Automation World Gets Your Questions Answered

The Impact of Industrial Business Trends on Automation in 2025

In this episode, we connect with Robert Schoenberger, editor-in-chief at Industry Week, to get his insights on manufacturing business issues most likely to affect automation purchasing and implementation decisions this year.

Machine Safety Risk Assessment Considerations

Do you know the machine safety basics to keep workers safe and machinery operating at its peak? In this episode, we feature insights from Joe Carson, president and founder of system integrator Pacific Blue Engineering, to get you up to speed with the best practices for implementing machine safety protocols.

How the Merger of IT and OT Can Influence Manufacturing

Referencing decisions made around IT and OT convergence at Entegris in 2008, we look at how those decisions helped the company scale its operations technology across multiple plants and support the company's growth from $550 million in 2008 to $3.5 billion in 2023, starting with HMI software on three machines and growing to 200 machines and 90,000 tags.

Understanding Key Industrial AI Tech Differences

Clearing up some of the confusion about different artificial intelligence technologies—specifically generative AI and AI for data analytics—and how they’re being applied in the manufacturing industries as well as to the development of industrial automation technologies.

Can Humanoid Robots Be Effective in Manufacturing?

We connect with Karthee Madasamay of MFV partners, a deep tech VC firm that was an early investor in Agility Robotics (one of the largest manufacturers of humanoid robots), to learn more about the current capabilities of humanoids, their cost and maintenance requirements, and how far off we are from seeing humanoids become more commonplace in manufacturing environments.

Are Robots Losing Steam in Manufacturing?

In this episode we’ll be looking at a recent report from A3 that indicates a significant drop in robot orders in the first half of 2024 and what that may mean for manufacturers considering near-term robot purchases and implementations.

What is Software-Defined Automation?

In this episode we connect with G Brooks-Zak of Outlier Automation to get insights on software-defined automation and how it can impact manufacturing, including what it means for IT/OT convergence, specific application benefits such as with predictive maintenance and AI, its current use in industry and cybersecurity.

Understanding Power over Ethernet

Now that Power over Ethernet (PoE) systems can deliver up to 90W of power per port, which is enough to operate the most power-hungry IoT sensors, devices and controllers, it makes sense to get up to speed on PoE technology and how it can be used on your network.

How Does Edge Computing Benefit Manufacturing?

Get insights on the issues associated with integrating edge computing into a legacy manufacturing environment, as well as how edge computing aids predictive maintenance, manufacturing operations resiliency and cybersecurity. Our guest for this podcast is Steve Mustard, former executive board member and president of the International Society of Automation and current president and CEO of National Automation.

How to Improve Production Accountability in Manufacturing

Production monitors provide real-time data visibility, enabling operators and managers to track and improve performance, identify issues and make informed decisions quickly to enhance manufacturing efficiency, reduce downtime and improve productivity.