startup is a human institution designed to deliver a new product or service under conditions of extreme uncertainty. [Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup] The Buzz 2: There was a study done in the early 20th century of all the entrepreneurs who entered the automobile industry around the same time as Henry Ford…500 automotive companies that got funded, had the internal combustion engine, had the technology, and had the vision. Sixty percent of them folded within a couple of years. [Eric Ries] The Buzz 3: “The quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.” [Sir Henry Royce] The Buzz 4: “It doesn’t cost any more to make something pretty.” [Jaguar Cars founder Sir William Lyons] Hurray! We’re finally seeing the delivery of new vehicles. Now what? The past 5 years have seen explosive growth in new automotive and mobility startups. Each player has had to launch their company, carve their niche in the market, develop vehicles and get them into initial production – all while establishing a supply chain during a global pandemic. Reality check: The challenges have been immense and they're not over – they’re just coming from new directions and becoming more complex as these companies move towards scale. What’s on the road ahead in terms of the people, processes and capabilities startups will have to establish, scale and refine in an increasingly competitive industry? We’ll ask Jim Davis at SAP and Paul Prehl at MHP for their insights on The New Auto and Mobility Startups: Rolling Along or Stalling?
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    57 mins
  • XaaS: Is The Hype Real for Industrial Manufacturing Companies?

    XaaS: Is The Hype Real for Industrial Manufacturing Companies?
    Jul 26 2022
    The Buzz 1: XaaS stands for Everything as a Service or Anything as a Service. It's an acronym for providing any products, tools and technologies that businesses may need as a service instead of on premise or with a physical product.” (givainc.com) The Buzz 2: “Whether you view XaaS (everything-as-a-service) as a dream or a nightmare, it’s here to stay.… XaaS is not a one-size-fits-all proposition. Nor must it be a revolutionary one – though it will challenge your business.” (manufacturing.net) The Buzz 3: “The concept of servitization is not new, but it is obtaining renewed interest … Rather than buying the piece of equipment, the customer contracts with the supplier for the result. So, instead of buying paving equipment, the customer might buy x miles of paved road for $x. The customer is assured of getting the final result. The supplier uses equipment sensors and internet of things (IoT) technology to track performance of the machinery on the job site.” (diginomica.com) What does the future hold for XaaS models for industrial manufacturing companies and what will adoption look like in the next five years? Subscription and servitization models are getting a lot of attention, as they typically provide higher margins and more resilience than product-based businesses. This transformation – from selling products to selling services and outcomes – provides manufacturers with needed predictability of revenue and potentially higher margins as they face continuous disruption, commoditization of products and stagnating growth. Although subscription offerings for remote monitoring, equipment diagnostics, predictive maintenance and other digital services are gaining traction, the adoption of outcome- or usage-based models seems to be slowing down. Why? We’ll ask Don Swenson at SAP and Sergey Jermakov at CLARITY for their take on XaaS: Is The Hype Real for Industrial Manufacturing Companies?
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    57 mins
  • Cutting-Edge Business Networks: The Future of Collaboration

    Cutting-Edge Business Networks: The Future of Collaboration
    May 24 2022
    The Buzz 1: “The strength of the team is each individual member. The strength of each member is the team.” [Phil Jackson, former NBA professional basketball player and coach] The Buzz 2: “People achieve more as a result of working with others than against them.” [Dr. Allan Fromme, psychologist, teacher, author] The Buzz 3: “It takes both sides to build a bridge.” [Frederik Nael, Indonesian writer of science fiction and fantasy short stories] The Buzz 4: If designing a traditional business model is like planning and building a house, designing an ecosystem is more like developing a whole residential district: more complex, more players to coordinate, more layers of interaction and unintended emergent outcomes.…business ecosystems, similar to residential districts, cannot be entirely planned and designed—they also emerge. [www.bcg.com] Businesses frequently talk about collaboration with their partners as the path to business growth and ongoing success. But is it just talk? Their challenge has been how to successfully execute, addressing top-of-mind concerns over working with competitors, as well as intellectual property rights and protection. Today, collaboration along the value chain as a unified ecosystem – with competitors, customers and suppliers – is increasingly important for staying competitive. Who are the winners in today’s dynamic and challenging marketplace? Companies with broad partner ecosystems, who bundle their products with customized products, financing or more attractive terms, extended services, equipment maintenance services, and even application services – all of which may come from partner companies. This requires a new mindset facilitated by supply chain collaboration, strong business networks, and close customer engagement. We’ll ask Muriel Rakotomalala, David Dunn and Matt Reymann for their insights on how the Chemical industry is benefiting from Cutting-Edge Business Networks: The Future of Collaboration.
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    57 mins