Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) at Work for Manufacturing, launched by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, is a series of four courses designed to improve mental health literacy among employees and leaders in the manufacturing industry. Lynn Burke Hennighausen and Rob Vallentine, national trainers for the program, joined IndustryWeek during Mental Health Awareness Month to discuss mental health challenges in manufacturing and how the MHFA training program can lead to a safer and more productive work environment.

For this episode, Tobii’s director of products and solutions, Keith Bartels joins Smart Industry’s Scott Achelpohl for a conversation about how visual data is helping teams streamline onboarding of employees, reduce errors, and strengthen standard operating procedures—all without adding complexity to day-to-day work.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Thomas Wilk, chief editor of Plant Services, is joined by Christine Nishimoto, director of asset management software at IBM, for an insightful discussion on how AI agents are reshaping data-driven asset management. Together, they explore the evolving role of artificial intelligence in improving productivity, sustainability, and safety across manufacturing sectors. From tackling long-standing data challenges to envisioning multi-agent systems that can automate complex workflows, the conversation highlights the transformative potential of AI tools in industrial environments. Christine also emphasizes the importance of transparency, data integrity, and regulatory compliance as organizations adopt these technologies.

• Clean, accessible, and accurate data is critical for effective AI-driven asset management.
• AI agents can automate multistep tasks like work order creation, boosting efficiency.
• Tailored AI tools must respect industry-specific privacy and compliance standards.
• Adoption of AI across sectors is accelerating, revealing untapped optimization potential.

Suketu Gandhi, partner and chair of strategic operations with Kearney, offers advice on how to deal with supply chain disruptions in this new era of tariffs.

Hey, have you heard that this AI thing is a big deal? That companies are slapping AI labels on every product they sell? That our benevolent robot overlords will favor those humans who speak highly of them now before they take over?

There was a lot of talk about that at Automate in Detroit this week, the annual trade show for industrial automation in which we imperfect biological organisms really do sit in awe of our technological superiors. Really, this is love, not fear.

Sharing their observations on how much they look forward to this utopian future in which we'll be sure the keep the machines oiled and the software patched were:

• Mike Bacidore, Editor-in-Chief of Control Design
• Rehana Begg, Editor-in-Chief of Machine Design
• Robert Schoenberger, Editor-in-Chief of IndustryWeek and Editorial Director of Endeavor Business Media's Manufacturing Group
• Sharon Spielman, Technical Editor for Machine Design
• Linda Wilson, Editor-in-Chief of Vision Systems Design

Glen Powell is a senior engineering analyst with Hydro, Inc.’s Global Engineering division. He has nine years of experience in centrifugal pumps, vibration analysis, machinery reliability, and 3D simulation and design. Glen recently spoke with Thomas Wilk, chief editor of Plant Services, about the evolving challenges of workforce development in the maintenance and reliability space. The conversation also touches on the role of emerging technologies like AI in reliability workflows and dives deep into vibration analysis, including its limitations and advanced applications for diagnosing issues like resonance.

• Formal training alone isn't enough—intentional, hands-on experience accelerates workforce readiness.
• Bridging generational gaps requires clear career paths and trust in leadership follow-through.
• AI tools should support, not replace, critical thinking and field expertise on the plant floor.
• Modal analysis and motion amplification are powerful tools to diagnose and fix elusive resonance issues in aging equipment.

In this episode of Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Laura Davis explores how automation can help manufacturers navigate economic downturns, labor shortages, and rising operational costs. Based on insights from Wauseon Machine’s Scott Anair, this episode covers the real-world benefits of automation—from labor cost reductions to consistent product quality and scalable systems that grow with your business.

About the Article

How to Use Automation to Recession-Proof Your Business Discover how automation isn't just about cutting costs—it's becoming a vital strategy for businesses to survive and thrive during economic downturns. Written by Scott Anair Read by Laura Davis Read the article

Joe Kuhn, CMRP, former plant manager, engineer, and global reliability consultant, is now president of Lean Driven Reliability LLC. He is the author of the book “Zero to Hero: How to Jumpstart Your Reliability Journey Given Today’s Business Challenges” and the creator of the Joe Kuhn YouTube Channel, which offers content on starting your reliability journey and achieving financial independence. In our monthly podcast miniseries, Ask a Plant Manager, Joe considers a commonplace scenario facing the industry and offers his advice, as well as actions that you can take to get on track tomorrow. This episode offers tips on how to create a safe space for spirited debate in industrial operations.

• Superficial harmony in meetings delays critical decisions—candor leads to better outcomes.
• Leaders should hold back opinions to foster open, fact-based team input.
• Clear decision-making processes prevent debates from becoming unproductive conflicts.
• Professional disagreement is vital—silence in meetings and complaints in hallways hurt reliability.