Episodes
Factory reset: The machines are ready — are we?
In this episode of People B4 Machines, host Amanda Cupido dives into the transformative world of factory automation with guest Adam Dorr, Director of Research at RethinkX. Together, they explore the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, the rise of humanoid robots, and the challenges and op...
Silicon soulmates: Maybe your most loyal teammates
In this episode of People B4 Machines, Amanda Cupido sits down with The Manufacturing Millennial, Jake Hall, to debunk the myth that automation is a "job killer." Jake shares why now is the critical time to deploy technology to stay ahead of competitors and how machines actually create higher-value ...
Programming the future: Human-first automation
In this episode of People Before Machines, Amanda Cupido sits down with The Robot Queen, Vanessa Loiola, Founder and CEO of Valoy Automation, to explore human-first robotics. Vanessa debunks the myth that robots replace workers, arguing instead that they replace repetitive, grueling tasks to free up...
Man vs. machine? The ROI of robotics & the cultural shift needed to embrace robotics on the factory floor
In this episode of People Before Machines, Amanda Cupido sits down with Ujjwal Kumar, former Group President of Teradyne Robotics, to explore the ROI of robotics and the cultural shift needed to embrace automation on the factory floor. Ujjwal shares insights on how robotics can enhance human-machine...
Finding certainty in uncertainty in manufacturing in North America
In this episode of People B4 Machines, Amanda Cupido speaks with Kevin Bowers, Vice President of Research at the Association for Manufacturing Technology, about navigating uncertainty in North American manufacturing. Kevin shares insights on building resiliency through automation, AI, and workforce ...
Rethinking the course to manufacturing's future with the Software Defined Factory (SDF) as the North Star
In this episode of People B4 Machines, Amanda Cupido speaks with Prasad Satyavolu, Accenture's Americas Lead for Industry X Digital Manufacturing and Operations, about the transformative potential of the Software Defined Factory (SDF). Prasad explores how SDFs, powered by digital twins, physical AI,...
Still a man’s world, but under construction
In this episode of People B4 Machines, Amanda Cupido speaks with Stephanie Hun, Director of Business Development for Flatiron Dragados Canada, about the evolving role of women in the construction industry. Stephanie shares her journey, offering insights on overcoming biases, embracing stretch assign...
Is the real factory bottleneck human or digital? Or are humans the weakest link in Industry 4.0
Host Amanda Cupido explores the root causes of factory bottlenecks with Industry 4.0 expert Mike Nager, Solutions Center Director at Festo Didactic. Together, they discuss whether humans or digital systems are to blame, emphasizing the importance of integrating technology with a skilled and adaptabl...
Top floor to shop floor: Why is it taking so long to connect these floors?
Host Amanda Cupido dives into the persistent disconnect between the top floor and the shop floor in factory automation. Joined by Jeff Burnstein, President of the Association for Advancing Automation, they explore strategies for bridging this gap through effective communication, smart automation imp...