industrial manufacturing

In our first episode of executive sessions, Clayton Gullett is joined by John Stewart and Scot Duncan, two of the founding partners at MiddleGround Capital. This episode covers four topics: 

1.  John and Scot and their working relationship.
2. How and why labor markets changed and the impact on wages. 
3. The human element of business. How MiddleGround is changing plants to better support employees and the environment.
4. Challenges in 2023.

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 
Follow John Stewart on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnstewartky/
Follow Scot Duncan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scot-duncan-45a23211/

Timestamps
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:03:43) John/Scot's working relationship
(00:20:43) COVID and changing labor markets
(00:26:24) Working conditions in manufacturing
(00:36:51) Doing what's right
(00:51:07) Near term challenges in 2023

In MiddleGround’s second episode of executive sessions, Clayton Gullett, leads discussions with two guests with operations experience: a VP of operations, Alicia Motomura, and a senior associate, Jordan Gabbert. This episode covers:

1.     Respecting and valuing shop floor employees

2.     Connection between adding value and employee retention/company stability 

3.     Don’t let perfect be the enemy of great 

Learn more about MiddleGround Capital: https://middleground.com/
Follow MiddleGround Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/middlegroundcapital/ 

Chapters
(00:00:00) Podcast and guest introduction
(00:15:05) The importance of the shop floor
(00:17:42) Partnering with shop floor employees
(00:26:05) Creating value in manufacturing processes
(00:29:22) Employee retention and job stability
(00:33:30) The relationship between stability and growth
(00:36:05) Being a woman in manufacturing
(00:38:17) Dealing with adversity in your career
(00:44:02) Data and the Pareto principle
(00:48:05) Worker well being 

Welcome to another exciting episode of the Digital Supply Chain podcast! I had the pleasure of sitting down with Herbert Pesch, Managing Director of Valtech B2B, to discuss some fascinating topics surrounding industrial manufacturing, B2B, and Valtech's recently launched Voice of Digital Leaders report for 2023.

In our conversation, Herbert and I delved into the concept of servitization in industrial manufacturing and how it not only represents a significant shift in business models but also plays a vital role in promoting sustainability. Herbert shared some compelling insights on the benefits of adopting a servitization model, emphasizing its potential to improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

We also talked about the challenges that organizations face as they embark on their digital transformation journeys. Herbert highlighted the importance of breaking down silos within companies and adopting a holistic approach to integrating various aspects of the business, such as e-commerce, R&D, and services.

Herbert provided some interesting examples of how predictive analytics are being used in manufacturing to optimize maintenance processes and reduce downtime. One case in particular involved high-resolution cameras monitoring the condition of wheels in an installation, predicting breakdown risks, and scheduling maintenance accordingly.

Throughout our discussion, we touched on the key trends shaping the future of industrial manufacturing, as well as the role of Valtech's Voice of Digital Leaders report in identifying and analyzing these trends. We even had some fun imagining a visit to Valtech's eco-friendly, wood-constructed office in Utrecht!

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I enjoyed chatting with Herbert. Don't forget to check out Valtech's Voice of Digital Leaders report, and feel free to connect with Herbert on LinkedIn or visit Valtech.com for more information.

And don't forget the video version of this podcast is available at https://youtu.be/o1QX3ANm4G0

Happy listening!

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I'd like to sincerely thank this podcast's generous supporters:

• Lorcan Sheehan
• Krishna Kumar
• Olivier Brusle
• Alicia Farag
• Joël VANDI
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• Alvaro Aguilar

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